Beyond the Cherry Tree by Joe O'Brien

Author:Joe O'Brien [Joe O'Brien]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781847173959
Publisher: The O'Brien Press
Published: 2012-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Flight with the White Dragon

Josh watched Danthenum tie three loops in a rope and harness it to Smolderin. Bortwig and Mad Argil quarrelled as to whether Mad Argil should journey back to Feldorn Forest with Baulge or tag along to the wizard Wilzorf’s.

Smolderin rested his head in the grass, his big azure eyes fixed upon the skies above, watching to the north. Josh slowly crept over toward Smolderin’s head, but carefully kept his distance in case he startled the dragon. Smolderin’s eyes rolled and flickered, and his nostrils puffed out hot jets of steam into the air. Josh leapt with fright, falling back into the grass.

Danthenum laughed and then reached out a hand to help the boy to his feet. Josh was shaken, but tried not to show it in front of Danthenum. He, too, would like to be strong and brave like the knight.

‘Don’t mind Smolderin,’ smiled Danthenum, patting Josh on the shoulder. ‘He must like you to even bother to play tricks on you.’

Josh managed a slight grin just to show that it didn’t really scare him. Bortwig came over to them, his hands on his head.

‘That critter will be the end of me,’ complained Bortwig.

‘Leave him to fate,’ laughed Danthenum. ‘You are not responsible for his well-being.’

‘Yes, yes, yes,’ huffed Bortwig. ‘But Norlif and Hink are allies and if Norlif knew that I’d left Argil, mad as he is, to his own demise, there would be bother upon me.’

It was decided. Only Baulge would travel back to Feldorn. He was badly injured, and would only burden the journey to Wilzorf.

Josh was worried about Baulge and whether he would make it back safely, but Bortwig explained to Josh that sea-ogres are very strong creatures.

‘Baulge will be just fine, Master Bloom,’ he smiled.

On Danthenum’s instruction, Josh slipped into the loop on Smolderin’s back behind the knight. He was followed by Bortwig, and finally, Mad Argil climbed on the end.

‘Are you sure you don’t want me to take you to the palace to see the council?’ asked Danthenum.

Bortwig shook his head. ‘There is business with the wizard. We must go there first. The council can wait a little longer.’

On those words, Smolderin’s wings unfolded.

‘Fly to the west,’ ordered Danthenum to the dragon. ‘To the swamps.’

Josh held on tight to Danthenum’s rope as gusts of wind bashed about him. The white dragon released his claws from the ground and with one big push, he ripped high through the sky. The last view Josh had of Heckrin’s Pass was that of an ogre belting across the wooden bridge.

There was little to no conversation on the journey to the swamps.

Flying with a dragon was noisy business. Flapping wings and gusting wind muffled out most noises, yet Mad Argil still managed to annoy Bortwig with his outrageous outbursts of screaming and howling. The dunger was having the time of his life. The flight was an opportunity for Smolderin to impress his passengers with his aerial skills through the clear blue skies of Habilon.

At times it was like a roller coaster.

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