"Nor do I," his guide admitted. "But it was your brother's choice to remain in the cave. A wise and brave decision it was too."

"How can you say that!" Julian challenged angrily. "Staying where a dragon can gobble you up whenever it gets tired of listening to your music doesn't seem like a very good idea to me."

"Julian not hear what brother say?" Timon asked, hovering in front of the boy's face as he trudged along behind Hope. "Dragon be very angry if Whittle run away. Better to stay in cave 'til balloon be fixed."

"That's easy for you to say. He's not your brother, is he?"

"No, but he be very good friend," the pixie pointed out in a wounded voice. "Timon be very sad if master Whittle get eaten by dragon."

"Oh do be quiet!" Hope cried, her own concern for Whittle causing her to speak more harshly than intended. "I'm sorry, Timon," she relented, as the small pixie's light dimmed in the evening dusk. "I didn't mean to snap. Perhaps it would be best if we stopped talking."

"Why?" the boy pixie asked. "Dragon flown away - not be back 'till morning now."

"We can't be certain of that, Timon," the girl explained patiently. "Perhaps he has left the island, but perhaps he is still about, hunting us.

"However, if he follows his normal schedule and stays away until sunrise, we should be safe enough, for the time being at least."

"If the dragon is going to be gone 'till sunrise why does Whittle have to stay in that stinky old cave?" Julian wanted to know. "Why can't he spend the nighttime with us, and return to his prison before the beast comes back?"

"Because the dragon doesn't always stay away all night." Hope explained, though she, herself, wished that the long, lean young man with his easy stride and quiet nature were walking by her side. "If he were to return and find Whittle gone . . ." Hope's sentence wasn't finished, not because she failed for words, but because a sound behind her broke her train of thought.

Julian had heard it too. "What was that?" the boy grabbed hold of Hope's arm and whispered in her ear.

"It sounded like some stones rolling down the side of the cliff," Hope whispered back.

"Maybe it's Whittle decided to come with us after all," the boy said hopefully.

"He would have caught up to us by now, or given some sign that he was following behind," was Hope's response.

"Maybe dragon," Timon suggested, his wings beating extra fast as though preparing for a fight, or flight.

"No. Chester and I have taken great pains to make certain that this path remains a secret. Even if the dragon has discovered it, the way is too full of underbrush and too rocky for such a great beast to travel without making much more noise. It was probably nothing. We're just nervous. But it is getting late. We must hurry if we're to get down the trail by nightfall. Come," and without looking back Hope moved swiftly down the narrow twisting path.

Though Julian glanced behind him several times and kept an attentive ear, he neither saw nor heard anything farther the rest of the way down the trail.

"Wait," Hope ordered after they had crawled through the narrow opening at the base of the trail and Julian began to move toward the woods. "We must put the limbs back over the entrance, or risk discovery of the trail by the dragon."

Julian half-heartedly helped lay the leafy green branches back over the narrow craves they had passed through. Now that the excitement of finding and leaving his brother had began to diminish, the boy was once more aware of how ravenously hungry he was.

"I hope Chester has left some of that fish for us," he muttered as Hope carefully placed the last limb over the entrance.

"Chester would starve rather than see me go hungry," Hope said with conviction. "I'm sure he has some fish chowder simmering in the pot, waiting for our return."

"Sound delicious, but Timon must go now. Been away from Queen Mother too long," the young pixie announced firmly. And without another word the small sprite flew away.

By the time Julian and Hope reached their temporary sanctuary the evening had grown dark, and the stars were beginning to come out, one by one, in the clear nighttime sky above them.

"It would be beautiful here, were it not for the danger of the place," Alanna commented as the small group gathered about the fire to share the modest meal that Chester had prepared.

"Speaking of danger, what do you suppose has become of Clayton?" Julian asked, suddenly remembering their missing companion.

"Well, it be nice someone has given their old friend some thought," a voice grumbled as a figure stepped out of the darkness. "I don't suppose you left anything for this poor hungry soul?"

"Perhaps you would be kind enough to explain where you've been, Clayton," Chester said sternly, not much liking the idea of sharing their meager rations with a man who refused to pitch in and do any work to earn it.

"Where I've been is my own business," the man answered surly. "You going to share what you got with me, or not?"

"I guess that's what Whittle would want us to do," Julian said, though it was clear he didn't much like the idea either.

"Poor Whittle, he must be half starved by now, "Alanna said sadly.

"Chester, do you suppose we could take Whittle some food and drink?" Hope asked, turning pleading eyes on her friend. "I know the path like the back of my hand, and the moon will be coming up soon to give us some light."

"It's too dangerous, Hope," the old man said with a shake of his head. "The path is too narrow and there's too many places you might slip and fall down the hill. I won't hear of it."

"I know a spell that will give us some light," Alanna volunteered.

"And have the dragon see you miles off?" Clayton scorned. "The young man might as well have fed himself and us to the dragon."

"How do you know that Whittle is still alive?" Hope asked, her distrust of the man making her, perhaps, unduly suspicious of him.

"You just said you wanted to take the boy some food and drink, didn't you?" the man answered Hope's question with a question of his own. "I say we let Whittle take care of himself. He wouldn't want no one taking any chances on his account."

"Tell me about this spell, Alanna," Hope said, turning her back on Clayton and addressing the young girl who sat next to the low burning campfire.

Some time later Hope, Chester and Alanna stood at the base of the cliff where the entrance to the secret trail began.

"How could you be so careless, Hope?" Chester asked sternly. "It's not like you. Suppose the dragon had happened along?"

Hope looked at the limbs that lay on the ground, and a few tossed as if in haste over the opening and said nothing. She thought she knew now what the noise on the trail had been caused by, and who it was that had been following them, but she had no proof, and even if she had, what good would it do anyone to voice her suspicions?

Chester carried a bucket of water, Hope a large bowl of thick chowder and Alanna walked between them, ready to light her wand should the way become too difficult. Julian they had left behind to keep a watch on Clayton, who, Alanna had warned the boy, was not to be allowed near either Todd's walking staff, or Dagu's lamp.

A large, orange, recently risen moon cast enough light to guide them along the path in open places, and Alanna's wand provided light in the shadowed spots where walking became more difficult, so that they arrived at the top of the trail without mishap.

"Poor Whittle!" Alanna cried when she saw the dark opening of the cave. "To think of him in there all alone, waiting for the return of that evil monster!"

"The boys got gumption," Chester admitted, "You stay here, girls, while I go in and deliver the provisions. If you see the dragon coming back you hide yourself and when the coast is clear make your way back down the trail. Old Chester will follow as he's able."

"Nonsense, Chester," Hope said briskly. "You know as well as I that I am not going to let you go in there alone."

"And as I am the light-bearer I must go as well," Alanna said bravely. "Only let's hurry before I lose my nerve," she added candidly.

They found Whittle curled up on the floor sleeping, but he woke instantly at the touch of Hope's hand on his shoulder.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, sitting up and looking at them in disbelief. "You must leave at once before the dragon returns!"

"We've brought you something to eat and drink," Hope said humbly, a little hurt by his unwelcoming attitude.

"That was most kind of you, I'm sure, now please, go."

But it was too late, for from far down the cave they heard the heavy footfalls of a large beast approaching.

Dragon's Claw Book One
Price $12.95  
    by Charles M. Clark
(Browser Readable E-Book on CD-ROM contains Music & No Sound Options)

FROM THE BOOK STORE

Prince Adam returns home to find his father, the King, gravely ill, some say dying. Feeling unprepared for the duties of kingship, and unhappy about a proposed marriage between himself and a rather plain princess, Adam makes a plea to the Powers that be for guidance and help. Adam then falls into a deep sleep and awakes in an unfamiliar land full of sinister foes and wild men. Yet it is one of these wild men that takes Adam under his wing and teaches the young prince what it takes to be a real leader. Charles M. Clark has written this book for older children and teens, but older folks enjoy it as well. All Antelope Publishing's fantasy books are browser readable and come on CD-ROM. The CD-ROM contains TWO books. One book with music and special electronic enhancements, and one book without, for times when a quieter read is desired. For more information about browser readable e-books CLICK HERE

The Making of a King
Price $9.95  
    by Charles M. Clark
(Browser Readable E-Book on CD-ROM contains Music & No Sound Options)

Stories of action, adventure, romance, mystery, sci-fi, old time literature, and just plain fun, for the entire family.

This fantasy site, its story and graphics, is copyrighted © 2004, Antelope Publishing and is presented FREE to its readers.
No portion of this site may be reproduced without the publisher's express permission.

1824