The Shadowlands by Emily Rodda Page B

he realised that his eyes were not at fault. There were a few Ra-Kacharz on the benches, some pods of Guards, and a rabble of Wild Ones. But most of the audience were Ols—Grade 1 and 2 Ols, whose shapes kept changing, melting and re-forming as he watched.
    Here, of course, there was no need to deceive. The lower-grade Ols did not have to hold one shape if they did not wish it. They could change at will, for their own entertainment or use.
    He focused on one pair as their horned, goat-like heads dissolved into gaping fish-faces, their hands became fins, their colour changed from brown to silver-green, their bodies swelled. This crowded the pair beside them, two women in red bonnets. The women hissed angrily, and for an instant showed their true shape—white and formless, with gaping toothless mouths and eyes like coals. The next moment the white shapes shrank and narrowed, becoming writhing snakes with human faces.
    Sickened, Lief looked down again. At the slaves, standing so still and so silent.
    And then—then he saw something strange. No-one appeared to be moving, but it was as though ripples were passing through the crowd.
    He pressed his face against the bars. Yes! The same tiny actions were being repeated by one person after another. A small turn of the head. Lips moving, so slightly that it would be impossible to see from a distance that words were being said.
    A message was being passed among the slaves. And Lief was sure he knew where the message had begun. With Claw, Brianne and Gers, mingling with the crowd at the edge of the Arena. Whispering the same words over and over again.
    Watch the platform. Be ready to fight. Get to the road behind the Arena. Pass it on.
    ‘The word is spreading,’ said Barda’s voice in his ear. ‘We must stop it!’
    Lief turned. Barda was behind him, looking over his head into the Arena. The big man’s eyes were deeply shadowed. A great red burn marked his brow where a sparking rod had struck him.
    ‘It is too late to stop it now,’ Lief said.
    ‘But everything has changed, and plainly Claw, Brianne and Gers do not know it!’ Barda whispered urgently. ‘They must have been hiding outside the tunnel when we were captured, and saw nothing. If they can see the cage covered now, they no doubt think it is all part of the plan!’
    Lief felt for the Pirran Pipe and slipped it from its casing. Tingling warmth flowed through his fingers, and a strange peace stole over him. ‘Nothing has changed, Barda,’ he said calmly. ‘You cannot cage a sound. Whenwe reach the platform, I will play the Pipe exactly as planned. Not as Emlis might have done, but as well as I can.’
    ‘Whatever else the Pipe may do, it will not melt iron bars, Lief,’ said Barda grimly. ‘The others may escape. But we will be trapped.’
    Then so it will have to be, Lief thought. Claw, Brianne and Gers can lead the people to freedom as well as we can. But he said nothing.
    Looking around for Jasmine, he saw that she had also woken and crawled to the front of the cage. But she had not come to join her companions. She was crouched in the other corner, peering through the gap in the covers there.
    Trying to catch a glimpse of Faith, Lief thought. The sister she has been seeking all along.
    He moved to Jasmine’s side, touched her hand. ‘Jasmine,’ he whispered. ‘Why did you not tell me of Faith?’
    Jasmine turned on him, her eyes dark with misery. ‘Tell
you
? How can you ask that?’ she said in a low voice.
    Lief stared at her, aghast. ‘What—what do you mean?’ he stammered.
    Jasmine clenched her fists. ‘Do you still try to deceive me, Lief, even now?’ she hissed. ‘Do you not understand? I
know.
I know what you did!’
    ‘What?’ Lief asked wildly.
    The word was no sooner out of his mouth when the cage’s front wheels hit the foot of the ramp with a thump.He, Barda and Jasmine were thrown violently backwards. The Pirran Pipe flew out of Lief’s hand and began to roll towards the back of