The Last Of The Sky Pirates Part 2

aNo,a said the professor. aRook, you lead the way. You know the tunnels better than anyone.a Stob shot Rook a black look.

aItas this way,a Rook told the others some time later as he led them through the labyrinth of underground sewage tunnels. He was heading for an overflow pipe in the boom-docks which, in times of heavy rain, emptied directly into the Edgewater River. It was not the closest to the Great Mire Road tollgate but, being so well concealed by the overhead jetties, it was considered by the Professor of Darkness to be the safest.

One after the other, the three of them emerged into the eerie half-light of shadows and setting sun. The air was cold, and took Rook by surprised. He swallowed it in great greedy lungfuls. Compared with the stale, tepid atmosphere of the sewers they had left behind, it tasted wonderfully fresh a" even here, on the muddy sh.o.r.eline of the sluggish river.

To their right stood a tall pillar. A single piece of cloth, nailed to its side, fluttered in the rising breeze.

aLook at that,a Rook murmured.

Stob frowned. aI believe itas a posting-pole,a he said. aIave read about them somewhere. Before the Edge was blighted with stone-sickness, sky s.h.i.+p captains with berths to spare would advertisea"a aNot that,a Rook interrupted. He nodded past the pillar at the huge sun, deep crimson and pulsating. aThat,a he murmured in awe. aItas been so long aa Magda, who had herself been standing with her mouth open, shook her head. aItas incredible, isnat it?a she said. aI mean, I knew the sun was up there above us the whole time, but actually to see it a" to feel ita"a aBut you mustnat look at it directly,a Stob interrupted stiffly aEver. I read that it can blind you if you stare for too long, even when itas this low in the sky aa aThe colour of the clouds,a Rook whispered reverently aAnd the way they glow! Theyare so beautiful.a aThey make my spider-silk samples look dull in comparison,a said Magda, nodding.

aWhat nonsense,a said Stob. aSunsets are just dust particles in upper sky aa aRead that somewhere, did you?a said Magda, lightly.

Stob nodded. aIf you must know, it was in an old sky-scholar scroll I uncovered ina"a He heard Magdaas sigh of irritation and stopped himself. aWe should be making tracks,a he said. He strode off, not looking back.

Magda followed. aCome on, Rook,a she called back gently. aWe mustnat get separated.a aComing,a said Rook. Reluctantly, he dragged himself away from the dazzling evening sky.

Rookas senses were on fire and, as he followed the other two up a rotting wooden flight of stairs to the quayside promenade, along a winding alleyway and onto the main thorough fare which led to the beginning of the Great Mire Road, he was bombarded with sights, sounds, smells a" and distant memories which tugged at his feelings. The cool caress of night air coming in from open sky. The smudge and twinkle of the first emerging stars. The smells of roast meats and strange spices from the ramshackle stalls they pa.s.sed. Goblins shouting down to pa.s.sing cloddertrogs, timber wagons creaking along narrow alleys and boots clattering on the cobbled streets. By the time the ma.s.sive lamplit towers of the Great Mire Road gateway came into view, Stob, Magda and Rook were walking in the midst of a large and growing crowd, streaming both to and from the roadas great entrance.

aBusy aere this evening, innit, Maz?a said a voice behind them.

aYou can say that again,a came the reply.

aI said, itas busy here this evening aa aOh, Sisal, you are a one!a Rook glanced round to see two grinning mobgnomes with a bundle of costumes, robes and frock coats on hangers draped over their left arms, hurrying past them. To their left was a gnokgoblin sitting astride a prowlgrin which was pulling a low cart, laden with boxes labelled FINEST PEWTER CUTLERY. Behind him an officious-looking lugtroll was shouting out orders at half a dozen cloddertrogs who were staggering along beneath the weight of a long, heavy roll of red and purple tapestry. And following them, a contingent of gyle goblins bearing pallets of gleaming flagons, goblets and urns above their heads a n.o.body paid any heed to the sullen timber merchant, the young silk-seller or the lowly knife-sharpener who followed close on their footsteps. Rook felt overwhelmed yet exhilarated to be a part of all this great activity. From every corner of Undertown, merchants and dealers were converging on the Great Mire Road. For though some of the more heavy industry had s.h.i.+fted to the Foundry Glade, where wood-fuel was cheap a" and labour cheaper still a" the majority of manufactured goods were still produced in the traditional workshops and factories of Undertown. On the other side they would barter and sell their wares in the Eastern Roost.

aMind your backs!a roared a rough voice from near the gateway. aComing through.a Ahead of him, Rook saw the crowds part as an approaching hammelhorn-drawn wagon rolled into view. It was long and flat a" and followed by two others. On the bench at the front of each one were two seated leaguesmen and a swarthy flat-head goblin, who stood on the driving platform, holding a knot of reins with one hand and cracking a whip with the other. Rook craned his neck to see what load was being carried beneath the huge tarpaulins. Raw materials of some kind, that much was certain, for everything manufactured in Undertown a" from bracelets to bricks a" was made from materials brought in from outside.

aItas timber,a Rook heard Stob telling Magda in that bossy, rather haughty voice of his. aIronwood, by the look of it. No doubt bound for the Sanctaphrax forest,a he continued. aSheer madness, if you ask me, but then a"a his voice dropped to a low whisper a" athatas the Guardians of Night for you.a a.s.s.h.!.+a Magda warned him under her breath aThere are spies everywhere,a she breathed.

Stobas eyes narrowed. Even though he knew she was right, he didnat like to be told. And as the third load of ironwood rumbled past, and the departing crowd surged forwards once again, Stob marched ahead, demanding that the others keep up.

Magda turned to Rook, rolled her eyes and smiled conspiratorially Rook increased his pace to keep up with her.

aThe Guardians,a he whispered. aDo you think they know what weare doing?a Magda shrugged. aI wouldnat be surprised,a she said. aBut knowing and finding are two different things!a she added fiercely.

aWhat about the Most High Academe?a asked Rook. aThey say he has an army of goblin mercenaries on duty day and night, just to hunt down librarian knights aa Magda tossed her head back contemptuously. aThe Most High Academe, Vox Verlix, that great sack of oak-wine a" hah! Heas finished.a She paused. aOf course, you know itas him whoas responsible for that.a She pointed to the tall towers of the Mire road looming up ahead of them.

Rook gasped. aHe built that!a Magda nodded. aOh, yes,a she said. aAfter stone-sickness put an end to sky-trade, he designed and supervised the building of the Great Mire Road so that we humble merchants of Undertown could trade with the Deepwoods. Clever person, old Vox. At least, he was once. Too clever! Mother Scab-beak and the Shryke Sisterhood seized control of it, and there was nothing he could do to stop them.a aWhat about his goblin mercenaries?a asked Rook.

aThem? Theyare worse than the shrykes. Vox recruited them to guard the slaves he used to build the Great Mire Road, and they ended up holding him to ransom. He has to pay them off constantly. Otherwise theyad throw him out of that fancy palace of his a" and he knows it. The goblins and the shrykes have made an alliance to control the trade between Undertown and the Deepwoods, and Vox Verlix, the so-called Most High Academe, is nothing more than their puppet. Anyway, itas not him we have to worry about,a Magda added darkly. aItas the Guardians of Night who are really dangerous.a Rook s.h.i.+vered and adjusted the tool-harness on his back. It suddenly felt very heavy.

Magda shook her head. aIt was also Vox Verlix who designed the Tower of Night for the Guardians,a she said. aIt was supposed to tap the power of a pa.s.sing storm and thereby heal the great floating rock.a She stopped and looked over her shoulder. aYou can see it over there in the distance. Evil-looking monstrosity.a Rook nodded, and glanced back. There, huge and threatening, was the great wooden structure, towering high above the rooftops of even the tallest Undertown buildings. Its narrow spire a" Midnightas Spike a" pointed up accusingly at the sky.

aAnd it was Vox,a she went on, turning back, awho, when that same great floating rock began to crumble and sink, was forced by the Guardians to keep it sh.o.r.ed up with timbers. Hundreds, thousands of ironwood timbers. The Sanctaphrax Forest.a aYes, I know about that,a said Rook, remembering his studies. Itas that vast wooden scaffold of pillars and crossbeams that keeps the floating rock from sinking right down to the ground, isnat it?a aPrecisely,a said Magda. aAccording to many scholars, that must never be allowed to happen. If the floating rock touches the ground, they say, it would mean that the power of the storm would pa.s.s straight through the stricken rock to the ground beneath, failing to heal it. Hence the so-called forest a" which, unlike the Tower of Night and the Mire road, will go on being built for ever,a she added, afor the lower the rock sinks, the more timbers are needed to support it. Stob is right. It is madness a" Careful, Rook!a Too late. Rook walked slap-bang into an oncoming tufted goblin. There was a thud, followed by a crash, followed by the sound of round objects clattering over the cobbles and loud, angry swearing. Rook, who had been looking back at the angular Tower of Night silhouetted against the darkening sky, spun round. The goblin was lying on his back, dazed and cursing loudly, with Magda crouching down next to him. The crate he had dropped had upturned and its contents a" a consignment of choicest woodapples a" were rolling noisily over the cobbled street in all directions. As for Stob, he was nowhere to be seen.

Rookas heart began to pound. He was meant to be travelling as inconspicuously as possible, yet here he was drawing attention, not only to himself, but also to Magda. A small crowd had collected round the ranting goblin. If the guards were to get wind of what was going on, he ran the risk of sabotaging the entire trip before they even got properly started.

aIam so sorry,a he said as he scurried about, retrieving the woodapples. aIt was entirely my fault. I wasnat looking where I was going.a aYeah, well,a said the tufted goblin, making a great show of dipping his finger into the soft red flesh of a shattered woodapple. aThatas all very well, but what about the fruit whatas got smashed up? Iam just a poor fruit vendor aa He left the words hanging in mid air.

aI a Iall make good the loss, of course,a said Rook uneasily. He looked up at Magda. aWonat we?a Without a word, Magda reached into her cloak and pulled out a leather pouch. She loosened the drawstring. aHere,a she said, placing a small gold piece into the goblinas palm. aThis is for the damaged fruit.a The goblin nodded, his eyes glinting craftily. aAnd this,a she said, as she added a second coin, ais for any b.u.mps or bruises suffered.a She stood up, yanked the goblin to his feet and smiled fiercely. aI trust the matter is settled, then,a she said.

aY-yes, I suppose so,a the goblin stammered. aThougha"a aExcellent,a Magda announced. She turned and, with Rook in tow, strode back off into the crowd.

aYou handled that very a confidently,a said Rook.

Magda tossed her plaits back and laughed. aI have three older brothers,a she explained. aIave had to learn how to hold my own.a Rook smiled. He was growing to like this travelling companion. Although at first she had seemed imposing, abrupt a" abrasive even a" now he was beginning to see her in a different light. She was practical, she was forthright, she spoke her mind and acted decisively. Rook realized, now, why she had been selected to go to the Free Glades. In comparison, Stob seemed cold, aloof, bookish a He frowned. aWhere is Stob?a he wondered out loud.

Magda shook her head. aThatas what I was just asking myself,a she said, and looked round. aWe must stick together.a They were, by now, almost at the entrance to the Great Mire Road, with the gateway towers reaching far up above their heads. If everything went as planned, then someone would make themselves known to them a" someone who would guide them safely through the toll-gate. Rook fingered his bloodoak tooth and searched the crowd for anyone wearing something similar.

Stob was nowhere to be seen, and the large square in front of the tollgate was thronging. The noise was colossal, and the smells! Everything from the sour stench of pickled tripweed barrels to the overpowering sweetness of vats of barkcat-musk perfume. Here, where the in-trade and out-trade converged, were merchants and pedlars, prowlgrin-riders and hammelhorn-drivers, carts, carriages and cargo of every description.

There were armed guards and tally-shrykes, smugglers and slavers, food vendors, bar-tenders, entrepreneurs and money-lenders. There were creatures and characters from every corner of the Edge a" lugtrolls, gabtrolls, woodtrolls, cloddertrogs and termagants, nightwaifs and flitterwaifs, and goblins of every description. And there, standing in the shadows of a tall loading-derrick, his body half turned away, was Stob Lummus himself.

aHeas talking to someone,a Rook hissed. His voice dropped. aIt must be our contact.a And he went to step forwards, only to find Magdaas firm grip on his arm holding him back.

aIam not so sure,a she said. aListen.a Rook c.o.c.ked his head to one side and concentrated on the gruff voice coming from the depths of the shadows. aWhat was that? Bloodoak what?a the voice complained tetchily. aYou must speak up!a aI said,a he heard Stob replying in a sibilant stage-whisper, athat is an interesting charm youare wearing.

Bloodoak tooth, if Iam not mistakena"a aWhat?a demanded the voice, and Rook caught the flash of something metallic. aWhatas it got to do with you?a Magda shook her head. aSurely that canat be our contact,a she said.

aIndeed itas not, missy,a came a sing-song voice behind her. aI am.a Both Magda and Rook turned to see a dumpy gnokgoblin wearing a long cape and head scarf, and carrying a covered basket on one of her stubby arms. Around her neck glinted an ornate pendant, the centre-piece of which was a glistening red tooth.

aMy name is Tegan,a she said. aYour friend has made an unfortunate, not to say foolish, mistakea"a aHeas no friend of mine,a Magda cut in sharply.

aFriend, companion, fellow-traveller,a said Tegan, athe precise nature of your relations.h.i.+p is unimportant. All that matters is that he is in danger.a She shook her head and tutted with concern. aThis could be serious,a she said. aVery serious. You must go and get him before he gives all of us away. Quickly, now.a Neither Magda nor Rook needed to be told twice. They darted across the square, dodging through the streaming crowds, and into the shadows at the bottom of the loading-derrick.

aThere you are, Stob!a cried Rook, grabbing one of his arms. aWeave been looking everywhere for you,a said Magda, as she took hold of the other. aOff we go!a aNo, no,a said Stob urgently, and tried to shake them off. His voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. aIave found our first contact,a he said.

Rook and Magda glanced round at the old woodtroll who was standing beside them. He was plump and bandy-legged, and the plaits in his beard had turned white. He had a bra.s.s ear-trumpet raised to one ear, while round his neck were cl.u.s.tered trinkets and lucky charms of all shapes and sizes. A dullish brown tusk on a leather cord nestled in the white whiskers.

aNo, you havenat,a said Magda.

aTrouble is,a Stob said, aheas a bit deaf.a aI heard that!a said the woodtroll indignantly.

aSo are you, Stob!a Magda said in a clipped whisper. aIam telling you, heas not the contact. Now, come on.a With that, she and Rook tightened their grip and frogmarched Stob away.

aHere!a the woodtroll called after them. aWhatas this all about?a Magda turned to Stob questioningly Stob shrugged. aDidnat you see it?a he said. aThe pendant a" a bloodoak tooth on a leather stripa"a aThat was no bloodoak tooth,a said Magda. aIt was a whitecollar woodwolf fang.a She tutted. aCall yourself a librarian scholar!a Even as he heard her accusing words, Rook realized that he, too, might just as easily have been fooled. At a glance, in the jostling crowd, the wolf fang could easily be confused with a bloodoak tooth. Stobas big mistake had been to approach the old woodtroll rather than wait to be approached.

aYou made it, then,a the gnokgoblin said to them when they arrived back by her side. aWell done. I was beginning to worrya aYes,a said Magda. aThough no thanks toa"a aWho is this?a said Stob, b.u.t.ting in. He was feeling both foolish and resentful. aCan we trust her?a Tegan nodded sagely. aYou are wise to be sceptical,a she said. aFor aTrust no-onea is as good a motto as any for you to stick to on your long journeya aYou still havenat given us a reason for trusting you,a said Stob rudely.

Without saying a word, the gnokgoblin reached forwards and fingered the carved bloodoak tooth round his neck, then nodded towards the two others. aRather a coincidence for three travellers to be wearing the same earth-studies talisman, donat you think?a she said. aUnless Fenbrus Lodd is now handing them out to all and sundrya aNo,a Stob conceded. aSo far as I know, they are given only to librarian knights elect, and their supporters.a aThen nothing has changed,a said Tegan. She opened the front of her cape to reveal her own ornate talisman.

aYou?a said Stob, surprised. aYouare our contact?a aYou seem surprised,a said the gnokgoblin. aOver the years I have done my best to be useful to scholars and academics of every persuasion. Acting as a counsellor here, a guide there aa Her voice took on an icy edge. aAnything, rather than allow the Edge to slide into the dark oblivion those cohorts of the Tower of Night would foist upon us all.a aWell said,a Magda agreed.

The gnokgoblin looked around anxiously. aWe have already been standing here for too long. Itas not safe.a She turned back to them and her face broke into a smile. aThe three of you have got a long and difficult journey ahead of you, but with a little luck and a lot of perseverance, I just know youare going to succeed.a Rook suddenly felt buoyed up by the gnokgoblinas confidence, and grinned from ear to ear. He could hardly wait to get going.

aRight, then,a said Tegan. aItas high time we saw about your tally-discs. Keep close together a" and let me do all the talking.a As they approached the Great Mire Road, Rook saw that there was a row of tally-huts and barriers strung out in a line between the huge towers. Individual queues led to each one. The gnokgoblin led them straight to the tally-hut closest to the left-hand tower.

Ahead, on an ornately carved throne, sat a large shryke matron, bedecked in jewels and rich fabrics. On either side of the throne sprouted enormous carved claws which barred the way through. The shryke eyed each trader with yellow, unblinking eyes, before scrutinizing the tattered, much-thumbed papers handed to her.

aPa.s.s!a Her voice rasped out as she flicked the lever at her side with an evil-looking talon. The carved claws clicked open and the trader walked through. aNext!a aPa.s.s!a Click. aNext! Pa.s.s!a Click. aNext!a Rook jumped. To his surprise, he realized that Stob and Magda were through. It was his turn. His heart leaped into his mouth.

aRemember,a Tegan whispered in his ear. aLet me do the talking.a aNext!a The shrykeas voice was shrill with irritation. Tegan pushed Rook forward. Somehow, Rook made his legs work. With a trembling hand, he offered up his false doc.u.ments, trying not to look at the yellow eyes that seemed to be boring into his skull. What if there was some mistake with his papers? What if the shryke asked him about his so-called line of business? What did Rook know about knife-sharpening? A cold panic began to build in the pit of his stomach.

aKnife-sharpener?a The shryke c.o.c.ked her large head to one side. The feathers at her neck ruffled, the jewels clinked, her terrible curved beak came towards Rookas down-turned face. aDonat look old enough to play with knives, do he?a the shryke cackled nastily. aWell, sonny? Goblin stolen your tongue?a Tegan stepped forward. aItas his first time,a she smiled. aObviously heas overcome with the beauty of your plumage, Sister Sagsplit.a The shryke laughed. aTegan, you old charmer. Is he with you?a Tegan nodded.

aI might have known,a said the shryke. aThrough you go.a The talon flicked the lever. Rook took his papers and tally-disc, and stumbled through the opening claw-stile. Magda and Stob were waiting on the other side.

aWhat kept you?a Magda sounded panicky.

aStopped for a chat, no doubt,a said Stob smugly.

aShut up, Stob,a said Magda. She clasped Rookas hand. aAre you all right? You look very pale.a aIam fine,a said Rook shakily. aItas just, Iave never seen a shryke before. Theyare so a so aa aYouall see plenty more on the Mire road,a said Tegan, motioning them forward.

aYou? Donat you mean we?a said Magda.

aYeah, I thought you were coming with us,a said Stob.

aMy place is here,a Tegan explained. aMy role is to get travellers safely through the tollgate tally-huts and onto the Great Mire Road. Others will make themselves known to you along the waya She gave them each a brief, but heartfelt hug. aTake care, beware and well may you fare, my dears,a she said. And with that, she was gone.

The three young librarian knights elect suddenly felt very alone. From behind them, there came the loud noise of clattering and chattering as a contingent of rowdy mobgnomes lugging a vast range of ironware products, from buckets and bellows to wrought-iron railings, drew closer and overtook them. Without saying a word to one another a" but instinctively aware that there was safety in numbers a" Stob and Magda attached themselves to the back of the group, and Rook brought up the rear.

Ever since the young under-librarianas name had echoed round the high vaulted ceiling of the Great Storm Chamber, Rook Barkwater had felt he was in a dream, scarcely able to believe the events unfolding before him. Now, as he stared ahead at the magnificent raised road, with its ironwood pylons and huge floating lufwood barges; with its look-out posts, its toll-towers and its blazing beacons snaking away into the distance far ahead, his head reeled and his body tingled with excitement.

aThis is it,a he whispered softly. aThereas no turning back now. The greatest adventure of my life has already begun.a Back at the tally-hut, there was a soft click as the claw-stile opened once more. An angular figure in dark robes slipped through. As he lowered his hood, the moon glinted on high cheekbones and closely cropped hair.

hey had been walking for hours over the slippery boarded walkway. All around them traders, merchants and itinerant labourers just like themselves trudged on, backs bent under heavy burdens, eyes staring fixedly down. Few spoke, and when they did, it was in whispers. It was dangerous to attract attention on the Great Mire Road.

Rook glanced up. Ahead, the timber walkway snaked off into the distance like some gigantic hover worm. To their left and right, the Mire mud glistened in the fading light.

aKeep your eyes down!a Stobas whisper was urgent and threatening.

aRemember,a said Magda softly, placing a hand on Rookas shoulder. aTo look directly into a shryke guardas eyes is punishable by death.a Rook shuddered. Just then, ahead of them, he heard the clicking sound of clawed feet on the wooden boards and the brittle crack of a bone-flail. Shryke guards were approaching.

Rookas heart missed a beat.

aSteady,a Stob hissed. aWe mustnat draw attention to ourselves. Just keep moving. And youa a" he jabbed Rook nastily in the back a" akeep your eyes to yourself!a aItas all right,a whispered Magda. aHere, take my hand, Rook.a Rook grasped Magdaas hand gratefully, fighting the urge to turn tail and flee.

The clawed feet clicked nearer. Ahead, the slow-moving crowd seemed to melt away into the shadows cast by the blazing beacons that were strung out high above them at hundred-stride intervals along the way. Rook couldnat help himself. He glanced up.

There ahead of him, staring back with cruel, yellow unblinking eyes, was a tall mottled shryke guard, resplendent in burnished metal breast-plate and great curved beaked helmet. A razor-sharp talon moved to her side, where the vicious-looking bone-flail was strapped. With a rustle of feathers, the guard drew the flail. Rook was transfixed with fright. He looked down instantly and squeezed Magdaas hand with all his might. He heard Magda gasp.

aHow dare you!a The screech pierced the air like a dart.

Rook closed his eyes and hunched his shoulders, waiting for the blow he felt must surely come.

aMercy, mercy,a a goblinas frightened voice cried out pitifully. aI didnat mean to a I beg you. Ia"a The bone-flail cracked to life in the evening air, followed by the sound of a skull shattering. Rook opened one eye. In front of him, in the harsh glare of an overhead beacon, a small goblin lay at the shrykeas feet. A pool of blood spilled out across the surrounding boards.

aGoblin sc.u.m!a the shryke squawked, and behind her two other guards clacked their beaks with amus.e.m.e.nt.

The shryke swung the flail over her shoulder, and the three of them strode on. Magda pulled Rook to one side as they pa.s.sed. He felt faint. Rook had witnessed, and experienced, violence before a" the viciousness of an angry professor, the brutality of the fights that had occasionally broken out amongst the apprentices and under-librarians a But this. This was different. It was a cold violence, callous and pa.s.sionless a" and all the more shocking for that.

aThat was close,a said Stob quietly, behind them. aCome on, now. Keep moving, or weall never make it to the toll-tower. Thereas a rest platform there,a he added.

Rook glanced down at the body on the road and, with a jolt, recognized the pack on the hapless goblinas back.

The goblin had been a knife-grinder, just like himself. Hands were now grasping the body, dragging it into the shadows. Rook heard a distant m.u.f.fled thud as something landed far below in the soft Mire mud. All that was left of the goblin was a small blood-red stain in the wood, which marked what had happened. It occurred to Rook that, along the length of the Great Mire Road, he had seen many such stains.

Rook turned to Magda. aThis is a terrible place,a he said weakly.

aCourage, Rook,a said Magda kindly. aWe can stop for the night at the rest platform. Thereall be someone there to meet us, Iam sure.a Rook stopped. aCouldnat we just stay here? Nightas closing in, the road seems to be getting more and more slippery a" and Iam so hungrya aWe keep on to the toll-tower,a said Stob firmly. aThen we stop for something to eat. Rook!a he snapped. aDo keep up.a Rook was motionless, rigid. His eyes and mouth were open wide, his face drained of all colour. He had seen something hanging from a great beacon-pole, just up ahead.

aWhatas the matter?a said Magda. aRook, what is it?a Rook pointed. Magda looked round a" and gasped. Her hand shot up to her mouth.

aEarth and Sky,a Stob groaned as he, too, saw what Rook had seen. aThat is a dis-gus-ting,a he murmured.

Rook shuddered. aWhy do they do it? What could possibly justify that?a He stared up at the hanging-cage. It was a mesh of interlocking bars, shaped like a sphere and suspended from a gantry fixed to the top of the tall, fluted ironwood beacon-pole. There was a dead body inside it, its limbs contorted, its head bathed in shadows. A growing flock of white ravens was flapping round, landing on the bars and pecking fiercely through the gaps.

All at once the corpse slumped forwards. The largest white raven of all gave a loud kraaak, beat the other birds away and stabbed at the head, once, twice.

Rook screwed his eyes shut, but too late to avoid seeing the unfortunate creatureas dead eyes being plucked out of its skull. One. Two. The sudden jerkiness of the movement a A strand of something glistened in the yellow lamplight. Rook abruptly bent over double as if head been struck a blow to the belly and retched emptily as he staggered over the bloodstained boards.

aCome on, now,a Magda said gently. aPull yourself together.a Then, supporting him with her arm, she handed Rook her water-container. aDrink some of this,a she said. aThatas it. Now, breathe deeply. In, out. In, out aa Slowly, Rookas legs stopped shaking, his heart quietened, and the choking feelings of nausea began to subside. aYou were right, Rook,a he heard Magda saying in a quavering voice. aThis is indeed a terrible place.a They rejoined the slow-moving file of travellers on the Mire road, and continued in silence.

With the toll-tower no more than a hundred strides away now and the wind coming from the west, the acrid smoke from the tilder-fat beacon at its top blew back along the Mire road into their faces. It made Rookas eyes water. It made his heart pound. After all, if no-one appeared soon to help them through this stage of their journey, they would have to deal with the shryke toll-guards on their own a" and having just seen what they were capable of a aI am a knife-sharpener, if it pleases you,a he practised breathlessly. aA knife-sharpener from the Goblin Glades a" I mean, Nations. The Goblin Nations. Thatas it. Iam a knife-sharpener from the Goblin Nations.a In the event, the imposing shryke at the desk took their money, stamped their papers and waved them on without even raising her crested head. Rook kept his eyes firmly on his feet, which were now aching from the hours of walking. Presenting their papers was clearly a mere formality, he realized, important only when it was not done a" for if the shryke guards ever found a trader or merchant without the most up-to-date stamps during one of their random inspections, the punishment was both swift and severe.

Rook didnat want to think about it. He followed the other two out onto a wide landing of lufwood planks, crammed with numerous stalls. Run by mobgnomes and gabtrolls they were, slaughterers, woodtrolls and gnokgoblins a" each one vying with his or her neighbour for the pa.s.sing trade.

There were lucky charms for sale: talismans, amulets and birth-stones. There were crossbows and long-bows, daggers and clubs. There were purses, baskets and bags. There were potions and poultices, tinctures and salves. There were street plans for newcomers to Undertown and charts of the endless forest (often hopelessly in accurate, though none who purchased them would ever find their way back to complain) for those who hoped to travel in the Deepwoods.

And there were food stalls. Lots of them, each one laden with delicacies from all parts of the Edge. There were gnokgoblin meatloaves on offer, woodtroll tilder sausages, and sweetbreads cooked to a traditional cloddertrog recipe. There were pies and pastries, puddings and tarts; honey-soaked milkcakes and slices of candied oaksap. In short, there was something for everyone, whatever their taste, and the air was filled with an intoxicating mixture of aromas a" sweet, rich, juicy, creamy, tangy a" all mingling together in the brazier-warmed air.

Yet Rook was no longer hungry. His appet.i.te had been lost to the memory of that dead prisoner in the cage, with his torn flesh and his stolen eyes.

aYou must try to eat,a said Magda.

Rook shook his head mutely.

aThen Iall get something for you,a she said. aFor later.a aAs you wish,a said Rook wearily. It was sleep he needed, not food.

aThere are hammock shelters and sleeping pallets close by,a came a soft, yet penetrating voice by his side. aIf you require, I can take you there.a Rook looked down to find a short, wiry waif standing by his side. With his pale, almost luminous skin and his huge batlike ears, he looked like a greywaif, or possibly a night-waif a aA night-waif,a the character confirmed. aGreywaifs are generally larger anda a" he gestured towards his mouth a" athey have those rubbery barbels hanging down from round here aa He frowned. aBut youare right, Rook. And I apologize. My name is Partifule.a Rook scowled. Head always found the mind-reading ability of waifs a" whatever their variety a" deeply disturbing. It made him feel exposed, vulnerable a" and how could you ever trust a creature that made you feel like that?

Partifule sighed. aThat is our curse,a he said. aIn waif country, reading the minds of others is essential for our survival; a gift to enable us to see through the darkness. Here, however, it is a curse a" spoiling every friends.h.i.+p and turning so many of us into spies who sell their services to the highest bidder.a And you? Rook wondered with a shudder. How much have you been paid to spy on us?

Partifule sighed a second time. aI give my services for free,a he said. aAnd I am no spy. Perhaps this will help you to trust me.a He pulled his cape apart and there, nestling in the folds of the s.h.i.+rt beneath, was a red bloodoak tooth hanging from a delicate silver chain. aI have been a.s.signed the task of guarding you all while you sleep this first night. You must be fully rested for what lies ahead.a And he added, in response to Rookas unspoken question, aThe Twilight Woods.a Rook smiled. For the first time that day he felt himself relax. Stob and Magda returned from the stalls, food wrapped in small, neat bundles. Magda handed one to Rook, who put it in his pocket.

aWhoas that?a Stob demanded, his voice cold and imperious.

aPartifule, at your service,a came the reply and, for a second time, he revealed the bloodoak tooth.