it will protect us. We must get some sleep before we set off to rescue your friends.’ Timoken lay beneath the moon cloak and beckoned to the boy.
After a moment of uncertainty, Edern crawled in beside him. The red-haired boy was soon asleep, but Timoken lay staring up at the night sky. Where was the moon? They needed a good light if they were to rescue all the children and escape. He had been gazing at a pale splinter of light for several seconds before he realised what it was. The new moon was rising in the eastern sky.
Quickly rolling from beneath the moon cloak, Timoken ran to the bags that were piled beside Gabar.The Alixir was kept in a small pouch of red calfskin. But it was not there.
‘It must have been lost in the water,’ Timoken said to himself, ‘when poor Gabar fell in the river.’ He looked again at the thin slice of moon and shivered. He had found no home as yet, but he was going to grow. He would be like other mortals. The prospect was exciting, and a little alarming. He had been eleven years old for almost two centuries; in less than another eleven years he would be a man.
Chapter Eleven
The Angel on the Roof
Edern woke up. A thick blanket of clouds obscured the stars, and yet there was a light in the grove where he lay.
He could see the camel, its head lowered and its eyes closed. He could see the branches of the trees, spread like a canopy above his head. He sat up, and light rippled across the cloak that covered his legs. It was like seeing the moon reflected in water. Edern ran his hand lightly over the glimmering threads. They were so soft, he could hardly feel them. Beside him, Timoken stirred in his sleep; the band of gold around his head glinted in the gentle light.
‘A king,’ Edern said to himself. Something his father had said came into his head. ‘To be a king is an honour and a burden. He cannot show fear, and he cannotshoulder the huge weight of his responsibilities without our support. Never forget that.’
Edern looked at his sleeping companion.
I won’t forget
, he thought.
He shook Timoken’s shoulder and the African woke with a start. ‘I have never slept so deeply.’ He yawned and stretched his arms.
‘I think we should go now,’ said Edern.
‘Of course!’ Timoken exclaimed. He went over to the camel and began to load him up.
‘It is night,’ grunted Gabar.
‘I’m sorry. We have a task to perform – a rescue!’ Timoken lit a small lamp and hung it at the front of the saddle.
Gabar wearily lifted his rump. ‘Rescue?’ he snorted. ‘At night?’
‘Yes. And don’t get up yet. We have to climb on your back.’
‘Two again,’ grumbled Gabar.
Timoken smiled. ‘We weigh hardly anything.’ He got into the saddle and called Edern over, telling him to climb up behind him.
When they were ready, Gabar raised himself to hisfeet and, at a touch of the reins, began to walk down the mountain track. It had widened out into a rough road, and on either side trees grew thickly, keeping the camel safe from another tumble.
As they travelled Timoken described his plan to Edern. They would stop a little way before reaching the barn, so the dogs would not hear them. When he was quite sure no animal had been alerted, Timoken would fly into the trees above the buildings. He would talk softly to the dogs, commanding them to be silent, and then he would ask the horses to be quiet and steady while he untied the ropes that tethered them to the trees.
‘They keep the saddlery in a hut beside the stone house,’ Edern said. ‘Shall I saddle the horses while you are freeing my friends?’
‘No,’ said Timoken firmly. ‘I will do it. I will call to you when all is safe. If you do not hear from me before dawn, it means I have failed, so you must find some other route, and continue alone on Gabar.’
It had not occurred to Edern that Timoken might fail. He could find nothing to say, except, ‘I understand.’
‘Treat my camel well,’ said Timoken. ‘He is
After a moment of uncertainty, Edern crawled in beside him. The red-haired boy was soon asleep, but Timoken lay staring up at the night sky. Where was the moon? They needed a good light if they were to rescue all the children and escape. He had been gazing at a pale splinter of light for several seconds before he realised what it was. The new moon was rising in the eastern sky.
Quickly rolling from beneath the moon cloak, Timoken ran to the bags that were piled beside Gabar.The Alixir was kept in a small pouch of red calfskin. But it was not there.
‘It must have been lost in the water,’ Timoken said to himself, ‘when poor Gabar fell in the river.’ He looked again at the thin slice of moon and shivered. He had found no home as yet, but he was going to grow. He would be like other mortals. The prospect was exciting, and a little alarming. He had been eleven years old for almost two centuries; in less than another eleven years he would be a man.
Chapter Eleven
The Angel on the Roof
Edern woke up. A thick blanket of clouds obscured the stars, and yet there was a light in the grove where he lay.
He could see the camel, its head lowered and its eyes closed. He could see the branches of the trees, spread like a canopy above his head. He sat up, and light rippled across the cloak that covered his legs. It was like seeing the moon reflected in water. Edern ran his hand lightly over the glimmering threads. They were so soft, he could hardly feel them. Beside him, Timoken stirred in his sleep; the band of gold around his head glinted in the gentle light.
‘A king,’ Edern said to himself. Something his father had said came into his head. ‘To be a king is an honour and a burden. He cannot show fear, and he cannotshoulder the huge weight of his responsibilities without our support. Never forget that.’
Edern looked at his sleeping companion.
I won’t forget
, he thought.
He shook Timoken’s shoulder and the African woke with a start. ‘I have never slept so deeply.’ He yawned and stretched his arms.
‘I think we should go now,’ said Edern.
‘Of course!’ Timoken exclaimed. He went over to the camel and began to load him up.
‘It is night,’ grunted Gabar.
‘I’m sorry. We have a task to perform – a rescue!’ Timoken lit a small lamp and hung it at the front of the saddle.
Gabar wearily lifted his rump. ‘Rescue?’ he snorted. ‘At night?’
‘Yes. And don’t get up yet. We have to climb on your back.’
‘Two again,’ grumbled Gabar.
Timoken smiled. ‘We weigh hardly anything.’ He got into the saddle and called Edern over, telling him to climb up behind him.
When they were ready, Gabar raised himself to hisfeet and, at a touch of the reins, began to walk down the mountain track. It had widened out into a rough road, and on either side trees grew thickly, keeping the camel safe from another tumble.
As they travelled Timoken described his plan to Edern. They would stop a little way before reaching the barn, so the dogs would not hear them. When he was quite sure no animal had been alerted, Timoken would fly into the trees above the buildings. He would talk softly to the dogs, commanding them to be silent, and then he would ask the horses to be quiet and steady while he untied the ropes that tethered them to the trees.
‘They keep the saddlery in a hut beside the stone house,’ Edern said. ‘Shall I saddle the horses while you are freeing my friends?’
‘No,’ said Timoken firmly. ‘I will do it. I will call to you when all is safe. If you do not hear from me before dawn, it means I have failed, so you must find some other route, and continue alone on Gabar.’
It had not occurred to Edern that Timoken might fail. He could find nothing to say, except, ‘I understand.’
‘Treat my camel well,’ said Timoken. ‘He is
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