Текст книги "The Magical Key"

Автор книги: Martie Florence

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The city of Ariadna met them with the bright merry sunshine coming down from the clear blue sky. But the merchants and tradesmen were anxiously closing their shops, dismantling the booths, packing goods into sacks and baskets, rolling carpets up. Hurrying in all directions, detachments of soldiers supplemented the total muddle.

Lynette and Andreas returned to the yacht and saw Jim and Iven waiting for them at the gangboard, remaining outwardly imperturbable in contrast to alarmed sailors and merchants bustling near other ships confusedly.

"Trolls have been noticed near the city," the Elf explained the stir, "it's the rumour of the day."

"The monsters are hunting for me," Lynette was the first to come aboard, "we must sail away now, my presence can endanger these people."

They departed without delay and headed to the midday aquamarine expanse of the open sea, the surf rustle and crying gulls.

On looking back they saw the pursuers. A dozen of big boats made an appearance floating down the river through the city, hefty trolls swarming on the decks like dark shaggy spots, halberds in paws.

Hundreds of knights and soldiers lined up along the embankments, composed a kind of a phalanx, tight rows of shields bristled up with levelled lances, manifesting their eagerness to conduct a defence.

However the monsters didn't attack them, even hardly paid any attention to them, just passed by, intently chasing the prey ahead. Lubberly set sails made the boats careen, but the trolls took long oars. Barking something out rudely, the chieftain was urging the rowers forward. A gloating howl and gruff commands became heard when the hostile flotilla came out of the estuary and began to catch up with the yacht.

"They are going to grapple with us," Andreas checked whether his sword could be unsheathed easily. Standing beside him, Lynette tightened the belt of her scabbard. No shade of any fear but concentration in their eyes.

Jim dashed to open a larder hatch and took a not very large battle-axe out, the blade glinted with bluish steel.

"What shall you do with them?" Andreas slightly wondered when Iven, who had already put a quiver and a bow on his shoulder, hurriedly fetched three Elvish lanterns from the lower deck, in daylight they looked like big white convolute rosebuds in silver casings, small chains to carry or hang by.

"They can dispel all kinds of darkness," the Elf smiled a little enigmatically. Then he twirled one lantern by the chain like a sling and hurled it towards the enemies. It flew above the sea, burst in the air and scattered a sparkling golden mist above the two leading boats, a quiet crystal chime accompanied the flickering of that bright cloud.

"Elvish magic!!! It burns!!" the trolls screamed and dropped their oars rushing about the decks in panic, trying to avoid any touch of the weightless chatoyant veil. The two unruled boats collided and cracked breaking into pieces, squealing monsters clumsily flopped into the water, splashing and floundering.

Some playing and whirling amber puffs reached the yacht but did no faintest inconvenience to the four friends.

"Fragrant like roses," Lynette scented.

"The nectar from flowers grown by Elves," Iven nodded smiling.

"Ooh! Let me try too!" the Dwarf flung the second lantern vigorously, it exploded in the middle of the flotilla, and the new shining cloud produced a greater disorder, a louder whine, the boats began to veer round, bump against one another and capsize.

But one vessel did get closer, roaring trolls started to jump from it and climb the yacht board impudently. Iven strained his bow and shot one monster. Jim hewed the second brute with the axe not to let him step onto the deck. Andreas knocked two more assailants down into the water with swift blows of his saber.

Lynette took the last Elvish lantern from the steering-wheel where Iven had hung it and hurled it onto the enemy boat prow. Trying to escape from the shining golden nectar gushing out, the mob of remaining trolls heavily brattled towards the stern, bawling in horror. That panic rush made their vessel careen and overturn.

"Hey, we should spare illumination appliances!" Iven exclaimed in a joking discontent.

"But we did have a fun!" Jim went to the steering-wheel and rotated it to lead the yacht out of the magical mist diffusing in the air.

Andreas noticed an iron panoply glove dropped by one of the trolls, got a hold of it with the tip of his sword blade, raised it from the deck and threw it overboard. After that he sheathed the saber.

The battered and disorganized pursuit lagged behind and vanished from sight. Soon the shore evanesced too, only the azure sea scintillating all around. Drifting in the blue sky above the horizon, massive clouds were even more splendid than the nectar haze. From afar they resembled majestic snow-white castles, unknown fabulous kingdoms, sails of mysterious ships. A moment of peace.

"Where shall we go now?" Lynette stood beside Andreas.

"Maybe, to the University Lighthouse?" he looked at her, "the professors can advise us what to do…"

"It is rather a long way. I offer to make a short stop at that island," Jim gazed at a bluish silhouette, a group of conical mountains looming in a distance, "Dwarfs come there to mine minerals."

The wind favoured them to approach to the solitary piece of land quickly, and in a minute they could distinctly see the lush verdure, wild forests on uneven slopes, shrubs on high cliffs.

"A chance to have a lunch on a steady ground," Lynette commented the view in an undertone.

Antique wind-lashed colonnades and arbours of white marble, grass thrusting up between slabs of footworn paths. Polished with waves, a broad staircase was leading straight into the water and could serve as a wharf.

The yacht came up to the half-sunk stairs, Iven and Andreas furled the sails and lowered their new ladder. Jim went ashore, Andreas threw the mooring rope hank for him to tie the ship to a vertical fragment of a crashed column.

After disembarking they arranged a lunch on stony benches in one of the arbours. Tankards, a deep wooden plate with a pile of buns on it.

"Dryads abandoned this place many years ago," Iven looked around, "but their portal must be somewhere over here."

"Do you feel it with your Elvish magic?" Jim was eating and drinking with a good appetite.

"Elves don't know any magic," Iven took a bun from the plate, "we just live in harmony with nature."

"Well, I agree that the Universe has a vital power. I feel better among greenery than in a desert," Jim went on trying to understand, "but why do wizards utter different incantations? And what is the Dark Witchcraft?"

"To wield that power one must formulate his wish clearly. Thoughts can be vague, but words make them definite… And the Dark Witchcraft is nothing but a despicable hypnotism…" the Elf raised his tankard but didn't drink, listening to something he turned to the old footpath flanked with bushes and a dilapidated colonnade.

Seven Dwarfs were wearily walking along that road towards the arbour. Dark jackets and trousers, boots and hats, sacks hanging on shoulders, pickaxes in hands and battle-axes in belts, all their working clothes and tools had a cover of dust. The most imposing bearded Dwarf was obviously their leader, his mates looked younger and not so mighty.

"Thanks Goodness! If only you knew, Jim, how we are glad to see you!.. and your nice yacht!" the leader pronounced in a joyful bass.

"Master Huges?! What happened?!" Jim stopped eating.

"We need your help," Huges smoothed his short beard, "our hired captain got crazy at the sight of precious stones we had mined. He grabbed a fistful, took the ship and disappeared. But you can take us home!"

"M-m-m-m… well… I don't know…" Jim hesitated.

"It's all right, Jim," Lynette assured, "we shall wait for you here."

"The Southern Cape is not far, you'll return to your friends tomorrow. Besides, we shall pay," Huges put two dozens of big sapphires and emeralds onto the bench.

"We shall need some travel expenses," Jim divided the treasure into four equal parts, passed three twinkling piles to Lynette, Iven and Andreas, the last portion became his own.

"Beware of trolls!" Andreas warned the Dwarfs, "they are near the Ariadna City and can quickly come to the Southern Cape!"

"Oh, heh, heh, let them attack us!" Huges tapped at his axe handle, "we shall be glad of some fighting practice!.."

"Why not pay a visit to Dryads?" Iven suggested watching the Dwarfs going away to the yacht. He led Lynette and Andreas along the road and soon pointed at a stony archway having no architectural function, standing alone for no obvious reason: "The portal!"

"Can you activate it?" Lynette asked.

"Yes, I can. Try yourself, it is possible if you have good intentions. Just touch it and think of your wish to pass."

Lynette put her palm onto the marble and immediately stepped back, as an opaque golden radiance flared up in the archway. The Elf smiled and invited them to enter the portal with a gesture.

The golden afterglow changed to soft pastel tints of the evening twilight, delicate pale pink and blue colours embraced the white bloom of the spring orchards, fresh leafage and grass. Unlike the landscape, the arch remained seemingly the same, Iven switched it off with a touch.

"I have never been in this part of the town," Lynette murmured. Accurate green hedges, two-storeyed wooden houses with sun-parlours among apple-trees, a settlement and a garden in one. Whitish slabs of the streets looked rather like footpaths on lawns than pavements. An Elf in a silvery suit was trimming bushes with large long scissors. Lynette asked him: "Excuse me, can you tell us the way to the Cherry Line?"

"Sure!" the Elf smiled and waved his hand pointing, "go to the Fountain Square and then turn to the left!"

Statues of young women in tunics and big bowls of flower-beds encircled the square, a beautiful fountain had a shape of an immense marble flower, water cascades falling down from the petals. Dryads and Elves in white summer attires were leisurely enjoying an evening walk, kind friendly faces and blithe clear laugh.

Elvish lanterns began to sparkle everywhere meeting the early blue night with a warm orange gleam, a soft yellow illumination shone from windows.

"Martina?" Lynette called and gently knocked at the halfway-opened door of one house.

"Oh, come in!" smiling Martina, in the same dress as in the morning, appeared in the doorway and let them enter the veranda lit with candles. Her eyes twinkled as she noticed that Iven looked at her in admiration.

A small low table between two sofas, white flowers in big wicker baskets standing on the floor, climbing ivy growing from flowerpots, the interior had elements of a garden or a wild nature landscape.

"I want to pay for the dress," Lynette took a sapphire out of the pocket and put it onto the table.

"My work is not so expensive!" Martina protested sincerely.

"I'm recompensing your keeping it for me," Lynette sighed, "I don't know when I can take it home…"

"But you can try it on, it's in my workshop upstairs. The white shoes are yours in addition!" the Dryad picked up the sapphire, viewed it without any great interest and put it back nonchalantly, then she pointed at the high-boots of Andreas with a clement care: "Tonight let your feet rest, put on the footwear for guests! Meanwhile, I'll bring tea."

The girls went out. The men took their bags, jackets and weapon off, hung the things onto small polished wooden coat-hooks near the door. The guest footwear turned out to be very flexible and soft brown leather shoes, easily stretching and assuming the necessary size. The Elf remained in his own which were actually of the same kind.

They washed their hands at a miniature decorative waterfall in the veranda corner, clear water lapping in a basin laid out with grey stones.

Martina brought a silver tray with porcelain cups and a tea-pot on it, the Elf assisted her in laying the table.

Then Lynette returned, and Andreas couldn't help looking at her. The new long bluish-white frock fitted her straight figure perfectly, and she had arranged her fair hair nicely, flower-topped hairpins holding golden curls. Tucking up the loose skirt, she gracefully sat down, took a cup from his hands and, being manifestly pleased with his attention, gave him a charming effulgent smile.

Meanwhile beautiful voices sang a simple but merry song somewhere in the town:

"Touch the petals, touch the leaves

With the gentle midnight breeze,

Let the springtime dream away

In the starlight of this May!

When enchanting minutes flow,

Take a rest before you go,

Let your weary heart forget

All your sorrow and regret!

Still together, all as one,

We are feeling fresh and young,

Like the petals and the leaves,

Like this gentle midnight breeze!"

«Let's go to the night party!» the Dryad exclaimed when the delicate euphonical music became heard.

They drank the tea up and hurried outdoors.

People were going along streets and lanes towards the square, gathering there, where several Elves playing violins and singing a melodious fairy ballad near the fountain. Lynette began to dance with Andreas, Iven invited Martina, and they joined other fluidly whirling pairs. Merry laugh and light-hearted joy in the air, sparklets in kind eyes. Happy enchanting minutes.

After the dancing the violins played a tender lullaby, and the four of them walked back to the house of Martina, the men arm-in-arm with their ladies.

"Iven?!" some Elf wondered encountering them in the lane, "haven't you gone to the South?"

"Sammie?" Iven and his friends stopped, "what's wrong?"

"From the coast we saw the yacht sailing to the Southern Cape, and a part of the troll horde followed it," Sammie told them, "our archers reported this news to queen Veronica…"

"Now Jim is with Dwarfs, they can defend him, but how shall he return to us alone?" Iven got worried, "I must see the queen!"

"Actually our Elvish Kingdom is close at hand, I'll show you the way," Sammie offered.

"Well, wait for me here, it's a safe place," Iven said to Lynette and Andreas, warmth gleamed in his eyes when he turned to Martina: "See you!"

"Good luck!" Martina smiled to him and, as the two Elves went away, led Lynette and Andreas to the house, "will you chatter with me before going to bed, Lynette? Tell me about your adventures!"

Chapter Three

Their clothes had been washed and cleaned, no more dust from mines, the Dwarfs looked rested and full of energy. They were peering into the distance where grey sails appeared catching up with them quickly.

"What do those contemptible monsters want from you?" Huges inquired carelessly.

"Helping my friends I quarrelled with trolls terrifically," Jim replied in a similar phlegmatic way, "but I have no regrets at all, you know…"

"Well, boys," Huges cheerfully turned to the other Dwarfs, "let's make a surprise for the filthy hooligans!"

The first boat approached to the yacht, six or seven leering brutes could see only Jim standing at the steering-wheel. He gave them an ironic smile and raised his hat in a derisive greeting.

The trolls howled in rage at that mock. This time they didn't jump as they had been doing during the attack near the Ariadna City. Instead of that, having sailed closely, the monsters thrust out make-shift ladders, wooden cross-beams were crudely bound to long stakes having iron grapnels at ends. They grappled the yacht with those awkward constructions to make bridges between the two vessels and started climbing up frantically.

But the Dwarfs who had been hiding squatting behind the board parapet suddenly sprung up, their battle-axes began to deal heavy blows to the enemies, cleaving helmets with loud clashing, knocking the assailants down one by one.

Shrill screaming of the brutes, splashes in the water, cracking of the unreliable ladders.

The fight was momentary but impetuous, no brute had a real chance of getting over the board railing to set foot onto the deck, and the victorious Dwarfs had quite contented expressions on their faces. They leisurely hewed the remaining ladders off, and a gust of the wind overturned the empty hostile boat flapping with its tangled sail.

The rest of the flotilla slowed and almost stopped, apparently not daring to attack any more. Huges menacingly shook his fist at them.

The rocky shore got nearer, the surf waves breaking and frothing at stones and cliffs.

"Southern Cape!" Jim announced pointing at high towers and houses built of greyish granite.

"Home, sweet home!" Huges exclaimed joyfully.

Having passed between two majestic watchtowers at the stony banks of a narrow channel, they entered a haven, a vast lagoon enclosed with citadel walls, then moored between other yachts of much the same types, and their ship became practically indistinguishable among the others.

Dockyards, giant winches, mechanisms. Glowing furnaces and banging hammers at forges. A couple of large ships under repair. Shipwrights carrying planks and girders, blacksmiths pushing handcarts with coal, a work in full swing.

Dwarfs everywhere.

But they also noticed a dozen of Elvish archers in dark-green suits standing on the embankment.

"Excuse me, who is captain Jim?" one Elf came up to the Dwarfs who were just unloading their sacks and bags from the yacht.

"I am," Jim responded, this time he lifted his hat without any irony but, no doubt, respectfully, "at your service!"

"My name is Sebastian. Queen Veronica sent us to guard you on your way back to the island," the Elf told him, "when you join your friends, we shall go home through the Dryad portal."

"You have arrived so quickly!" Jim got a little amazed.

"We happened to be in the vicinity when received the instructions," the Elf explained.

"When are we departing?" Jim asked.

"Maybe, in an hour?" Sebastian suggested, "we shall replenish your supplies and bring more weapon…"

"All right, old chap, heh, heh!" Huges patted on Jim's shoulder jovially, "you have enough time to dine with us! Be my guest!"

They left the yacht to the care of the Elves and unhurriedly walked away from the docks towards the city buildings. Granite blocks were carved and polished so masterfully that any joints could hardly be visible, massive houses and walls looked almost monolithic.

Facing the port, the nearest inn had a roomy pub hall on the ground floor. They plunged into the drone of voices of numerous visitors, mostly Dwarfs, though some three knights in long black cloaks were also sitting at one of the sturdy wooden tables.

"Delighted to see you, master Huges!" a human, a stout man in a white cook's garb, smiled and made a wave to the servants. Two young Dwarfs, neat aprons over dark suits, promptly brought trays with tankards, big plates and silver jugs. A broad vacant table was instantly laid for the new-comers.

"Bring me another beer!!" one of the knights, a narrow well cared-for face, small conceited eyes, roared and pursed his thin lips arrogantly.

"Please, do not make noise," the cook said politely, "we shall serve you in a moment…"

"Shut up and do what I say!!" the knight squealed fastidiously.

The cook suddenly became not a soft-hearted laggard but a strong resolute man. He promptly grabbed the offender by his cloak collar, hauled him from the chair into a standing position and gave him a violent push towards the exit. The knight flew across the hall, tumbling head over heels, the hauberk clanking, and flopped down not far from the door.

His mates shrank in fear, sidled away from the table and minced retreating, squinting at the cook apprehensively. They took their companion under his arms to lift him from the floor.

"You will be punished!" being dragged through the doorway, the knight whined before leaving the inn. "Trolls will destroy you with my machinery!"

"Hush! Don't reveal it!" his fellows got even more frightened than before, restless eyes denoted uneasiness, faces turned pale.

The Dwarfs chuckled, and the dinner went on. Rich dishes with chopped meat, pepper and stewed vegetables, beer in tankards and red wine in bowls.

"Hmm, they help trolls!" Jim murmured thoughtfully, not sharing the total merry mood, "it looks like a serious conspiracy!"

"Relax!" Huges was optimistic and life-asserting, "there have always been enough scoundrels with nefarious purposes, but we must never let them spoil our life!"

"Still, I advise you to abstain from new mining expeditions for a while," Jim tried to get focused on his plate.

"You know the situation better," Huges gave him a shrewd glance, "do you think this mess will be for long?"

"In a day or two, I believe, my friends and I shall make the uninvited guests leave this coast."

Soon distant but clear chimes sounded from the city clocktower. Jim stood up, made a ceremonious bow of goodbye with his palm on his heart and walked out into the street.

He dropped in on a jewellery shop. Two men in rich black camisoles were admiringly surveying showcases with sparkling platinum necklaces and gold rings on dark-blue velvet cushions.

"Would you exchange it for cash?" Jim put an emerald onto the counter.

"Oh!" the goldsmith, an imposing bearded Dwarf in a dark-grey suit, examined the precious stone through a magnifying glass, nodded and readily gave him a dozen of gold coins. "Excellent! Very pure! Do you have more?"

"I'll use them later. But right now you can deal with master Huges."

"Has he come back, at last?! Nice!" the goldsmith exclaimed gladly. "What could possibly delay him?"

"A horde of trolls and some greedy troll-like humans," Jim explained to the shocked goldsmith, the two customers listening to the news agape. "These days are not propitious for voyages."

"We should adjourn our evening departure!" one man said to the other.

After that Jim left the jewellery shop and went to the port. Workers kept on fussing, loading or unloading boxes and packages, doing repairs. Despite all those crowds he noticed the same three knights standing on the embankment and viewing the ships in the harbour. He stealthily came closer and hid behind a heap of some huge grey sacks to overhear the talk.

"All the Dwarfs and all the yachts are as like as two peas," the uncultured knight grumbled through gritted teeth, "how can we possibly find that very captain?"

"One more vessel has arrived lately, but it's full of Elves," his mate folded his arms haughtily, "not what we are looking for."

"We sold only two airships to trolls, let's take the last one," the third fellow uttered in a not less supercilious manner. "We shall intercept anyone who will sail towards the island!"

The knights strode away from the docks. Jim waited till their dark cloaks got out of sight, then he hurried to his yacht.

The Elves had mounted a tremendous arbalest on the deck, a construction on a wooden stand. A wide bow, a big lever of the straining mechanism, a steel trigger. There was a stack of missiles for that construction, long lances with feathering at ends. Bunches of usual small arrows had been brought and piled up too.

"Three humans co-operate with trolls," Jim worriedly informed them, "they are going to pursue us in some airship, as I heard…"

"An airship? A gigantic flying bean-pod they call a zeppelin? Well, we'll see…" the reply expressed no particular disquiet of the Elves, they looked ready for any trouble.

But all of them were quite attentive when passing the gateway channel between the watchtowers, leaving the fortified lagoon and going out into the open sea.

The troll flotilla had been awaiting for them within an easy reach from the coast line. This time the hostile boats flocked together and rushed to attack as a united pack, far outnumbering the yacht defenders.

Having deviated from several hurled javelins which flew over them and stuck into the deck, the Elves met the approaching enemies with a shower of arrows, shooting uninterruptedly and not missing.

The quivers getting empty quickly, Jim helped the archers to unbind the additional bunches of missiles.

In a minute the fight was over, hoarse snarling and screaming of monsters changed into silence, and the unruled boats drifted away without crews.

Then an increasing low rumble became heard. A grey sinister silhouette, a titanic zeppelin was moving towards them flying not very high above the sea, throwing a long shadow onto the water surface.

"The airship," Jim muttered when the apparatus lowered to them, and the bulky balloon covered seemingly a half of the blue late afternoon sky, two large propellers thundering.

The three knights leant out of the wooden gondola, their physiognomies grinning viciously, and threw a long thick rope with a massive iron hook at its end. That piece of metal thudded onto the deck, scratched the planks and caught hold on the board at the prow, near the bowsprit. The rope stretched tight, and the airship started tugging the yacht towards the shore.

"They want to smash us against the coastal rocks!" Jim took his battle-axe and dashed to hew the rope, but it turned out to be too thick and firm to be cut quickly.

Two Elves pulled the straining mechanism lever, another two loaded one of the huge arrows onto the enormous crossbow and, rotating that weapon on its stand, aimed it at the zeppelin.

The immense missile launched with a swish and pierced the balloon through.

Quickly reloading the arbalest, the Elves went on shooting over and over again, making more and more new holes.

The hot gas which had been keeping the apparatus in the air now was leaking, gushing out of gaps with torrents of steam. The zeppelin began to lose height.

The tension of the rope weakened, the Dwarf finally separated it from the yacht and flung the hook overboard.

The airship plopped down into the water and started to sink gurgling loudly.

"In an hour or two we shall be at the island!" Jim declared cheerfully, taking the steering-wheel and regaining the control over the yacht, making a turn and heading to the golden setting sun. "Maybe, Iven is already there."

"According to the plan," Sebastian pronounced, "we are gathering at the old portal."

"Can the enemy possibly get to the Dryads?" the Dwarf asked. "My friends went there without any key…"

"Who knows," the Elf replied, "usually only good-natured people are able to activate the transmission to our settlements, but we cannot be sure completely. Trolls are very perfidious."

"I don't quite understand that system of worlds," curiosity sounded in Jim's intonation, "are they different planets?"

"Some of them are, such as the human world and El Dorado," Sebastian explained, "but many of them are just isolated regions of one planet. For example, the constellations and the Moon at our Elvish realm and at the Dryad town are the same as here. Though, time zones don't coincide…"

"Isn't it miraculous!" the Dwarf admired, "even if you don't call it magic."

"It deals with special crystals which accumulate the solar energy and influence the space around the chosen land," Sebastian shrugged, "I'm not an expert, queen Veronica knows how it functions…"

"Well, travelling between planets and stars has been carried out through portals," Jim continued wondering. "Then, why do humans construct rockets and spaceships?"

"Actually, rockets are needed to launch satellites only," the Elf answered. "However, with few exceptions, humans are not aware of dimensions and portals…"

"With few exceptions?" the Dwarfdoubted. "But hundreds of human families live all over the Ariadna continent! How could they get there?"

"Some people manage to learn the truth and emigrate," Sebastian replied a little sadly, "but the majority believes in the deliberately false human science."

The peaceful evening shaded into a night. Stars sparkled in the cloudless sky, the Moon shone brighter. The Elves hung a couple of lanterns onto the crossbow to illuminate the deck.

Soon they saw a far-away yellowish flicker.

"What's that?" Jim wondered.

"Bonfires on the island beach," the Elves peered into the dark distance, "better to switch the lanterns off and come closer gingerly!"

Chapter Four

The morning sun shone the veranda and woke up Andreas who had been sleeping under a green blanket on a sofa not taking his clothes off. He put on the jacket and the high-boots.

Lynette came in, she was dressed in the same caftan, the same shirt and trousers as before visiting the Dryads.

"Already going?" Andreas buckled the belt of the sheath.

"I don't want any trolls to get to this place hunting for me," she sighed, "better to wait for Jim and Iven at the island."

They walked through the blooming town towards the portal. Lynette touched the marble arch with her palm, the radiance flared up, and they stepped into that light cautiously.

Moonlight flooded the ancient road, the colonnades and the half-sunk staircase with blue silver. The arbour where they had lunched could be seen clearly. Dark silhouettes of prowling monsters were also sharply defined against the cyan night landscape, throwing long shadows onto the footpath slabs, even the iron blades of their halberds looked black.

Lynette and Andreas quickly hid into the bushes growing between columns and kept on watching the brutes from behind branches.

The trolls didn't notice them, loitered near the arbour, hoarsely snorting and shuffled away along the bay shore.

Andreas went out of the shrubbery, gazing around intently. Lynette joined him, peering into the blue darkness too. They slowly walked along the road and then dipped into the thicket, following the enemy stealthily. In a while they saw lights shimmering from behind the leafage ahead. Having slunk through bushes, they squatted behind the last vegetation cluster at the overgrowth edge and looked out.

Crackling bonfires shone the beach sand, trolls walking about or sitting and drinking something from kegs, slurping loudly. Two giant zeppelins stood out above the surf like two oblong light-grey hills. One of them had been tied to stakes just two dozens footsteps away.

"Ah!" Lynette gave a gasp of astonishment at the sight of the imposing airships.