Ninja by Chris Bradford

Author:Chris Bradford [Bradford Chris ]
Language: ita
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781781120590
Publisher: Barrington Stoke UK

Chapter 7

Black Eagle Castle

I speed-run through the forest, moving like the wind between the trees. Cho is ahead of me. She leaps over a log, as light and fast as a young deer.

We carry almost nothing since we need to be fast. I have my shuriken stars in my pack. Cho has a grappling hook on her belt and a sword strapped to her back. We are both dressed head-to-toe in the black uniform of the ninja.

We climb high into the mountains and take a short-cut into the next valley. We must catch the samurai before they get to their castle.

Cho helps me across a rocky river-bed and up the other side. I’m panting now and my legs shake with the effort of the climb. As we get to the top of the ridge, Cho suddenly stops.

“We’re too late,” she gasps.

I look down into the gorge below where a fast-flowing river runs. Marching up the road, a troop of samurai cross the river’s only bridge and enter Black Eagle Castle.

The castle rises out of the rock like the broken tooth of a giant. A high wall surrounds the castle on all sides. Samurai guards armed with spears and swords stand on the battlements.

“What do we do now?” I ask Cho.

“Wait here until sunset,” she says. “Then enter the castle.”

“Do you know where the Scrolls will be?”

“No,” Cho replies. “But if we find Lord Oda, we find the Scrolls.”

I try not to show my alarm at this plan. Back at the temple, I was confident. Now I’ve seen the castle, with its high walls and armed guards, I’m no longer so bold.

The sun drops behind the mountains and the gorge grows dark. In the night sky a full moon rises.

“Time to go,” says Cho, running along the ridge to where a tall tree has fallen and now spans the gap.

“We’ll cross one at a time. You go first,” orders Cho.

I take a look at the tree she wants me to use as a bridge and an ice-cold shiver of fear runs down my spine. The river roars far below and I’m glad I can’t see the terrifying drop in the darkness. As I cross, the tree creaks and groans like it’s about to break.

“Keep going!” hisses Cho.

Once I get to the other side, Cho follows. She’s more bold than me and gets across in a few easy leaps.

We now climb down the mountainside behind the castle. It’s very dangerous. The cliff face is steep and it’s hard to see where to put my hands and feet. But we can’t risk being seen by the samurai.

At last we reach the bottom and I breathe a sigh of relief.

We hide behind a rock as a samurai patrol passes by, then we make a dash for the castle wall. Cho throws her grappling hook high into the air. It catches on the top of the wall and we climb up the rope.

Then we’re inside the castle and we must stay alert. Samurai are everywhere. My heart is thumping in my chest as we creep down a flight of stone stairs and into a court-yard.

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