to the Soul Mines, remember? And I don’t ever really remember being that safe in Sylvaris either. The Delightful Brothers and Mr Crow are still out there somewhere and let’s not forget that Bane managed to send his Shades not once but twice into Deepforest. If anything, we’re safer here where no one knows us!’
Charlie squirmed uncomfortably as she realized that in the heat of the moment she had forgotten that Jensen and Kelko were potentially in a great deal of trouble too. The burden of responsibility slammed down upon her shoulders. Friends, family, the future of Bellania …
‘So what am I supposed to do?’ she asked, finishing her train of thought aloud.
‘Winged One. Keeper,’ said Crumble Shard. ‘I know we have only just met and I know that in your eyes I am very much a stranger, but I would like to offer my help. My uncle always said that a problem shared is a problem halved. Perhaps if you were to voice your troubles we may be able to summon suitable counsel.’
Charlie sucked on her lower lip as she gave his idea some thought. Both he and Nibbler had raised some valid points and after so many mistakes she knew she could no longer act without forethought. However one thing bothered her slightly. ‘Is it Crumble Shard or just Crumble?’
‘Uh, just Crumble is fine.’
‘Crumble, I have to ask … do you always speak so formally or are you talking like that just to impress us?’
‘Um …’ Crumble blushed again, his cheeks turning crimson with embarrassment. ‘No I do not, I mean, no I don’t. It’s just that I was always taught to show respect to Winged Ones and Keepers and now I’m talking to both of you at the same –’
‘Crumble?’ said Charlie, interrupting the flustered boy.
‘Uh, yes?’
‘Do me a favour. Talk normally, will you? I’m only fourteen, but when you talk to me like that you make me feel old.’
‘You’re fourteen?’ squawked Nibbler. ‘You told me you were thirteen!’
‘I was, but I worked out the date – I had my birthday five days ago.’
‘Five days ago?’ Nibbler scrunched his eyes shut as he struggled with the calculations. ‘What, you mean you had your birthday when we were in Alavis?’
‘Yup. My fourteenth birthday was spent hanging from my wrists.’ Charlie shook her head. ‘Great party decor too, lots of straw, cobwebs and a fine collection of stinking, scurrying rats for party guests. Bellania really knows how to show a girl a good time. Crumble, how old are you?’
‘Fifteen.’
‘Great. A fifteen-year-old, a fourteen-year-old and a seven-year-old. I bet Bane and Darkmount are tembling in their boots right now.’ Charlie did her best to rein in her sarcasm. ‘OK, I guess talking can’t hurt.’ She sat close to the fire and indicated that the others should do the same.
‘Seven in Winged One years isn’t the same as in your years,’ said Nibbler, who obviously felt honour bound to defend his age. ‘Really. I’m sure if there was a mathematical equation we’d probably work out that I’m closer to fourteen or fifteen too.’ Seeing the carefully polite look on Crumble Shard’s face and the more-to-the-point raised eyebrow of Charlie, Nibbler squirmed on the spot. ‘Fine, don’t believe me, then. See if I care.’
Charlie sighed, rubbed at the empty spot round her neck then stared directly into Crumble’s eyes. ‘Let me tell you where we currently stand …’
The sun had set hours ago, but Sic Boy continued to carry Jensen across the darkened landscape of the Great Plains. Although Jensen, as a Treman, was more used to the rich splendour of the forest surrounding Sylvaris, he was nonetheless a seasoned traveller and took delight in all the places that he visited. The grasslands of the plains did not have an ounce of the wildlife found in Deepforest, but if you knew where to look there were wonders to be seen: the huge herds of purple and green striped antelope, the soaring bila eagles, the crafty prairie foxes, the two-streak moths with their seven-foot wingspans and so much more than would have been believed in such a seemingly desolate place. Now that it was night Jensen found himself bewitched by the beautifully eerie mating song of fengris bats. In his attempt to spot the creatures his eyes had inched skyward and now he could hardly drag them away from the wonder of the stars. Bright and unmarred by any terrestrial lamps, lights or fires, they glowed supreme. Here, out in the wide, wide