The Age of Akra by Vacen Taylor

Author:Vacen Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Odyssey Books
Published: 2015-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Hamulad Mountain

Terra explained the process of milking a spiderflax. It sounded dangerous, frightening and almost impossible. She had sketched the location of the spiderflax’s lair on a parchment and handed it to Mai for safekeeping. The lair could be found on Hamulad Mountain. Once they had the spiderflax’s venom it should be mixed with other ingredients and then poured into her sleeping brother’s mouth to wake him. Terra had given the ingredients to Mai. She had also packed a good amount of food, some water, and cloth soaked in oil to make torches for when they entered the lair.

As they walked away from the village, carrying the supplies Terra had provided, Mai wondered why she had been selected by the ministers. She’d always come last when competing in desert races and she never played physical games because she was too busy reading. Then she thought about Long, but resisted the urge to look back at him, thinking he’d been loyal to come with them but wished he hadn’t volunteered to be her chaperone.

Mai and Akra walked along a dry river bed with Long trailing behind. Mai had studied the parchment Terra had given her before they left. She was good with maps. Long had suggested taking an easier route, but once again Mai made the decision. The map clearly showed this way to be the shortest path, though it was also the hardest and they already had been walking for hours.

Not long after, they reached a point where the riverbed split in two directions. The creek bed had turned into a deep dry hole. Above the hole was a large crack that formed an opening in the grey stone wall. Dangling crusty brown moss swayed in the hot breeze. Years ago, water may have poured from the belly of this mountain, but not anymore. Terra had told them when they reached the fork in the riverbed they would also come across a wall of stone, called the Shoulder, where their climb would begin.

‘This must be it.’ Long slipped the bag from his shoulders and dropped it to the ground. ‘How far do we have to climb?’

‘Almost to the top,’ Mai said uncomfortably.

Long leant back and looked up; now shadowing them was the mountain of Hamulad. He gave a dismal laugh then looked miserable. ‘I’d rather walk through the desert with no water.’

‘Think of it as an adventure.’ Mai said nothing more.

Akra and Mai sat under the shade of a tree to eat. Long wasted no time in scoffing down his portion of food.

‘Can I have some more?’ he asked.

‘We don’t have much. It has to last us a few days at least.’

‘You can have some of mine,’ Akra offered. ‘I’m not feeling very hungry.’

‘That’s why he’s my buddy for life,’ he scoffed to his sister.

Mai ignored him and started packing away the food. ‘It’s best if we keep moving.’ She was already tired and guessed that Akra and Long felt the same way. She hesitated for a moment, then found her determination and decided not to be tired anymore.

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