A Thunder of Monsters by S.A. Patrick

Author:S.A. Patrick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd

The battle between the devil-birds and the Pipers lay frozen before them – deadly foes locked in an unending fight for life.

“Will you explain now, ghost?” said Barver. Since leaving the enclosure of the helsterhogs, he and Patch had asked repeatedly how they were going to end the time-freezing spell without just making the battle continue to rage. Lar-Sennen had never given a direct answer, and had merely claimed that, “All would be well” and “You will see.”

“Patch, will you please step towards the edge of the spell’s effect?” said the ghost.

The Piper Army was surrounded by devil-birds, and so wherever Patch went it was devil-birds that were closest to him. He held his nerve and moved right up to the curious shimmer in the air. “Now what?” said Patch.

“Reach out,” said Lar-Sennen. “Push your hand through the spell!”

Warily, Patch did as instructed. The shimmer surrounded his hand, accompanied by a sparkling ripple that flowed across his skin.

“You see?” said the ghost. “As Guardian, you are unaffected by the time spell.”

Barver looked puzzled. “But how does that help us? Everyone else is still trapped.”

“Patch must venture inside, and carry each person out,” said the ghost. “We’ll be able to take the most injured first and treat them one at a time.”

Patch’s eyes widened. There were well over two hundred people within the spell. It was going to be a long day. “Everyone?” he said. “Just by myself?”

Lar-Sennen gave a sympathetic nod. “The protection is specific to the one who commands Massarken,” he said. “That is you, and no other.”

“Can’t I just give the bracelet to somebody else?” he said. He tried to slide the bracelet off his wrist, but it seemed to have shrunk.

Lar-Sennen looked horrified. “No!” he said. “You are Guardian.”

“What, for the rest of my life?” said Patch.

“Should you decide to give up the honour, there is a ritual that can be performed,” said the ghost. “By the light of a full moon.”

Patch frowned. He looked back to the battle, and all the people he was going to have to move. His eyes widened again as he noticed Merta. “And what about the griffin?” he cried. “I can’t lift her!”

“Well, you could carry the devil-birds out of the spell too,” said the ghost. “As Guardian of Massarken they shouldn’t attack you. Although they do tend to get a bit feisty, so I can’t guarantee they wouldn’t lash out.”

Patch looked at the lethal claws of the nearest devil-birds. “I’ll pass on that idea,” he said.

“I have it!” said the ghost. “Move all the birds away from the griffin so they can’t harm her when the spell is lifted, but keep them inside the spell so they remain frozen for now. Then when you order the spell removed, the devil-birds will return to their nests as Massarken commands, leaving the griffin unharmed.”

“Move all the devil-birds…” said Patch, suddenly feeling very very tired indeed. It really was going to be a long day.

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