Rowan and the Ice Creepers by Emily Rodda

Author:Emily Rodda
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2022-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Within the hour the companions were slowly threading their way through the columns of ice once more, this time with Zeel in the lead. It had not taken long for her keen eyes to pick up the trail that Rowan had been unable to find.

All four of them were hurt, but Norris was in the worst state. His injured leg had been further damaged in the fight, and the wound in his side was deep and painful.

But was his suffering the only reason for his heavy silence? Rowan wondered. Or did the real trouble lie somewhere within?

For Norris's face was like thunder. He did not join the chorus of feeble cheers that greeted the sight of another rocky archway ahead—an archway through which a blur of dull gray could be seen. He did not look up as the companions struggled at last out of the vale of horrors and into the open air.

This does not bode well, Rowan thought. And as he looked about him and recognized the bleak, steep, snow-covered slope that lay beyond the archway, his heart sank.

A bitter wind swept around them. The light was dim. The bukshah tracks showed dark on the snow, climbing upward until they were lost among tumbled rocks. Beyond the rocks was a wall of towering black cliffs. Above the cliffs there was nothing to be seen but swirling mist.

Three figures, trudging upward in single file.

This was the place of his dream. The first dream of all.

But the dream will not come true, Rowan told himself. It cannot come true. Norris and Shaaran and I are not alone. Zeel is with us.

He realized that Zeel was speaking to him. "We must find shelter, and soon," she was murmuring. "A place where we can light a fire."

Three figures huddled in fear around afire.

"The cave…” Rowan mumbled.

"Cave?" Zeel exclaimed. "What cave?"

Rowan shook his head to clear it. "I only meant… there… there must be a cave, surely, in those cliffs above," he stammered.

Zeel considered him with her head on one side. "Why are you so certain?" she asked.

Rowan hesitated. He could see that Zeel suspected he knew more than he was telling. In one way he longed to confide in her. But he had not admitted to his terrible dreams before, so how could he do so now, in this bleak place, with Shaaran and Norris hovering on the edge of despair?

Zeel shook her head impatiently. "Keep your secrets, then!" she snapped. "But if you know there is a cave, Rowan, it is madness not to tell me. We are in danger! Where are we to go? How are we to hide?"

And instantly the medallion grew hot. In horror Rowan snatched at it, consumed by the memory of that burning pain, that terrifying feeling of being taken over by something other than himself.

"Oh, Rowan! I did not mean to… oh, I am sorry!" Zeel's cry rang in his ears. "Rowan, do not fight it! Let it…”

Her voice faded away.

Do not fight it.

Rowan resisted the urge to pull the burning medallion away from his skin.

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