Beyond the Cherry Tree Page 7

  ‘Sea, land, makes no difference to Baulge. Very versatile creatures are sea ogres.’

  Josh was standing now. He still felt a bit light-headed.

  ‘Where are we, Bortwig? We’re not in the forest. How did we get here?’ Josh looked down at the clothes he was wearing. They had been changed.

  ‘And these clothes … where are my clothes?’

  Just as Bortwig was about to answer Baulge moved quickly, thrashing his body to the ground behind the tree. When he stood back up, he was holding a dead hare in his enormous right hand. The ogre looked to Bortwig and held his limp victim up as if to gesture breakfast.

  ‘Excellent, Baulge,’ commended Bortwig. ‘But I think we will have some fruit instead.’

  Bortwig ordered Baulge to eat his breakfast elsewhere as he knew the ogre’s savage method of devouring the hare raw would not help Josh’s appetite.

  He sat Josh back down on the tree trunk and gave him an apple and some grapes left over from Norlif’s feast.

  ‘Do you remember the festivities of last night?’ asked Bortwig.

  Josh nodded.

  ‘Well, I remember the dragolyte and the fight. And I think the elf killed it. Is that right? I don’t remember anything after that.’

  ‘Yes, Master Bloom. Artfid, tree elf, did kill Krudon’s creature. But, before he did, Krudon’s evil got to you.’

  ‘What do you mean? How?’

  ‘Through the dragolyte’s eyes. Its eyes were fixed upon you. It cursed you and damned you to die.’

  ‘My nose bled …’ Josh remembered.

  Josh munched on his apple, butt and all, then started on his pear. He had a big appetite and his strength was slowly returning.

  ‘But, my clothes, Bortwig? And how are we here and not back at Feldorn?’

  ‘Norlif’s command,’ explained the elf. ‘As Artfid severed the dragolyte’s head clean from its body, blood sprayed your clothing. Norlif believed that this caused weakness to wash over you. A curse in the making. That’s why you are in different clothing, Master Bloom. Norlif ordered our immediate departure to the Wizard’s domain.’

  ‘But I was asleep.’

  Bortwig stood up.

  ‘Baulge carried you. Come, Master Bloom. We must be going. If you are still weak, Baulge will carry you some more.’

  Josh joined Bortwig as they searched for Baulge, who had wandered away with his meal.

  ‘I would have liked to have said goodbye to Norlif and Tigfry,’ sighed Josh.

  Norlif’s blessing is with you, Master Bloom. I’m sure your paths will cross again.’

  The elf, the boy and the ogre walked until morning became high sun. The path ended with a cliff edge and a rope bridge, which stretched a long distance over a treacherous drop to another cliff edge. Josh noticed Baulge become twitchy and very nervous as they drew closer to the bridge.

  ‘Bortwig, what’s wrong with Baulge?’ he whispered.

  Bortwig looked over his shoulder at Baulge. The ogre had fallen behind a little and his eyes searched left and right and up and behind.

  ‘Heckrin’s Pass,’ said Bortwig.

  ‘Excuse me?’ asked Josh.

  Bortwig pointed ahead toward the bridge they were approaching.

  ‘Do you see the bridge that joins those two cliffs?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘That’s Heckrin’s Pass. Baulge, as hideous and strong as he is, is terrified of Heckrin,’ Bortwig explained.

  ‘Who’s Heckrin?’ interjected Josh.

  ‘Heckrin, Master Bloom, is neither evil nor good; just savage. He is a giant falcon with the hideous head of a crazed, hungry man. He has many jagged teeth and his long, pointed nose can smell warm blood from a hundred miles away.’

  ‘I don’t blame Baulge for being afraid of him,’ shivered Josh, looking toward the sky. ‘He’s not here, is he?’

  Bortwig shook his head. ‘Fear not, Master Bloom. Heckrin hunts on the far-eastern lands of Habilon at high sun.’ He laughed. ‘Baulge would not be standing here if there was the slightest chance of an encounter with Heckrin.’

  ‘I wouldn’t either,’ chuckled Josh. ‘I’m terrified and I haven’t even seen him.’

  ‘Most would fear Heckrin,’ nodded Bortwig, ‘but Baulge had an especially terrifying encounter with Heckrin when he was just an infant.’

  With Baulge close by, Bortwig began to tell Josh about the time Heckrin swooped down from the mist and snatched the infant Baulge from Togilin’s shore.

  ‘But Baulge is here and big and well! Heckrin couldn’t have eaten him, Bortwig.’

  ‘Heckrin made one mistake,’ explained the elf. ‘He flew over Feldorn Forest.’

  ‘The archers!’ smiled Josh. ‘Did they save Baulge?’

  Bortwig smiled. ‘Yes, Master Bloom! Heckrin still bears the wounds on his left side. It has slowed him a little, but fast, ferocious and ever hungry he still is.’

  ‘So, the tree elves raised Baulge?’

  ‘Baulge fell crashing through the treetops of our forest. As eager as Norlif is to taste different meats, he could not command the slaughter of the infant ogre. And that is why Baulge is loyal to Norlif and Norlif’s kind.’

  Josh took one look at the bridge and questioned its strength.

  ‘I’m not too sure about crossing that bridge, Bortwig. It looks dodgy.’

  Bortwig turned to Baulge.

  ‘Baulge will cross first,’ said Bortwig. ‘If it holds his weight, then it will hold a hundred elves and at least one brave boy,’ he laughed.

  Baulge was very nervous. He grunted with dissatisfaction at the situation he was in. Josh walked over to the ogre and patted him on the side; this was as high as he could reach.

  ‘Don’t worry, Baulge. You’ll be fine. Once we’ve crossed, we’ll be away from this place long before Heckrin shows up.’

  Josh looked at Bortwig with a worried frown.

  The ogre had not stepped three paces onto the bridge when, suddenly, an infuriating howl came from under the bridge. A very hairy, small creature not much bigger than Bortwig and a little smaller than Josh dragged itself up onto the bridge between the ogre, the boy and the elf.

  ‘Nobody shall cross my bridge!’ commanded the creature, pointing its long, hairy finger at Bortwig.

  Josh stared at the creature’s long black nails with bits of slug guts, bug legs and wings buried deep within.

  Yuck! he thought. Gross! He heaved.

  Baulge leaned over and picked up the creature. It kicked and raged as it dangled in midair. Bortwig laughed aloud and this infuriated the creature even more.

  ‘Let me down, hideous ogre. Let me down or I shall rip you to shreds and chew on your bones for evening pleasures.’

  Bortwig laughed even louder now.

  ‘How dare you laugh, elf. Laugh at a troll, do you?’

  Josh was a little confused. A troll! He doesn’t look nasty enough to be a troll.

  ‘Is he really a troll?’ he asked Bortwig, who was now holding his belly as if he had a stitch from laughing too much.

  ‘Let him down, Baulge,’ instructed Bortwig. ‘No, Master Bloom. Mad Argil is not a troll.’

  ‘I didn’t think so,’ laughed Josh. He looked at the creature, who was fixing his filthy robe and shaking himself down while grunting up at Baulge.

  ‘Filthy ogre!’

  Bortwig walked over to Mad Argil.

  ‘Mad Argil,’ said Bortwig. ‘If Heckrin knew that you were making claims on his bridge and pretending to be the troll that passed through his gut many years ago, he would send you to the pit of his stomach too.’

  ‘But I am a troll!’ insisted Mad Argil. ‘A dangerous troll, too. You shall not cross my bridge.’

  Bortwig looked up toward Baulge and winked.

  Without hesitation, the ogre rolled his knuckles into a ball and tapped on Mad Argil’s head.

  Mad Argil fell.

  Josh stepped onto the bridge. ‘What was that for?’

  ‘For his own good,’ smiled Bortwi
g as Baulge lifted Mad Argil up and flung him over his left shoulder.

  ‘Bonkers Mad Argil may be, but dangerous he is not. Dungers are plenty in numbers and make tasty snacks for Heckrin. Mad Argil is lucky we crossed paths today.’

  ‘So Mad Argil is a dunger. What exactly are dungers?’

  ‘The clue is in the name,’ giggled Bortwig. ‘Dungers are harmless creatures that forage in dung, usually from trolls or ogres or cyclopses. Big creatures like that always leave something interesting behind them.’

  ‘Uugh! That’s gross, Bortwig,’ said Josh stepping back a little from Baulge.

  ‘Lead the way, Baulge,’ instructed Bortwig. ‘I’m pretty sure this bridge will be fine.’

  Chapter 13

  Flying Terror

  Josh held on tight as the bridge swayed from side to side. He dared not look down for it was a long, terrifying distance to the rocky floor below.

  ‘Easy, Baulge,’ calmed Bortwig. ‘Better to get across slowly than not at all.’

  Suddenly, Baulge let out an unmerciful cry. The bridge shook violently as the ogre thrashed about frantically, pointing up at the skies.

  ‘We’re going to fall, Bortwig!’ screamed Josh. ‘What’s wrong with him?’

  ‘Baulge!’ shouted Bortwig, but the ogre was inconsolable.

  Bortwig grabbed hold of Baulge’s leg, but Baulge panicked and ran, dragging Bortwig across the bridge. Josh tried to run too, but the bridge was swaying too hard and he was barely able to hold on.

  Bortwig let go of Baulge’s leg just as they reached the end of the bridge. The ogre danced around with Mad Argil still on his left shoulder. He was in a state of terror.

  Bortwig looked back to Josh as the bridge’s swaying came to rest.

  ‘Are you alright, Master Bloom?’

  Josh quickly got to his feet. His legs and arms were shaking.

  He waved to Bortwig, and then slowly began to walk along the bridge again. Bortwig turned to Baulge. The ogre held his head low with shame. He had calmed down a little, but still looked terrified as he pointed to the skies.

  Bortwig looked up.

  ‘I can’t see anything,’ he called, ‘but sea ogres are known for their ability to see things that are really far away …’

  Josh could see Bortwig look up to the sky and strain his eyes to see.

  ‘Heckrin!’ gasped the elf.

  Turning quickly, he shouted toward Josh, who still had a third of the bridge to cross, ‘Run, Master Bloom. Run for your life!’

  He pointed to the skies. Josh looked up ahead. He too could see something, but it only looked like a dot in the distance.

  ‘Heckrin!’ cried Josh, and he began to bolt.

  But as Josh approached the far cliffs of Heckrin’s Pass, it became apparent that it was not one, but three sets of wings that were flying towards them. It was the witches’ cats!

  Baulge dropped Mad Argil to the ground, untied his rock club, and took it in hand.

  Strangely, the ogre was not as scared now.

  ‘What are they, Bortwig?’ gasped Josh, almost out of breath.

  ‘Nasty goblins on the backs of the witches’ cats,’ answered Bortwig, helping Mad Argil to his feet.

  ‘Witches’ cats!’ yelped Mad Argil. ‘Goblins! Where? I will bash in their heads and throw them over the cliff.’

  ‘Not this again,’ huffed Bortwig. ‘Quickly! Head for those trees. They might not have spotted us yet.’

  The elf, ogre, dunger and boy darted toward the small cluster of whitethorns as the witches’ cats grew larger in the sky.

  Baulge bravely stepped out from the trees and swung his rock club fast and furiously above his head as the witches’ cats swooped down to attack.

  Bortwig grabbed hold of Mad Argil, who wanted to help the ogre.

  ‘Quiet, you mad fool!’ groaned Bortwig.

  Baulge was struggling to keep the cats away. Three were too many. Two of the cats surrounded Baulge while the third flew around the trees and landed on their far side.

  The black cat’s wings folded and its fangs glistened in the sun’s rays. The biggest goblin took a dagger in one hand and jumped off the cat’s back. Then he reached into his clothes and took out a whip. He slowly threaded through the trees.

  ‘Baulge!’ shouted Bortwig.

  Baulge turned his head and as he did, a black cat swiped its massive paw across his head, tearing part of his left ear away. Baulge cried out in rage, then leapt into the air and grabbed the cat’s tail as it was ascending. The injured ogre pulled on the cat’s tail and dragged it down. The goblin fell off and cracked his head open on a rock.

  ‘He’s coming in,’ cried Josh as the big goblin drew near the trees.

  ‘Let me go,’ protested Mad Argil. ‘I will kill him!’

  ‘Shut up, you fool,’ said Bortwig. He threw Mad Argil back on the ground behind Josh.

  ‘Stay here, both of you.’

  Bortwig approached the goblin.

  ‘Go now, while you still live!’ ordered the tree elf.

  The goblin grunted, then was distracted by a screech from nearby.

  Baulge had smashed the black cat against the ground and ripped one of its wings clean from its body, but the brave ogre could not help the elf as the second cat swooped down to attack him.

  The goblin and the elf met eye to eye at the edge of the trees. They circled each other. The goblin swiped the air with his dagger, and then cracked the ground with his whip. The elf made no move beyond silently moving his lips.

  Josh looked on in fear. Even though he could not see Baulge through the trees, he knew the ogre was in great combat. He could hear thrashing and screeching and grunting.

  Suddenly, the goblin lunged at Bortwig, its dagger pointing toward the elf’s chest. Then, it happened. The tree beside Bortwig grabbed hold of the goblin and wrapped its thorny branches around the goblin, squeezing and squeezing until it screeched its last agonising cry.

  Bortwig had spoken to the trees, and the trees had listened.

  A thought ran through Josh’s head, something Bortwig had said to him before, Mysterious and magical things, trees are, but not talkative!

  Josh smiled. Bortwig had done great.

  Baulge swiped at the air, but the black cat and the goblin climbed high out of reach. They hovered way above the ogre, planning their next attack.

  Bortwig was heading back into the trees when, suddenly there was a yelp. It came from Mad Argil. He had snuck out through the back of the trees and crept around to the cat that stood on the far side, alone.

  The cat walked toward the dead goblin with Mad Argil hanging from its jaws. Josh and Bortwig ran to the opening in the trees, expecting to see Mad Argil’s limp body.

  ‘Not fair,’ complained Mad Argil. ‘Not fair at all.’

  He was unharmed. The witch’s cat had a hold on his robe.

  ‘Stand back, Master Bloom,’ instructed the elf.

  Baulge ran over and stood his ground beside Bortwig as the other cat still hovered high. The cat on the ground opened its jaws and let Mad Argil go. Mad Argil complained again and brushed himself off.

  Bortwig’s eyes enlarged. Mad Argil turned quickly to see the cat’s razor-sharp claws raised above his head. It would swipe the dunger’s head clean off.

  Just as the cat was about to launch its blow, great bravery washed over Josh and he stepped forward to confront the giant cat.

  ‘No, Master Bloom!’

  Baulge let a worrying groan.

  Josh took his wand from his pocket and pointed it at the cat.

  ‘Leave now or die!’ Josh commanded.

  ‘You’re dead, boy!’ tittered Mad Argil to Josh.

  Baulge stepped forward and swung his rock club over his head, bellowing a deep fearsome cry at the cat. But the witches’ cat did not back down. It widened its gaping mouth once more and leaned back on its hind legs and began to flap its wings. It was ready to strike.

  ‘Kill it, Baulge!’ yelled Bortwig.

  Baulge f
lung his rock club, but the cat lifted into the sky. Baulge had missed.

  The witches’ cat dived toward Josh.

  Suddenly Josh’s wand glowed brighter than Josh had ever seen and a blade of fire penetrated the giant cat’s chest, sending the creature over the cliff edge.

  The last cat screeched, leapt high in the sky and, on the goblin’s order, turned and flew away. They were fearful of the great magic that Josh possessed.

  Baulge lifted Josh in the air as if to commend the boy’s bravery, but Bortwig was in no mood for celebration.

  ‘You could have been killed, Master Bloom.’

  Josh was still shaking. Shocked, but overwhelmed that he had defeated the evil witches’ cat.

  ‘You can put me down now, Baulge!’ he smiled.

  Josh walked over to Bortwig and knelt down in front of the elf – face to face.

  ‘It’s lucky I’ve got this,’ said Josh, showing the wand to Bortwig.

  ‘Indeed it is, Master Bloom,’ sighed Bortwig.

  ‘I need answers, Bortwig’ said Josh. ‘Why is everything in Habilon trying to kill me?’

  Mad Argil jumped to his feet and combed his fingers through his filthy beard, picking out insects that had crawled up from the grass.

  ‘If I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead now. I once killed a cyclops by just staring into its eye. Bet you didn’t know that – ha, ha!’

  Bortwig looked at Mad Argil with contempt, ‘Idiot!’ then he returned his eyes to Josh.

  ‘Is it because I’m looking for the general? Is that it, Bortwig? Do they think I have some connection to him, like I’m related to him or something?’

  That question made Josh think of home and Henry and Nell and the conversation they had on his birthday about his real parents. Josh was confused now. He sat down beside Bortwig.

  Bortwig shook his head. ‘We must focus on the path ahead, Master Bloom,’ comforted Bortwig. ‘And meeting the wizard.’

  ‘But what about the general?’ worried Josh. ‘I’m supposed to be searching for him, remember – my destiny. I know that’s what I’m supposed to be doing.’

  Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by yet another yelp from Mad Argil. When they looked to see what was wrong, the dunger could not be seen, yet still they could hear his annoying cries. Baulge was looking over the cliff when he turned quickly and bellowed out tremendous laughter toward Josh and Bortwig.