Dragon's Nest by Emily Rodda

Author:Emily Rodda [Rodda, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
ISBN: 9781921989674
Publisher: Scholastic Australia
Published: 2003-11-07T16:00:00+00:00

11 - Signs of Trouble

The road quickly narrowed to a rough, winding path. After more than an hour there was still no sign of Ringle or its outlying farms.

The ground on the left of the path began to fall away steeply. At last, the travellers found themselves being forced to ride in single file, with a steep, rocky hill on one side, and a jagged chasm on the other.

Lief reined in Honey and called a halt. ‘I think someone must have tampered with that signpost at the crossroads,’ he called, looking down at the fearsome drop on his left. ‘This is surely not the way to Ringle.’

‘I agree,’ Barda rumbled from behind him. ‘I fear we have been led to End Wood Gap. The post was leaning badly. No doubt it was loosened when it was turned around.’

‘But who would do such a thing?’ exclaimed Jasmine in irritation.

Barda shrugged. ‘Some lout with a tiny brain, who thought it amusing to mislead travellers.’

But Lief was not sure it was as simple as that. The ruby and the emerald in the Belt of Deltora were still as dull as river stones. His skin prickled with the awareness of danger, with the feeling that someone or something was wishing him ill.

On an impulse, he lowered his hand and pressed his fingers against the ruby. He shut his eyes, and with all his strength thought of the ruby dragon.

‘Wherever you are sleeping, dragon, awake!’ he whispered. ‘I summon you! The Belt of Deltora summons you!’

He opened his eyes. Nothing had changed. Nothing moved on the rocky hill, or in the chasm. The sky was blank and empty.

‘We will go back,’ he muttered. Impatiently he tried to turn Honey around, but the horse reared and snorted in terror as the earth at the edge of the narrow path crumbled under her hoofs.

Jasmine, Barda, Rolf and the guards shouted with one voice. Dirt and stones showered to the depths below.

Lief held on grimly, turning Honey’s head to face the front once more, urging her on till she found sure footing and at last stood trembling but safe on firm ground.

Sick with relief he patted her, speaking to her softly, cursing his own foolishness.

‘It is not safe to turn the horses here,’ said Barda unnecessarily. Lief turned in the saddle to glance at him. The big man’s face was beaded with sweat.

At a word from Jasmine, Kree took flight. He soared upward, made a great circle above their heads, and moments later was back, squawking harshly.

‘Kree says that ahead there is a bridge over the Gap,’ Jasmine said, ignoring the fascinated stares of the guards.

The straggling group moved on again. Sure enough, just around the next bend, where the gap narrowed a little, a rickety wooden bridge straddled the sickening drop. A roughly painted sign stood beside it.

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