The Tiger-Headed Horseman by Chris Walker

Author:Chris Walker [Walker, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781909716919
Publisher: Book Guild Publishing

16

The passageway was far longer and far darker than Lily had expected. She thought about her faithful horse Lucky who was sleeping somewhere far above her. He was the only link she had back to her life on the Steppe. Everything else in Baatarulaan was alien, particularly its politics and religions. Subjects she was unwittingly taking a crash course in. Drudger led the way carrying a flaming torch above his head. Danyal stayed near Lily to make sure she felt safe. The flickering light set spectral shadows dancing across the walls. It was damp and cold but at least the stench of Baatarulaan was locked firmly outside. Other than their footsteps the only sound was a million water droplets falling nonchalantly from the tunnel roof and splashing in an ordered, almost orchestral manner on to the muddy puddled passage below.

‘Not much further!’ shouted Drudger.

He was right. There was a short ladder leading up the side of a wall where he stood. Climbing it, he knocked hard on a wooden hatch in the passageway ceiling. Lily had no idea who Millie was but she knew she was heading to meet her. She trusted Danyal and, despite his shady personality and dodgy dress sense, even Drudger seemed to be earnest. Presently they heard a knocking from above. Listening carefully to the pattern of sound Drudger responded with a series of knocks – some hard, others soft. The trapdoor was lifted and the murky passageway flooded with light from above.

‘Right ho?’ asked an invisible voice from above the trapdoor.

‘Left ho ho,’ replied Danyal. A hand was thrust from the light and Danyal took it. Lily felt uneasy. ‘We are with friends,’ said Danyal as he was pulled out of sight into the luminosity. Lily saw his hand reaching down towards her from beyond the trap-door. ‘Please, you have to trust me.’ Danyal pulled Lily into the light. Drudger followed closely behind and shut the darkness behind them.

Lily peered around at her new surroundings as her eyes readjusted to the light. She was in a splendidly furnished home. The room into which they arrived appeared to be a hallway, though she wasn't certain – she had never been in a real hallway before. It did have a staircase, though. In front of her a particularly fanciful one swept widely upwards before splitting left and right towards the top to a mezzanine that overlooked the hall. An impressive front door that looked heavily fortified stood guard behind her. Around the walls were large tapestries that hung behind enormous urns containing plants, walking sticks and umbrellas. A heavily designed chandelier hung overhead. Lily guessed that it had to contain over a hundred candles.

The arm that had helped pull them into the room belonged to a stocky broad man who wore a bushy beard and broad grin. The man wore a garishly coloured shirt, baggy shorts and sandals, even though it was freezing outside. He laughed a good deal and when he spoke had an accent Lily had never heard before.

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