The Book of Wonders (28 page)

“Nadeem is in this prison and is under threat just like the rest of us.” Khalila's voice cut across Tariq's. “Besides, he's right, the snakes are fast, but that's where the second part of plan B comes in.”

“There's another part?” Zardi stared in wonder at the djinni.

Khalila nodded. “But its success lies solely on your shoulders, Zardi.”

“Go on,” she replied.

“You need to leave with the queen tomorrow on the flying machine. And as soon as you can, you must dispose of her—but not before you get the spelltrap.”

“What do you mean, ‘dispose'?”

“I've put a lever to the left of the glider's holding bar,” Musty explained. “The lever will collapse the wings of the machine and unhook the harness. This gives you the chance to lose the queen. You'll have the element of surprise on your side. If you pull the lever again the wings will extend themselves, but you'll have to hook the harness back on yourself.”

“Whatever happens tomorrow, you need to be on the left-hand side of that machine,” Khalila added. “Choose your moment, defeat the queen, and grab the spelltrap.” Khalila stared at her hard. “Then come back to us.”

“But if you've left the prison, how will I find you?” Zardi asked.

“Use the Windrose,” the djinni replied. “Call on the element of air. Then just imagine us and fix us in your head. The wind will come and guide you.”

Zardi let the words sink in. Already she was thinking of the place where she would try to dispose of the queen, but as she gazed into the hopeful faces of the crew, she couldn't help but feel scared. There were so many things that could go wrong. “What do you think?” she murmured to Rhidan.

“I think this is our only choice,” Rhidan said softly. “You must defeat the queen, whatever it takes.”

“I'll do it.” Zardi looked around at the faces she knew so well. Her throat tightened. Some would fall tomorrow, of that there could be no doubt. But they had chosen to fight, and those snakes had no idea what was about to hit them.

No one slept much that night. Instead they busied themselves creating weapons. Some used the materials they had left from building the flying machine. Others sharpened rocks and sticks to a fine point. Rhidan even fashioned more arrows for Zardi's bow.

When the key turned in the lock, the crew of the
Falcon
scurried to hide their weapons.

The door opened and the queen slithered in. As always, Satyan was at her side and a ring of ivory snakes surrounded her. The queen was resplendent in silver armor. Her silver belt was heavy with various objects including a black bottle that hung beside the spelltrap. Zardi wondered if this was the plague of which she'd heard the queen speak.

“It is time to go.” The queen's unblinking gaze fixed on Zardi.

Zardi lowered her head as if in defeat.

“My queen.” Nadeem threw himself to the ground in front of her. “Please, I don't want to die. I'll do anything.” He looked around desperately. “They're going to try to escape. They have a plan. See, I am still loyal to you.”

“Why, you—” Rhidan leapt toward Nadeem, but the queen's laugh stopped him.

“I am not interested in this worm's information, Rhidan.” She looked out at the crew. “Please feel free to try to escape. My snakes much prefer to hunt before a feast. But I wager that you won't get far.”

She turned to leave the room but stopped as if she'd forgotten something. She turned back and stared at Rhidan. “Farewell, Iridial's son. I'll say hello to your father for you. Just before I kill him.” She smiled and then exited the cell. The prison was now silent except for the sound of Nadeem sobbing.

Zardi's eyes met Rhidan's. “You can do this,” he said.

“So can you,” she whispered back. Hugging him, she quickly followed the queen while her legs still allowed her.

As the queen locked the door, a crazy thought tickled the back of Zardi's mind. The snakes wouldn't be able to operate that lock and get into the cell. Had the queen been playing games with them all this time?

“What are you smiling about?” the queen hissed.

“I misjudged you,” Zardi said. “Your snakes can't unlock the door. You have no intention of feeding my friends to them.”

The queen's whole body trembled. For a moment Zardi thought it was with sorrow, but then she saw mirth scuttle across her enemy's face.

“What a ridiculous idea,” the queen snorted. “The snakes have no use for keys. When the time comes they will simply smash through the prison door with their heads.”

Hate blistered Zardi's insides. She'd thought this creature capable of kindness. She wouldn't make that mistake again.

Their walk through the network of tunnels was brisk, and Zardi had to run to keep up. Coiled snakes lay watching them as they raced past. Finally, they came to a narrow, steep passageway and each step took them closer to the bright outside.

Light scalded Zardi's sensitive eyes as they emerged from the hole, forcing them shut. She opened them again, this time slowly. They were on top of a steep, grassy hill, and the flying machine stood waiting. “Where are we?” Zardi asked.

“The southeastern tip of the island,” the queen replied. “This is the tallest peak, barring the volcano. We'll need the height to get air under the wings. We'll sink like a stone otherwise.”

“You seem to know a lot about this,” Zardi said.

The queen looked down at the island laid out below them. “I've had ample time to read Iridial's notes and learn how to fly this machine.”

Satyan hissed something and the queen laughed. “He is eager to get to the cell. He's worried that the others will start without him.”

Zardi balled up her hands. “Let's go.”

The queen whispered something to Satyan and kissed the serpent's head before he disappeared into the tunnel. Beckoning Zardi to follow her, the queen slithered over to the glider and positioned herself on the left-hand side of the machine.

Khalila's words echoed loudly in Zardi's head.
Make sure you get the left-hand side of the glider
. “Actually, I need to be on that side.”

The queen looked at her scornfully. “Why?”

She shrugged. “I like to be on the left when it comes to travel. My grandmother always told me it is good luck.”

The queen's face twisted with suspicion. “What game are you playing?”

“No game. We don't even know if this glider-thing is going to work; we might need all the luck we can get.” She blew a lock of hair out of her eye. “If I'm worrying about being on the wrong side, the Windrose won't work. It's your choice.”

The queen slid over. “Fine.”

Zardi ducked under the wings of the flying machine and took her position behind the holding bar. She quickly slipped the leather harness that hung from the top of the frame over her head and around her midriff.

The queen did the same. “Right. On my count, push off this hill as quickly as possible. Three, two, one.”

The queen swiftly slithered forward and Zardi ran alongside her. They pushed off and the glider jolted off the precipice, dipping dangerously.

This is never going to work
, Zardi thought with horror as she felt the wind whistle past her ears.
We're going to die
. But then, amazingly, the air was caught and swelled beneath the wings, sending the glider surging upward.

“We're airborne!” the queen screeched. She looked over at Zardi. “Now to the Black Isle. Which way?”

Holding on to the bar of the glider with one hand, Zardi took the Windrose from her pocket. She thought of a gust of wind and then fixed in her mind the image of the trees with the silky explosion of leaves she'd seen the night the Rocs saved her from the valley of diamonds. The leaves would tangle the queen up and leave her trapped. Out loud she said, “I want to go to the Black Isle.” Excitement spurted through her as a gust suddenly sprang up, steering them westward.
It really works
. “We go with the wind,” Zardi explained.

They traveled in silence, a gentle wind directing them across the island with faint pushes and tugs. Zardi's heart sped up. There, in the distance, were the specter-white web leaves, stretched out between the branches of a cluster of massive trees.

The queen tensed beside her. “This is Roc territory.” She scanned the horizon. “We'll need to get through here as quickly as possible.”

Zardi's hand crept toward Musty's lever. They were directly above the silken webs now. Gripping the holding bar tightly with her right hand, she pulled the lever hard with her left. Her whole body dropped as the harness gave way and the wings collapsed, almost folding in half.

The queen gave a high-pitched scream as she flopped downward. Her hand slipped off the bar, and she was left dangling by five fingertips. They plummeted toward the web-laden trees. Zardi swung toward the queen, fingers reaching out to seize the spelltrap from the silver belt. The queen hissed, arching her body back so that it was out of reach.

The webs were just a few arm spans away now, their billowy width ready to receive them.
The queen was supposed to get caught in the webs
, Zardi thought.
Not me
.

She yanked on the lever and the wings extended themselves again. Air hit the feathered arcs, pushing them upward.

At the same moment, the queen hauled herself up, both hands now back on the bar. “I don't know what you did to my machine,” she snarled. “But you'll pay.” She lashed out with her tail, hitting Zardi full in her stomach.

The machine spun wildly in the sky, tumbling away from the silk canopies.

The queen got ready to strike again, but Zardi was quicker. She swung her body forward and grabbed the queen's belt with her right hand. She pulled, but the metal links of the belt held firm. A violent spasm went through her right hand as sudden strength coursed through it. A metal link snapped and Zardi swiped the belt away and slung it around her neck.

What happened to my hand?
Zardi asked herself even as her joy at getting the spelltrap chased the question out of her head.

The queen gave an awful scream of rage and opened her mouth wider than any human ever could to reveal two fangs. She surged toward Zardi's throat.

Zardi's fingers found the Windrose in her pocket. She brought it out, searing the queen's cheek.

The smoke-raw smell of burning flesh filled Zardi's nostrils, and the queen gave a howl of pain, instinctively putting her hands to her face. Without hold, the queen plummeted downward with a scream.

Relief washed over Zardi, but almost instantly a weight yanked at her legs. She looked down. The queen had Zardi's ankle. She grinned evilly, the burn on her face puckered and weeping, as she slowly pulled her way up.

Z
ardi kicked out, her arms trembling from the effort of holding onto the glider's bar, but still the queen dragged her way up Zardi's body. The flying machine plunged toward the ground.

She's going to kill us both
.

As she tore through the sky, Zardi caught a glimpse of the massive trees with their webbed canopy. The same tree where the Rocs made their nests.

The Rocs. They must be close by
.

Desperately, she let out high-pitched squawks begging for help.

The trees juddered and a torrent of oily color surged up from the canopy. Soon the beat of the mighty wings was all around them. Zardi's head was filled with the Rocs' angry voices as they registered that their enemy was in their midst. The birds surrounded the flying machine, pecking furiously at the queen, slashing at any exposed flesh with their crimson beaks and golden talons. The machine continued to drop. Zardi's arms thrummed with pain, her fingers began to slip…

Then the weight was gone.

Zardi looked down. All she could see was the black “O” the queen made with her mouth as she fell toward the ground. Then she was obscured, hidden by the multitude of Rocs diving after her.

Zardi gave a shuddering sigh.

“Thank you,” she screeched out in the Rocs' language, her voice loud and full with joy.

Zardi tugged the harness over her body again and angled herself so she caught the edge of the wind. With the Windrose still in her hand, she thought of a boy with silver hair and violet eyes. An answering gust of wind announced itself, guiding her northward, and she followed it. She placed the object in her pocket.

“Wait,” a voice called from behind her.

She turned her head to see Roco approaching.

“You saved me again,” Zardi said as the young bird reached her side. “You all did.”

The young bird chirruped in a pleased-sounding way. “We're happy to help. That queen has killed far too many of our number.” He chirruped again. “Where are you going now?”

“To my friends.” Zardi quickly explained the danger the crew of the
Falcon
were in and the abandoned tunnel that Sinbad had found. “I need to get the spelltrap to Khalila.”

“I'll help,” Roco said.

“It's too dangerous.”

“I'm coming,” Roco screeched out stubbornly.

They followed the guiding wind, the rising sun caressing all corners of the island. From her position, Zardi could see an emerald valley with a crystal-clear lake that reflected the sky: clouds, a Roc, and a girl gliding through the air. It was almost impossible to believe that so much pain and hurt existed in this place. But Zardi believed it. She'd seen it, and understood far more than she wished why this place was called Desolation Island. On top of a tall hill, she suddenly spotted the brass rider's horse. It stood absolutely still and Zardi wondered if it had frozen in place, but then it tossed its head and Zardi heard its lonely whinny echoing across the valley.

Lakes, waterfalls, and green hills soon gave way to a mountain range and then sand dunes. Down below, Zardi could see the volcano that had once been Khalila's hated prison and she thought instantly of her sister held prisoner in a watchtower in Taraket.
Today is the day of the Hunt
. Zardi let the thought creep into her head. She had refused to think about the Hunt until now, until there was at least a chance of saving her sister. She touched the spelltrap that hung around her neck.
You are the last hope. Khalila is the only one who can save Zubeyda now
—
but she'll need her magic back first
.