Moonflight, page 15
‘Marfaire does,’ said Tilbury. He turned to her. ‘Marfaire, can you find our way to the Rainbow Falls?’
Marfaire nodded. ‘The mountain pass lies between twin peaks. We must follow the meltwater of the glaciers.’
Tilbury looked across at her. ‘How do you remember the map?’
Marfaire smiled. ‘I have walked it every day in my mind since I was chosen to be the next Keeper.’
Tilbury and Nimble-Quick picked up the bags they had left. Tilbury was glad to wrap the silk scarf with the Silk Wing plan around his neck again.
They climbed on the tiger’s back with Marfaire and Obsidian, and the tiger bounded away.
It was hard to talk, clutching on as the world unfurled below the tiger’s paws, but Marfaire gave Tilbury instructions that he told to the tiger. Higher and higher they went, through scrubby Badlands where trees were short and gnarled and on, above the treeline where Tilbury could hear the roar of the river. Ahead of them lay three valleys, each with a glacier that met to form a raging meltwater that flowed down a central valley.
Marfaire squinted her eyes into the sun. ‘There should be a glacier across this valley, but there is only this river,’ she said. She sighed. ‘The map told to me is two hundred years old. There is no ice where it had once been plentiful.’
The tiger dipped his paw into the water. ‘Then we shall cross the river. You must all hold on tightly,’ he said to Tilbury. And with that he plunged into the water.
The current took them, swirling the great tiger around and around, but he pulled his way forward, his head and neck above the surface. Tilbury wrapped his tail around Nimble-Quick and clung on. Freezing spray soaked Tilbury’s travelling cape and sometimes it felt as if the river would swallow them whole, but the tiger found his grip on the far side of the river and hauled himself out. He shook himself, scattering diamond drops of water and Tilbury had to cling on even more tightly. Then they were off again, the tiger following the instructions Marfaire gave, across rocky scree and high mountain goat trails, until they reached a sheer cliff face. Ahead of them, a rainbow arched over a waterfall. It was the most beautiful sight that Tilbury had seen. The cliff formed an arc around a clear blue pool where the waterfall plunged from high, high above.
‘The Rainbow Falls,’ said the tiger to Tilbury. ‘You have kept your word, and now I have kept mine. I must leave you. Farewell, brave ratling. This king has been humbled to know that true heroes can come in any size.’
Tilbury watched the tiger bound away, the pattern of his stripes camouflaging him against the pale rock and deep shadows. He seemed to dissolve into the landscape of his kingdom. And he was gone.
Nimble-Quick flung her arms around Tilbury. ‘We did it.’
‘Marmalade helped us,’ said Tilbury. ‘He taught me Olde Sphinx.’
Marfaire put her paws around them both. ‘Never have I seen warriors of such bravery. What do you say, Obsidian?’
But Obsidian had eyes only upwards. Tilbury followed his gaze up the sheer cliff-face, and there at the very top were puffy white clouds, and poking through were jewel-encrusted towers, shining in the evening sun.
‘The City in the Clouds,’ murmured Obsidian. ‘A place so long lost in time it seems like myth itself. This is my home,’ he said. ‘My destiny. My journey’s end.’
‘Journey’s end,’ Tilbury repeated. ‘Oh, Marfaire. Are we almost there?’
‘Maybe,’ said Marfaire looking up where the sheer cliff disappeared into cloud. She frowned and sighed deeply. ‘You have learned to be brave, my dearest Tilbury. But I fear the hardest part is yet to come. Now you must learn to be wise.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Ladder to the Sky
A howl rose up from behind them.
Night was drawing in, and the shadows of the Badlands stretched towards them, reaching out like long claws. Tilbury crept a little closer to Nimble-Quick. He wondered what creatures might steal forwards with the shadows too. It was colder up here in the mountains than the searing heat of the valley floor. A wild screeching cry split the air and Marfaire pulled her dagger from the sheath, holding it at her side.
Obsidian knelt down and dipped his paw in the clear blue pool. ‘Ice cold,’ he said, blowing warm breath on to his paws.
‘How do we get across?’ asked Nimble-Quick. ‘Is it too cold? Is it deep?’
Tilbury shuddered. ‘Are there monsters?’
Marfaire squinted her eyes and pointed beyond the veil of water cascading into the pool. There were figures moving on the other side. Then, through the waterfall came a boat, the water parting like a curtain as it passed beneath. A rat was standing at the back of the boat, with a long paddle that it sculled behind. Its fur was wet from the water and gleamed like polished gold.
The Golden Rat stopped mid-pool and called out. ‘Who goes there? Name the purpose of your visit.’
Obsidian stepped forward. He let his travelling cape drop to the floor to show his own golden fur. ‘I am Obsidian, descendant of Prince Obsidian. I have come to return the Cursed Night to its rightful place. The felinrats have been overthrown. With the return of the black diamond, the Golden Rats can rule once again.’
The rat in the boat paddled a little closer. ‘And who are the other three travellers?’
Marfaire stepped forward. ‘I am Marfaire of the Dockland Rats, Keeper of the map to the City in the Clouds. We have crossed the seven seas. These two ratlings have shown great bravery and saved us from the felinrats. Young Tilbury here tamed the White Death. He has come to return the Cursed Night to fulfil a prophecy. He is returning the diamond stolen by Bartholomew.’
The rat was still; the only movement was the circular sculling motion of his paddle keeping him in the middle of the pool. Then he spoke again. ‘We know this diamond as the Eye of Aurun. If you have the Eye of Aurun, then reveal it now.’
Obsidian, pulled the diamond from the silk bag and held it high. ‘Here, and I have come to return it to the king.’
The Golden Rat stared at it for some time. ‘Wait there,’ he said. He paddled back beneath the waterfall and was gone.
Tilbury looked back to the Badlands and shivered. They couldn’t go back, and the only way forward was up the sheer rock wall rising above them. And as he looked, he realized there were small steps carved into the rock, and he noticed the scurrying of a rat. It scampered up and up to another point where another rat sat hidden. He watched as they appeared to be talking, then the other rat set off up the cliff, higher and higher until it met another.
‘They’re sending messengers up the cliff to announce our arrival,’ said Nimble-Quick.
Tilbury peered upwards. ‘And is that the only way up?
‘Yes,’ said Obsidian. ‘This must be the fabled Ladder to the Sky. It’s fiercely guarded. The only route to the City in the Clouds.’
The rockface began to blush pink with the setting sun. Droplets of water from the waterfall caught the light and fell like liquid gold. High above, the clouds cleared a little to show the mountain tops where wisps of snow drifted from the ridge.
A howl rose from behind them again.
‘Look, someone’s coming back,’ said Marfaire.
This time two boats slipped out from under the veil of water, each paddled by a Golden Rat. ‘You will rest at the bottom of the Ladder to the Sky until we hear from the king,’ said one.
Tilbury, Nimble-Quick and Marfaire were helped aboard one boat and Obsidian aboard another. Tilbury watched the veil of water coming closer and closer. The rainbow seemed to rise above them and disappear as they passed beneath the waterfall. The veil was thin, but the weight of water and the coldness shocked him all the same. The sound of the water echoed in the cave they found themselves in. It was damp inside but a small fire glowed in the centre casting long shadows around the cave walls. It felt safe from the unseen creatures of the night.
‘We will wait for the messengers,’ said the guard. ‘And if the king grants you entry, we will start at first light. Rest now, and eat.’
Tilbury and Nimble-Quick tucked into a plate of dried apricots and sweet flat breads and edged towards the fire, putting their paws as close as possible to feel the heat.
Obsidian sat opposite them on the other side of the fire, his travelling cape wrapped around the bag containing the Cursed Night.
Marfaire sat down next to him. ‘We have brought you to your home, Obsidian, but the diamond is for Tilbury to return to the City in the Clouds,’ she said quietly. ‘It is told in the prophecy.’
Tilbury looked across the flames, but Obsidian’s face was turned into the shadows.
‘It is for me to return it to my people,’ said Obsidian, holding the bag closely to his chest.
Nimble-Quick scowled. ‘It’s for Tilbury to do it. The story of the Cursed Night tells that the rat who opens the Gilded Cage is the one to return the diamond to the rightful owners.’
Obsidian glared at her. ‘The Golden Rats are the rightful owners. This diamond is part of our story. The Eye of Aurun holds great power.’ He glanced at the other Golden Rats to check they were not listening, then he lowered his voice. ‘I am a noble warrior. Descendant of Prince Obsidian. Why would I let a ratling carry this diamond to my ancestral home?’ He turned to face Marfaire. ‘I will be the one to return it to the king. If you want it, you will have to fight me for it.’
Marfaire sat perfectly still, but the tip of her tail twitched to and fro.
Tilbury felt the heavy pull of the diamond, like a weight around his soul. Its power seemed to swell and fill the small cave and even the flames flickered a little less brightly. He had no wish to hold the Cursed Night in his paws. He cleared his throat. ‘Maybe we should let Obsidian be the one to carry it. It would be humiliating for him if I carry it into the City in the Clouds. After all, Bartholomew did steal it from the Golden Rats. You said so yourself, Marfaire.’
‘Exactly,’ whispered Obsidian. ‘Tilbury is wise for his years.’
Nimble-Quick flicked a piece of dirt in the fire and gritted her teeth. ‘The prophecy said Tilbury must return it, and only him.’
‘But I am,’ said Tilbury. ‘I have brought it safely here. Does it matter who carries it over the threshold?’
Marfaire stood up and paced in circles around the fire. ‘Only Tilbury can find the true owner of this diamond, but we must accept the king will want to see it,’ she said. She stood in front of Obsidian. ‘Tilbury has generously let you present it to the king, but he must be with you when you do so.’
Obsidian stared into the flames, the firelight seeming to make his fur glow like embers. He said nothing but a single whisker twitched.
‘You would not be here without him,’ said Marfaire, raising her voice such that the other Golden Rats looked around. ‘He was the one to defeat the felinrats, not you.’
The guard rats’ ears swivelled to hear the conversation.
Marfaire spoke loud enough for the guards to hear. ‘Tilbury faced the White Death and saved your life. He has ensured the safe return of the diamond. And he will join you to present the diamond to the king.’
‘I agree to it,’ snapped Obsidian, glancing at the listening guard rats. He pushed himself back into the shadows, his paws clutching the silk bag carrying the diamond even more tightly.
Marfaire sat beside Tilbury, pushing more twigs and dry grass into the fire. She was silent for a long time, and then as Nimble-Quick was falling into soft slumber, she turned to Tilbury.
‘Are you afraid of the Cursed Night?’ she whispered. ‘Is that why you do not wish to carry it?’
Tilbury nodded and trembled. ‘I feel its darkness pulling me more strongly than ever before. I’m scared I will fall under its spell, like Bartholomew.’
Marfaire stared into the flames. ‘And yet you seem to resist its power.’ She poked the fire, sending up sparks that glittered brightly in the darkness. ‘Maybe the Cursed Night is safer with you. Maybe it is most dangerous with those who desire it most.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Medal for a Hero
With the dawn came a messenger who brought news that the king requested the company of the travellers.
And so Marfaire fussed and told Tilbury and Nimble-Quick to dress in their warmest clothes. Nimble-Quick grumbled as they began their climb, feeling hot and sweaty beneath her layers of shirts and long johns, but it wasn’t long before the mountain air chilled their tails, and they all felt glad of the winter clothes. One Golden Rat led the way and the other brought up the rear. The climb was so steep that the guards had to point out paw-holds to step onto. Higher and higher they climbed until all around them were swirling white clouds. Tilbury was glad of the clouds because they hid the vast emptiness beneath them. There was nothing between him and the ground but sky.
Up and up they climbed into the wild silence. Once, a bird flew past. It had the widest wingspan of any bird Tilbury had ever seen. It effortlessly soared on the updraughts of air, and he wondered if Bartholomew had once marvelled at these birds too. Sheets of thin ice coated the rocks, making their passage slower, and even the water in the air formed crystals on Tilbury’s whiskers. The air was thinner too, and his chest ached with the need to breathe.
‘You’ll get used to it,’ said the guard, watching the new travellers breathing heavily.
‘How far now?’ panted Nimble-Quick. She was balanced on a precarious ledge.
‘Not far,’ said the rat. ‘The city will be expecting you.’
And they climbed up further, out of the clouds into bright blue sunshine, the City in the Clouds laid out before them.
Tilbury wasn’t prepared for the welcome. Silk flags of bright colours fluttered against the clear blue sky. The path into the city was lined with Golden Rats throwing rose petals into the air to greet the travellers. The City in the Clouds dazzled Tilbury. It was hewn from the rock and encrusted with gemstones. It was as beautiful as the myths told about it. It didn’t seem possible that it was real. The eastern towers sparkled with sapphires, and the western towers glowed with rubies and gemstones of yellow and orange. The windows and doorways were shimmering with gold.
Obsidian held his head high and his jewel-encrusted dagger even higher as they walked into the city. The ripples of cheers and applause carried Tilbury’s weary legs forward. They were led into a large hall where sunlight shone in, through hanging silks, bathing the hall in coloured lights.
An elderly Golden Rat stood before them, his muzzle slightly whiter than the rest of his golden fur. Tilbury guessed he must be high ranking, because he wore medallions of gold around his neck.
‘Welcome, warrior and weary travellers,’ said the rat. ‘I am the king’s sage, and we welcome you to our city. Today is the dawn of a new era for the Golden Rats, for the Eye of Aurun is returned.’ He clasped his hands together and gave a little bow to Obsidian. ‘Welcome, returned warrior,’ he said, and then he gave a bow to Tilbury. ‘I hear you are a young ratling to be honoured for your bravery in the face of a monster.’
Tilbury stared at the floor. He didn’t regard the tiger as a monster, but he felt pride spread through him, hearing this rat telling him he was brave.
‘Humble too,’ said the rat. ‘A sign of a true warrior.’ He slipped a purple silk ribbon over Tilbury’s head which held a small gold medallion. ‘The king will hear your tale at a feast in your honour this evening, and you will be written into the book of legends. But for now, you and your travelling companions must be rested and tended to.’
Tilbury, Marfaire and Nimble-Quick were led away separately from Obsidian and into a room that had a large opening looking out over the mountains. Three mattresses lay on the floor with blankets and quilts piled high, and a basket of bread was warming by the fire.
The air felt thin and brittle with ice, and yet a thorned vine clung to the rockface, and a tiny pink flower bloomed at the window. Marfaire reached out to touch it. It seemed impossibly fragile in the high mountain landscape.
‘Mountain rose,’ said the Golden Rat. ‘Known for its endurance and beauty.’ The rat put another piece of wood on the fire and the flames burned a little brighter. ‘Rest now. I will come back to take you to the Welcome Feast.’
When they were alone, Tilbury walked to the open window cut into the rock. Marfaire came to stand next to him. The mountain tops rose above the sea of clouds. He took a bite of bread and chewed it slowly, savouring its sweet warmth.
‘Our journey’s end,’ sighed Tilbury. ‘I can’t believe we’re actually here in the City in the Clouds. We made it. Obsidian is right. It is the most perfect place in the world. Don’t you think so, Marfaire?’
Marfaire turned her head up to watch a bird soaring high above them on the rising thermals. ‘It may depend upon your perspective,’ she said. ‘Sometimes only time and distance can give us that.’
‘But we’ve been given such a welcome,’ said Tilbury.
‘Have we?’ said Marfaire rather abruptly.
Tilbury frowned. Marfaire was not usually so short with him and he wondered if maybe she was tired. He pulled his mattress closer to Nimble-Quick’s and sat next to her. ‘Marfaire’s in a terrible mood,’ he whispered. ‘The Golden Rats have welcomed us and are kind to us, and she seems ungrateful. They are going to write us into the book of legends.’
Nimble-Quick picked at a scab on her tail. ‘I’m tired, Tilbury,’ she said. ‘I’m going to have a rest.’
Tilbury felt irritation rise inside him. What was wrong with both of them? He tried to push his irritation away and instead ran his paws along the silk ribbon and held the shining golden medallion. It was a medal from the golden warrior rats. He would be written into their legends for returning the Cursed Night that had been stolen so long ago. He was brave, he told himself. He was a hero.
He turned his back on Nimble-Quick.
