Maze Keepers by Linda McNabb

Author:Linda McNabb
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy for all ages, fantasy for middle grade, fantasy adventure, fantasy for teens, magical fantasy, fantasy, Eion Colfer, Rick Riordan, Wolves of the Beyond, tamora pearce
Publisher: Southern Star Publishing
Published: 2015-12-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

ROCKHAVEN

THE SUN WAS WARM ON Quin’s face as they continued up the steep path. So far he hadn’t seen any sign of a village. All he could see was trees, rivers and rocks right out to the horizon. They seemed to be heading towards a large mountain. He wanted to ask if it would be easier to go around it, but the path seemed well-trodden and he figured she must know the way to her own home.

‘Mog, come,’ Briar called out as she paused at a sharp bend in the path. Quin couldn’t see around the corner but he could hear snatches of words drifting on the stiff, cold breeze. Had they reached Rockhaven?

The moondog fell into step with Briar and the girl placed one hand on his neck. They rounded the corner and the path widened out to a rocky plateau that led directly up to a cliff face. Several young men were carrying bundles of wood across the plateau and they stopped when they saw the group arriving.

Quin expected them to call a hello to Briar but instead the boys just watched them, unsmiling and cautiously keeping a good distance away.

‘I don’t think they like strangers,’ Keris muttered to Quin.

Quin realised they weren’t even looking at him or Keris. The boys’ eyes were following Briar, or Mog, or both.

Briar patted Mog’s neck several times and glared at the boys angrily. ‘It’s okay, Mog. They just don’t know you like I do.’

So it was the moondog the boys were unsure of. Quin wondered why. Mog walked on, glowing brightly and seeming unconcerned at the scrutiny that was upsetting Briar so much.

‘Briar!’ a voice called and Quin looked up ahead. A short, round woman had appeared by the cliff face. Quin looked around to see where she could have come from and spotted a set of large doors set into the stone cliff.

The woman waved and smiled as she hurried forward to greet them. At least someone seemed pleased to see them.

‘It is good to see you, Elva,’ Briar said, breaking out into a broad grin. The change in her face was dramatic and it turned her from a sulky, serious youth to a pretty girl. ‘I told you I’d be back.’

‘I knew you wouldn’t return without your friend,’ Elva said, nodding at Mog, and then looking at the others with her with a slight frown. ‘And it seems you’ve found a few more.’

‘I’m Quin, and this is Keris. We’re here to look for...’ Quin started to explain, but Briar waved at him to stay quiet. Now was apparently not the time.

The boys had come to stand behind Elva and stare at the new arrivals. Elva turned to them and raised one eyebrow. ‘Go and tell the Mayor that his daughter has returned.’

‘Do we have to, Mother?’ one asked, looking less than thrilled by the request and staring directly at Briar.

Elva took a deep breath before replying. ‘Or you could haul in a dozen loads of wood today if you prefer.

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