Vengeful Earth: The Dark Sky Chronicles - Book Two Read online

  Zara stalked away, her shoulders hunched to her ears, returning the smirking smiles of Mhari and Brianna – both of whom had been cheering for Theo – on her way to lick her wounds in her cabin dormitory.

  ‘What are you two looking so pleased about?’ Oscar snapped, gratified to see their gloating expressions switch to shock at his out-of-character comment. ‘I’ll be reserving front row seats for when you two attempt “The Towers of Zenith”! I could do with a good dose of comedy.’

  Chapter Two

  Dark Sky Camp Headquarters, Northumbria

  ‘Dark Sky Camp is more popular than we anticipated, Father. We’ve had to turn away twelve potential participants this time,’ Rufus said, as he locked away the two golden stars from the obstacle challenge in the safe at the back of the log cabin that served as both camp headquarters and Max’s temporary home. No one had realised the stars were cleaved from pure Hadrixian gold.

  ‘You don’t think the four Underlings breached their written agreements, do you?’ snapped Max, knocking back the remainder of the bronze liquid he had been nursing in a crystal tumbler whilst he observed the obstacle challenge from the vantage point of his veranda. A flash of irritation scorched through his veins as he recalled Zara’s parents questioning the necessity of signing a confidentiality agreement before driving their completely transformed daughter back home after the first successful mission to Hadrixia the previous month.

  ‘Why do you have to be so distrusting? All four of them have promised you faithfully that their mission would remain undiscussed except between themselves and, as far as I know, they have held true to their promise. I simply commented that what you have created here in the forests of Northumbria has been a resounding success and something the Underlings in this world are clamouring to experience.’ Rufus sighed, then came to join Max on the bench he had whittled from the trunk of an ailing sycamore tree.

  ‘Well, twenty-five attendees is the absolute maximum the Health and Safety Generals in this strange world will allow, if that’s what you are complaining about. It’s not within my remit to decide,’ said Max, bristling as he swept his hair from his eyes and behind his ears, revealing the elongated earlobes that marked him out as the most recent in a long line of Hadrixian rulers, albeit one chased from his beloved empire by the evil despot, Xophicus, who now ruled the people of Hadrixia with a rod of violence and a deluge of hatred. ‘So, are we agreed on the participants for the next quest? The evening light fades. We must communicate our choice to the chosen quartet without delay.’

  ‘Yes, Father, but can we not provide them with more information this time?’ Rufus urged, clearly concern for the wellbeing of the four teenagers who had been selected by Max to retrieve the Stone of Oridonyx.

  ‘No, we cannot. This way is safer for everyone; the less they know if they are captured when they arrive – or at any time along their journey – the better. Aurelia will lead them to the location of the Stone. With your mother’s assistance, the completion of this quest should be swifter than the last. Ask Zara and Theo to grace us with their presence, if you please.’

  Max abandoned his cabin’s veranda for the peaceful interior of his cabin. He was grateful for the dense row of Norwegian pines that screened his home from the outdoor canteen where the noisy, animated chatter of the camp’s attendees could be heard as they gathered to enjoy that evening’s dinner and dissect the details of the challenge.

  Just as he had at the end of July, Max had disagreed with his eldest son’s choice of Stone seekers, preferring to counter the might of Xophicus with the physical strength of those selected. But his respect for Rufus had ballooned since the successful completion of the last quest, and he intended to offer him his trust once again. This time, with Aurelia able to assist, he’d been persuaded that the skills of diplomacy would be imperative when approaching the guardian of the Stone of Oridonyx.

  A familiar sense of dread invaded his chest, its weight settling just above his heart as he contemplated once again sending four naïve teenagers through the portwall into Hadrixia. He swore for the thousandth time in frustration that the wall only permitted Underlings – those under the age of eighteen – to transmorph from Northumbria to Hadrixia. Of course, the erection of the barrier had been his own doing, but his swift thinking had ensured the Shield of Azergrix was in place before he escaped. To date, this had prevented Xophicus and his Henxmen from invading the Outside and scattering his evil hatred amongst these unsuspecting peoples.

  Unfortunately, the actions he had taken to protect Northumbria and the lands beyond had ruled out any possibility of a return to assist in the rescue of his beleaguered empire, either by himself or Rufus. Blodvig didn’t count, but even he was eighteen now and therefore trapped on the Outside just as they were. Blodvig’s transmorphication from Hadrixia had been a pure accident, and Max grimaced at the memory of his best friend’s son appearing at the foot of the portwall, his hair a brilliant shade of emerald, the tips smouldering with wisps of green smoke.

  As he awaited the arrival of Zara and Theo, his ears pricked up when a familiar hoot of laughter erupted from the canteen’s open window, reminding him how well Blodvig had settled in to his new environment and he rolled his eyes in exasperation. He had agonised long and hard over the selection of this second quartet, for this time Xophicus would be anticipating a repeat of the venture and be better prepared. He allowed his thoughts to meander to Aurelia; her predicament, as reported in the debrief meeting with Zara, Theo, Oscar and Aimie, caused him an agony of guilt. Despite this, he needed to call upon her fortitude and abundant bravery for this second quest, yet he had no desire to add to the sacrifices his family, and those loyal to him, were suffering.

  ‘I won, Zara, fair and square!’ came Theo’s indignant voice through the open doorway. ‘Anyway, even if I hadn’t beaten you into second place, you still have to accept that it’s my turn this time. You were designated leader on our last quest. You’ve had your chance to shine – now it’s mine!’

  ‘So, that means I have proven my ability to succeed whereas you are an unknown factor in the equation. Maybe you’ll succeed, maybe you won’t. Can Max afford to take the gamble on a mission of such importance?’

  ‘Unknown?’ Theo seethed, his dark brown eyes flashing in anger as he flicked his fringe from his face. ‘I was there every step of the way last time, Zara, and you know it! You just can’t admit you couldn’t have done it without me, can you? Or Oscar and Aimie,’ he added as an afterthought. ‘If it wasn’t for me and Quinn you would never have made it out of Nordug alive. You are—’

  ‘What am I, Theo?’ Zara stopped in her stride as she stepped onto the wooden veranda, turning her glare on him in challenge.

  ‘You’re—’

  Theo was saved from expressing his heart-felt opinion and permanently damaging his relationship with Zara by Rufus jogging up to join them, his long flaxen hair bouncing in his slipstream, his elongated earlobes pierced with the polished tooth of an unknown Hadrixian animal.

  ‘Go on in. Father is expecting you.’ Rufus held open the door.

  ‘Ah, Zara, Theo. Take a seat.’

  Max watched the two teenagers enter the cabin and perch nervously on the incongruous, chintz-covered sofa in front of the unlit stove. Despite the ceiling fan working overtime, the room was as hot and humid as the clearing outside – no cooling breeze could penetrate the forest of spruce and pines that surrounded the camp. Perspiration prickled at his temples as he prepared to deliver his decision, for he knew that what he had to say would be met with surprise. He took in Zara’s erect posture, her crossed arms, her wary expression as she awaited his verdict on their performance on the Towers of Zenith. Theo, too, displayed agitation, but it was mingled with a soupçon of hope – he had, after all, been the victor.

  ‘I’m sure you both know why I asked to see you,’ Max began whilst Rufus closed the windows overlooking the canteen to ensure their privacy.

  ‘Yes, and if I might be allowed to say somethin
g, Max?’ asked Zara, her gold-flecked eyes burning with such intensity that Max almost had a change of heart. Yet he and Rufus had argued until they were hoarse about their selection, and the decision could not be amended without causing considerable anger and offence to his son, the next Emperor of Hadrixia.

  ‘Zara, you are a formidable warrior. You have proven your courage and ingenuity in the quest to retrieve the Stone of Exerith. You are also correct in your assumption that the next quest is imminent – this evening, in fact, before the light fades in the west.’

  Max shot a look at Rufus, his face unreadable as he lounged against the cabin door, and he prayed that he’d made sure that all the components were in place for the imminent transmorph through the Portwall.

  ‘This second mission will be just as treacherous as the last. It will require even more diverse skills than those you exhibited on the Towers this evening. However, on this occasion, you will be able to call upon the assistance of Aurelia to locate the Stone of Oridonyx, and there will be an additional day to complete the quest. The month of August does not end until Wednesday evening, and I believe the authorities her on the Outside have issued its peoples with a day of celebration for the end the summer.’

  ‘It’s called a Bank Holiday,’ Zara muttered.

  ‘So you will need the skills of experienced Stone seekers to return to Hadrixia, won’t you?’ Theo interrupted, ready to press his case. ‘I won the Towers of Zenith challenge, fair and square, and Zara was designated leader last time, so I think it should be me who—’

  ‘Theo, Rufus and I have made our decision.’ Max’s eyes rested on the young man seated before him, a noticeably more mature character than the last time he’d spoken to him. He saw the eager anticipation written boldly across his features, tinged now with a hint of desperation. ‘We have an important task to entrust to you and Zara.’

  Zara and Theo exchanged a glance, but remained silent.

  ‘Important to the whole camp, in fact,’ confirmed Rufus, a smile twitching at the corners of his lips.

  Theo shifted his weight forward to balance on the edge of the flowery seat, raised his chin and straightened his spine. Zara watched him and smirked. Max knew she was more astute than Theo, and wasn’t taken in by his assurances; he even wondered if she had guessed what was coming next. Either way, she wasn’t going to like it, but neither was Theo.

  ‘I want both of you to report to Blodvig in the canteen kitchen. He needs some help with this evening’s preparations.’

  ‘For the quest to retrieve the Stone of Oridonyx, right?’ said Theo, although a sliver of doubt had entered his voice.

  ‘No, Theo, I’m afraid not – with peeling the potatoes. Now, off you go. And would you be so kind as to ask Oscar and Aimie to come over here on your way past?’ Max quickly switched his gaze to a steady contemplation of the dormant stove so he didn’t have to witness the abject horror on both youngsters’ faces.

  Rufus took pity on them. ‘Look—’

  Zara shot to her feet, pain and humiliation etched deep in her eyes. She tossed her curls from her face and stormed to the door, wrenching it wide open.

  ‘Coming Theo?’

  ‘Sure,’ Theo replied, dazed and uncomprehending, shuffling off in her wake.

  ‘Father! A little diplomacy would have been welcome, I think!’

  ‘Rufus, our country is at war. My fellow Hadrixians are being maimed and slaughtered by Xophicus and his Henxmen as we sit here and quibble about minor details. Cornelius, my former right-hand man, has turned coats to serve the usurper! And, in case it has escaped your notice, we are marooned in this selfish, greedy world, unable to join in the battle to save Hadrixia from annihilation, never mind protect this world from an impending invasion. Although, some days I do wonder if an invasion by Hadrixians, even those in league with Xophicus, would not serve to benefit these backward people.’

  Maxin haled a breath and the spark of anger seeped from his veins. ‘I did not seek to cause offence or pain to Zara and Theo, but their incessant bickering infuriates me. This is not a game! This is about our fate… and theirs!’

  Chapter Three

  The Canteen, Dark Sky Camp

  ‘Hey, Theo, what did Max say?’ called Aimie.

  Theo ignored her, not trusting himself to speak as he swallowed down the biting disappointment that threatened to overwhelm him. He clenched his fists to stop them from trembling and followed in Zara’s wake to work out his tumbling emotions on Blodvig and a mountain of potatoes.

  He loved spending time with Blodvig, wheedling out every snippet of information about his and Quinn’s exploits when they were growing up in Hadrixia – all hilarious stories of mischief and adventure. Despite his resentment of Max’s decision, he knew he wouldn’t stay mad for long under his brand of continual cheerfulness and merriment.

  ‘Theo, hang on!’

  Aimie jogged across to him before he had chance to disappear into the camp kitchen. When she reached for his arm to stall him, he had no choice but to pause, especially when he saw the look of bewilderment in her dark blue eyes.

  ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘Potatoes,’ Theo muttered.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Potatoes with Blodvig.’

  ‘Erm, Theo, I don’t…’

  Oscar joined them. ‘What’s up, Theo? What did Max and Rufus say to you and Zara? I’ve just seen her storm into the kitchen like a rampant lion. Wouldn’t want to be in Blodvig’s shoes right now!’

  ‘They want to speak to you and Aimie.’ Theo shoved his thumb over his shoulder, flicking his head toward the lodge. ‘Good luck, mate,’ and he continued on his reluctant path towards the canteen.

  Theo wondered what he had to do around here to get noticed. He’d been an essential part of a successful quest. And he’d won the stupid obstacle competition, hadn’t he? But it was the same at home. His two younger step-brothers were the focus of his mother’s attention, and the less his stepfather saw of him the better. Would this be his role in life? Always second, or even third, choice?

  He drew in a gulp of calming breath, a technique advocated by his karate instructor, and resolved never to give up on his attempt to be selected to lead a quest of his own one day. That’s how he’d achieved his black belt – persistence and determination. Maybe next time it would be him! However, despite the hollow, nagging hurt in his chest where his heart should be, Theo still had space to cram in a smidgeon of sympathy for Zara. He’d heard the taunts flying around camp after he’d won the competition, and he knew she’d be taking the rejection delivered so bluntly by Max even harder than he was.

  ‘Hey, Theo! From hero to kitchen boy in less than twenty minutes –great achievement!’

  Theo shot a venomous glare across to where Felix presided over one of the three scrubbed pine tables in the canteen. He gritted his teeth, once again grateful for the ability to draw upon his martial arts training to bury his emotions and appear to all onlookers as cool, calm, and completely unaffected by the glancing blow Max had delivered to his confidence and self-esteem.

  As he diverted his path to slump down at a table next to Wil, his eyes clashed with Jasmine’s steady gaze causing her to flush and avert her eyes.

  ***

  ‘Ah, Aimie, Oscar, sit!’

  ‘I’ll gather the rucksacks, shall I, Father?’ said Rufus, rolling his eyes at the issued order.

  ‘Yes, Rufus, and the other participants, if you please.’

  ‘Sure.’

  Oscar watched as Rufus collected two over-stuffed black rucksacks from beside the door and dumped them on the low coffee table in front of them before leaving the cabin. The muscles in his stomach tightened as realisation dawned, and it was a few moments before he found his voice.

  ‘We’re going to Hadrixia? You picked us? Instead of Zara and Theo?’ he spluttered, swivelling his gaze to Aimie and then back to Max. ‘But… but why?’

  Oscar ran his fingertips over his trusty Swiss army knife as his heart jumped i
n excitement, swiftly followed by trepidation. He’d prayed for a return visit to Hadrixia but now that it looked like it was imminent a jolt of anxiety shot through his veins. Knowledge was not power, as Max so often preached, it was fear! Could they survive a second mission? Would their luck hold out?

  ‘This quest requires a different skill-set, Oscar. Rufus assures me that you and Aimie are the best equipped to succeed. As you may expect, I have little time to explain the details, but as soon as you transmorph into Hadrixia this time, you will meet with Aurelia. Show her the compass co-ordinates. She will understand their significance and direct your route, if not accompany you to the location of the Stone of Oridonyx.’

  Max paused to make sure he had their undivided attention.

  ‘This quest should be simpler and swifter than your last. Your journey south will not hold the same hazards as those you encountered when travelling west to the Forest of Cortia. Xophicus’ armies are concentrated in the battle to take the Sands of Fragonia in the far south of the country. Ah, here are your companions.’

  Oscar swung his eyes over his shoulder to see Wil and Jasmine lurking nervously on the threshold of the cabin. Rufus, bringing up the rear, gave them a gentle prod forward, his palm indicating for them to take a seat on the vacant, blossom-covered sofa.

  ‘I understand you are both acquainted with Jasmine Ying and Wilberforce O’Brien? Come in, come in, sit!’ Max demanded, curling his smoke-coloured hair behind his ears.

  As Jasmine and Wil moved tentatively into the room, Rufus dragged a third loaded rucksack from a carved trunk below the window and held it out to Wil. Will reached for the padded shoulder straps but was totally unprepared for its hefty weight and dropped it to the floor, struggling to raise it again. Oscar saw the corners of Jasmine’s lips curl into a smile, and he wasn’t surprised when she met no resistance whatsoever from Wil as she removed the backpack from his sagging shoulder and settled it securely and evenly across her back, tossing her glossy curtain of straight, dark hair from her face in a practised gesture.