Freeglader by Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell

Author:Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell [Stewart, Paul & Riddell, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Ages 10 and up
ISBN: 9780307522764
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2005-01-01T07:00:00+00:00

Amberfuce turned to the open-mouthed quartermaster, a slyly knowing look on his face. You have something to say, perhaps? he asked, his sibilant voice hissing in Quillet's head. No? Well then, let us make our way to my good friend Hemuel Spume's palace without delay.

As they made their way down the hill towards the glades below, the noise and smell and choking smoke grew more and more intense. Ahead of them, the trees thinned until they found themselves picking their way through a forest of tree-stumps. The air grew hot and sooty, and instead of tall forest trees, the glowing metal foundry chimneys towered over them, belching out smoke.

Amberfuce pulled his scarf up over his mouth. His breath was coming fast and wheezy. Flambusia fussed with him anxiously, reaching up every few steps to pop a cough-lozenge into his mouth.

They approached the first furnace they came to, and Quillet's beady eyes narrowed. A long line of workers snaked from the huge timber stacks on one side of the furnace to its open fiery mouth on the other. With heavy groans of exertion, they fed the flames with an endless supply of logs passed by hand down the line, while overseers patrolled, cracking heavy tilderleather whips. The sky pirates looked at one another.

‘Poor creatures,’ muttered Stegrewl, the long-haired goblin.

‘Oi! You, there!’ came a rough voice. ‘Stop right there!’

They turned to see a phalanx of burly flat-head goblin guards bearing down on them, a large, battle-scarred captain at their head.

Amberfuce tapped Flambusia on the shoulder, motioning her forward, but before he could speak, Quillet Pleeme had pushed past her and addressed the captain face to face.

‘Greetings!’ he said, bowing his head in salute. ‘We are sky pirates who have risked our lives to escort Chancellor Amberfuce of old Undertown safely to the Foundry Glades…’

The captain delivered a swift blow to the quartermaster's midriff that sent him tumbling to the ground, doubled up and gasping for breath. ‘Silence, scum!’ he roared, raising his sword.

My dear captain … er … Hegghuft, is it? Amberfuce's honeyed tones sounded inside the guard's head. I can tell you are a warrior of great distinction. One of my great friend Hemuel Spume's most trusted captains. He will be pleased when I tell him of your … er … diligence.

The waif pulled his scarf down to reveal a sickly, ingratiating smile.

The goblin stared back at him and slowly lowered his sword.

‘Now if you would be so kind as to take me to your master …’ Amberfuce said out loud, fighting to stifle the cough rising in his throat.

The captain nodded slowly, then turned to his guards. ‘Take their weapons,’ he ordered, indicating the sky pirates before turning back to the waif. ‘This way, Chancellor,’ he growled.

They made their way through the Foundry Glades, past furnaces bigger and more terrible than the first, barging through scurrying workers and their bullying guards, until at last ahead of them, the palace loomed into view. They hurried across the front courtyard, in through

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