Vengeful Earth: The Dark Sky Chronicles - Book Two by Daisy Dyson

Author:Daisy Dyson [Dyson, Daisy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2021-07-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The Bridge of Brotak, Hadrixia

‘At last, I thought we’d never arrive! Every time we caught a glimpse of the bridge it seemed to melt into the distance. How did it do that?’ Wil moaned, trailing Hartig’s walking stick behind him along the path.

Oscar ignored him, and signalled for them to crouch in the camouflage of the taller bulrushes further down the riverbank. ‘I think we should watch the bridge for a while before we attempt to cross.’

‘Good idea,’ Jasmine agreed, shuttling off into the tall reeds and ducking her head below the level of the grasses.

Everyone hunkered down to study the structure of the Bridge of Brotak; a crossing only wide enough for a horse and cart which was the reason why it was frequented less often than the bridge at Grotnol Town only a few hundred metres further downstream. The river was at low tide and a small pebble beach had formed on both banks under the arches of the bridge. Not one person or creature, magical or otherwise, crossed as darkness enveloped the landscape.

‘My feet are sinking into the mud,’ Wil complained. ‘How much longer do we have to wait here?’

‘Wil’s right,’ said Oscar, wishing that fear would release its grip from his throat to allow him to breath more freely. ‘Come on, I think we should risk it. Wil, you and Aimie go across first. When you reach the other side, hide beneath the arch until Jasmine and I follow. And Aimie? Is there anything you can do to stop that wretched bracelet from clinking? It’s bound to attract the attention of the Drizlix.’

Aimie pulled a face and stuffed Aurelia’s bracelet further up her tunic sleeve whilst Wil used Oscar’s exasperation to surreptitiously stash his bundle of garbage into the mud, stamping it down until it was consumed by the gloop before grabbing Aimie’s hand and launching himself out from their hiding place in the reeds to the top of the pathway over the bridge. With their heads bent low and backs curved against the star-strewn sky, they scampered to the other side of the river, dropping silently into the shadows on the opposite bank, and sheltered beneath the arches as directed.

Oscar sent them a thumbs up and, grabbing Jasmine’s hand, made his way up to the pathway. Just as they were about to cross, a blast of laughter floated through the air from their left. Oscar dragged Jasmine back into the bullrushes, but he lost his footing and, in his attempt not to squash the contents of his rucksack, he tumbled backwards, pulling Jasmine in his wake, down to the exposed pebble beach below. Fortunately, with Jasmine’s help, he managed to right himself just in time to scoot under the arch on that side of the river whilst they waited to see if they had been discovered.

‘Did you catch the look on Eldon’s face when you asked him if he was betrothed yet?’ giggled a high-pitched voice.

‘Well, Hilaria, he has got that dark, brooding thing going on.

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