The Secret Of The Unicorn Queen -The Dark Gods by Josepha Sherman

Author:Josepha Sherman [Sherman, Josepha]
Language: eng
Format: epub

10

Into the Palace

There was one thing about Erech-ban, thought Sheila as she, Dian, and Pelu scurried through the dark, narrow streets that reminded her very much of Campora. Something she was beginning to really dislike about cities in this world: nobody seemed to have figured out a way to light the streets at night!

It wasn't for the lack of any really clever folk; Sheila suspected that wizards here could solve by magic pretty much the same problems inventors like Dr. Reit solved by science in her own world. No, the people here just didn't seem to see the need for street lamps.

Everybody goes to bed early and gets up early, and that's that. But the darkness didn't make finding the road to Kumuru's palace an easy job.

Sheila could see the palace easily enough. That wasn't the problem. It was difficult not to see it, the way the building and its supporting mountain loomed over Erech-ban like a great, brooding beast, darker than the night around it. But none of these crazy, twisting little streets— some apparently no more than alleys cut by the stonecarvers to separate the rows of sandstone houses—seemed to go in the right direction! And they could hardly knock on somebody's door and say, "Excuse me, we're trying to break into the royal palace. Can you show us how to get to it?" It was such a ridiculous thought that Sheila had to fight down a fit of giggles.

Stop that! she scolded herself. It isn't funny!

It really wasn't funny. Precious time was passing while they scrambled to find a way out of this maze. And they didn't want to waste too much more of it, because they only had this one night to get Illyria out before it was too late. Besides, just because they hadn't yet seen any guards patrolling the streets didn't mean there weren't any such patrols. Worse, who knew what supernatural means Kumuru might have to guard his city? They didn't dare attract anyone's attention!

Still, that ridiculous image of a startled Erech-bani housewife staring at her while she politely asked for directions kept popping back into Sheila's mind no matter what she did.

Think of something else, fast! Or you’re-- "Oh, no." Pelu's voice was a soft groan. "Not another dead end! And I was so sure we were finally going the right way.”

That stopped any urge Sheila had to laugh. For a moment the three warriors stared in silent dismay at the blank wall blocking their path.

Then Pelu sighed. "There's no help for it. We'll just have to retrace our steps and try again."

"Yes," whispered Dian urgently, "but which way did we come?"

"Why, down that way. I think."

"Uh, Pelu," cut in Sheila softly. "I thought we came that way.

"You see what I mean?" Dian's voice shook. "There aren't any straight streets here, or even any right angles. I don't know where we are! And neither do you!"

"Softly, Dian! Don't worry. We'll find our way out."

"How? Pelu, no one in this city bothered to paint us any street signs.

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