The Serpent of Eridor by Alison Gardiner Page B

healer,’ said Zorrin, picking up a bright yellow biscuit. ‘Can fix almost anything. Only death is beyond her. You’ll be safe while she’s around, other than if her cooking poisons you.’
    Flick aimed a blow at Zorrin’s head, which he ducked. ‘I’ve saved him from the verge of death several times. Now I wonder why I bothered. I’ll take you round the ingredient garden sometime. But touch nothing or… ’ Flick grasped her neck, rolling her eyes up to the ceiling.
    â€˜You’re on,’ said Skoodle.
    â€˜Interested by something that’s not food? That’s odd,’ hissed Ikara.
    Keeko grabbed a bunch of grapes and started tossing them in the air, catching them in her mouth.
    â€˜Come on, the rest of you. Eat. I’ll be offended if you don’t clear the table,’ said Flick.
    â€˜Love a challenge,’ said Alex, reaching for a blueberry muffin.
    â€˜Tell Flick your story. Also, I want to know how you found me,’ said Zorrin, pouring juice for everyone.
    Interrupting each other often the four related their tale, starting from Alex’s email and his decision to find out what had happened to his parents. Keeko’s eyes filled with tears as they got to the river battle.
    â€˜Then Tariq disappeared over the waterfall, still wrestling with the crocodile,’ said Ikara in a strange, brittle voice.
    Alex’s chest felt heavy and strange. ‘Tariq warned us that the fall would be fatal.’
    â€˜Maybe he was wrong. I’ll check if he’s OK on the crystal.’ Flick vanished, leaving behind a faint waft of perfume.
    â€˜Where did she go?’ asked Skoodle.
    â€˜Disparticulated. Dematerialised to become solid somewhere else. Sort of instant transport.’
    â€˜Amazing,’ said Keeko. ‘Which crystal?’
    â€˜An entire wall in Flick’s bedroom, which shows where anyone is. Only the more powerful of the evil ones don’t show up, nor does anyone who’s in their power. So, alive or— ’ Zorrin stopped and coughed, ‘… otherwise, she’ll find him.’
    They heard Flick’s voice even before she reparticulated. ‘I’ve found Tariq. He’s alive.’ A hazy shadow appeared and began to turn into the solid body of Flick.
    â€˜Fantastic,’ shouted Keeko, cartwheeling across the kitchen.
    â€˜Alive’s good, but is he OK?’ asked Ikara.
    â€˜Seems so. He’s making his way through the jungle towards us.’
    â€˜This news is ice,’ said Alex, punching the air.
    Zorrin frowned slightly. ‘Pardon? I thought you said ‘Ice’.’
    â€˜I did. It means fantastic. You know: if cool is very good, then ice is the best it can get.’
    There was a strangled sound behind them as Flick choked on her coffee then started laughing.
    â€˜Ordinary words don’t need new meanings,’ said Zorrin. ‘Ice is frozen water. That’s all. There are many other words for the best – like superb, overwhelming, fantastic.’
    â€˜Or make up your own,’ said Flick, grinning. ‘Like squasjig, galumphen or rapti.’
    Zorrin looked at his sister sternly. ‘Don’t you start. This conversation is getting beyond ridiculous.’ He rose swiftly to his feet, brushing yellow biscuit crumbs off his trousers. ‘Would you send Viskar on a carpet to get Tariq? While we wait for him I’ll show the others round Ravenscraig, starting in the gloomy bits.’
    â€˜Of course.’ Flick took a sheet of thick cream paper from beside a copper cauldron and wrote in lavender ink:
Please collect Tariq. Large golden bear. For whereabouts see crystal.
She picked up a small silver bell, shook it and put it down on the note.
    â€˜No sound?’ asked Alex.
    â€˜No need. You go on. I’ve got to pop out to the garden for a minute.’
    They arrived back up from the cellar to find a massive golden snail –