Rise of the Darklings by Paul Crilley

Author:Paul Crilley [Crilley, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-1-60684-238-6
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Published: 2010-09-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

In which Emily gives the stone to the Faerie Queen and asks for her help in searching for William.

THREE THIRTY IN THE MORNING

ON THE SECOND DAY OF EMILY’S ADVENTURES.

So how did you get it?” asked Corrigan eagerly as they hurried through the late-night streets. “Did you have to kill anyone?”

Emily glared at Corrigan. “Don’t be stupid. Why would we kill anyone?”

Corrigan shrugged. “You never know. You humans are a bloodthirsty lot. I see you’ve still got your little pet following you around.”

“My what?” She followed his gaze. He was looking at Jack. “Oh.”

Jack’s face twisted with outrage. He aimed a kick at Corrigan, but the piskie danced out of the way. “This way,” he said, turning a corner.

“I thought we were going to see Queen Kelindria,” said Emily. “That’s not the way we went before.”

“We’re not going to Underlondon,” called Corrigan, scampering ahead.

Emily hurried after the piskie. “What do you mean? Where are we going?”

“The Queen said that if you got the stone, I was to take you to the house she uses when she’s up here. Quicker that way.”

They walked on through quiet streets lined by darkened houses. Emily fretted all the way. She had the means to find William in her pocket, and it seemed to her that Corrigan was taking too long to take them to their destination.

Finally, after about half an hour, Corrigan stopped before a high wall.

“We’re here.”

Emily looked up. The wall towered above her, and tree branches hung over the top as if reaching for the ground. The gates were made from polished wood, coaxed and shaped to look like twining branches, so it was as if the trees themselves were barring entrance into the grounds.

Emily peered through the gates. Everything was overgrown, a tangle of grass and flowers gone wild. A stone path, with thick grass between the gaps, twined around the shrubs and trees and led to a large house that was just visible through the vegetation.

Corrigan pushed open the gates. Jack made as if to step through, but Corrigan held up a hand to stop him.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“With you,” said Jack, puzzled.

“Not a chance. If the Queen found out I gave you the sight, she’ll have my hide. You’ll have to stay out here.”

Jack opened his mouth to protest, but Emily laid a hand on his arm. “It’ll be all right. We shouldn’t be long. Isn’t that right?” she asked Corrigan.

“Eh, no. Not too long.”

“You see? We’ll meet you back out here.”

“I’m not happy with this, Snow.” Jack lowered his voice. “I don’t trust him.”

Emily shrugged. “I don’t have a choice. Not if I want to get William back. Please, Jack. For me?”

Jack hesitated, then finally nodded. “Fine. I’ll see you back here.” He glared a warning at Corrigan, but the piskie ignored him and stepped through the gate.

Emily followed him through, but they had gone only a few steps into the heavy undergrowth when Corrigan took her hand and pulled her to a stop.

“Wait,” he said.

Emily stood still, wondering what it was they were waiting for.

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