The Dragonfire Crystal by Suzanne Round

Author:Suzanne Round
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Authors On Line Ltd
Published: 2013-03-05T00:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

CAPTURED BY THE DWARF

“I found these two young-uns wanderin’ around in the upper levels your honours. What shall I do with um?”

“Release them Nickos, they can cause no harm.” Kasper Krystaline told the dwarf gently. “Let’s hear what they have to say for themselves.”

Jack and Ben were too frightened and cold to move; they felt as if someone had poured freezing water over their heads. So much had happened in such a short time, that they had no idea where they were or who the strange people could be. But, slowly fear drained away and thought and movement began to return.

They were no longer in the dark shadows of the tunnels, that much was clear, but were now in a high-roofed cavernous stone room lit by flaming torches hung high in brackets on the walls.

Both boys blinked, rubbed their eyes and stared around. A long table filled the centre of the vast cave with two rows of ornately carved chairs along the sides of it. Ben stared at them in awe; something deep inside him stirred – something he didn’t understand.

Jack was first to notice the two old men watching them. He dug Ben in the ribs and nodded towards them. Both of them took a few steps backward.

Uncertainly, Jack asked in a low voice, “Who are you?” When no immediate reply came, he said more confidently, “What is this place? Where are we?”

The taller of the two old men moved forward, both boys took another step back. Then Ben shifted his position so that he was almost hidden behind Jack.

“It’s all right lad,” the old man chuckled. “Nothing can harm you here.”

But the boys still weren’t convinced. They stood rigid and watchful. Jack staring at the old man, defiantly not looking away from the coal-black eyes that seemed to be boring right into him, as though examining his from the inside out.

Ben felt himself trembling and nervously looked anywhere but at the old man. As his eyes strayed to the far side of the cave-room Ben was amazed to see a gulley filled with sparkling clear water, running into a sunken pool close to the cave’s wall.

He tried hard to make sense of the strange place. Even when an odd feeling – a half-remembered something deep inside him made him feel he ought to recognise the water pool, his brain just wouldn’t co-operate. Yet it just wouldn’t go away. Unable to understand what it all meant Ben gave up trying, he let the sudden rush of mixed emotions overwhelm him.

Clutching at Jack’s arm, he whispered, “Let’s get out of here.”

It was not Jack who answered him though, but the second old man watching them from beside the table.

“Do you no good to run boy, you’ll never find your way through the tunnels. Leave here without help and you could be wandering around for days… weeks maybe… even years, if you live that long.”

Ben shuddered; the ice-cold fear still gripped him.

Jack, his confidence back and his strong voice recovered shouted, “You can’t keep us here, it’s kidnappin’ that is.

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