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to see again, her aunt Fila! The old woman was draped in waves of light, and
stars winked behind her. The starry view reminded Elena of something she had
seen before.
But before Elena could ponder this, Aunt Fila spoke, a panicked look blooming
across her aunt s face.
 Run! She pointed a ghostly hand toward the single dark corridor leading out
from the chamber and deeper into die ruins.  Flee! Now! Leave the cottage and
escape to the woods!
With his pillow covering his ears, exhaustion finally consumed Rockingham, and
he fell into a fitful slumber. He dreamed he stood on the edge of a cliff
above a dark, choppy surf. As he watched the white-tipped waves crash on black
rocks below, he somehow knew he dreamed. Clouds and rain blotted the horizon
as a storm brewed far out to sea. As is often the case in dreams, the time of
day was unclear; the quality of light was such that a change felt imminent.
But whether the light was due to wax brighter as in early morning or to wane
into darkness, he was unsure. The only thing he knew for certain was that he
recognized this place. He had stood here before. He remembered the salt in his
nose and the breeze on his face. The Dev unberry bluff, on the coast of his
island home!
A smile appeared on his face. It had been many years since he had returned to
the Archipelago. Even this nighttime fantasy was a welcome visit. He soaked
the air deep into his chest, and if he squinted& yes, he could just make out
the Isle of Maunsk in the distance, nearly swallowed by roiling clouds.
Suddenly, as he viewed the neighboring island, a feeling of dread clutched his
heart. He glanced quickly behind him as if expecting some creature of
nightmare to be pouncing toward him, but the rolling green hills stood empty.
What was this fluttering of his heart? This was his home. What should he fear?
He stared at the view off the cliffs. The sweep of ocean, wind, and rain
seemed strangely familiar, more than just a memory of home. This very
picture the distant island disappearing into cloud, the crash of angry water
at his feet, the sting of spray on his cheek not only had he stood here
before, but he had stood at this exact moment before
. But when?
He tried to organize his thoughts, but a rising panic rattled him. He had a
sudden urge to ran. But before he could act on this thought, his feet began to
move on their own, not carrying him away to safety, but toward the edge of the
cliff! As in many dreams, he could not stop. It was as if his body were a
carnival puppet through whose eyes he peered. He could not stop his feet as
they continued forward. As he fought, he watched his right foot step into open
space.
Now he remembered! Not only had he been here before, he had done this very
thing. A welling pain escaped his breast in a scream as his body tumbled off
the cliff.  Linora!
As the water-churned rocks flew toward his face, words tolled in his head, in
a cold, familiar tongue, laced with black humor. Dismarum s voice said,  Don t
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worry, Rockingham, I ll catch you again.
Laughter echoed as he hit the waves.
Rockingham sprang awake in the old man s cottage, tasting blood in his mouth.
His underclothes were drenched in sweat as if he had ran a long race. He
struggled to sit up, but the ropes held him.
Suddenly a rough hand clamped over his mouth. He tried to scream, but the palm
blocked all sound.
 Silence or die, someone whispered in his ear. Rockingham felt the blade of a
knife at his throat. He stopped struggling. The weapon lifted from his neck
and sliced his ropes free.
Rockingham pulled his arms down and rubbed his wrists. The bulky shadow of the
mountain man loomed beside his bed.  Get dressed. Hurry! Krai growled at him.
He noticed the small woman, Nee lahn, fully dressed and peering through the
tiny window.  Quickly!
she said.  Both are inside. The way is clear. Once we reach the horses, we can
draw them after us.
 What is going on? Rockingham asked as he tucked his shirt into his pants. He
bent to his boots.
 Skal tum, Krai answered.
Rockingham sped his efforts, pouncing into his boots.
Now was not the time to be caught by the Dark Lord s lieutenants. He had no
bargaining chip.  Where is the girl& and the others?
Krai ignored the small man s question. He pushed him toward the window, not
knowing why the woman had insisted on hauling the prisoner along. Rockingham
should have been left to the teeth and claws of the beasts. But Nee lahn had
insisted.
Nee lahn slowly worked the window open. Crashing sounded from below.  Do you
think they re safe?
she whispered.
He stayed silent, unsure and reluctant to voice his fears. If only he had
sensed the approach of the beasts earlier. Krai had found himself with only
enough time to hurry down and kick the cellar door shut before the first
skal tum had begun digging at the cottage s door. He had barely escaped back
up the stairs himself.
 Will they be hidden long enough for us to get to the horses and draw the
monsters away? Nee lahn asked, propping the window open.
 The cellar door is well disguised.
 Still, we must hurry! With the window now wide open, she climbed through the
frame onto the thatched roof.
Krai picked up the prisoner and shoved him over the windowsill. The thin man
rolled across the roof, almost tumbling from the edge. Krai wormed through the
window next, having to blow all the air from his wide chest to give him room
to squeeze through the narrow frame. His belt caught for a difficult moment on [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]