Part 17 (1/2)

”We're going to get you out,” interrupted Leonard. ”Which way is the entrance to the dungeon?”

Peter frowned, remembering the night the prison guards had taken him out. ”That way,” he said, pointing to Leonard's right. ”But there's guards.” As he spoke, the sound of men shouting echoed across the courtyard.

”We'll hurry,” said Leonard, rising to his feet. ”Be ready, Peter.”

Leonard and Bakari, with Tink zipping ahead, ran to the right along the dungeon wall to a ma.s.sive wood door, crisscrossed with bands of iron. Bakari tried the handle; the door swung open.

The echoing shouts were louder now.

Stepping through the doorway, Leonard and Bakari found themselves in a small room with two red-coated palace guardsa”both sound asleep. Tink fluttered above them, then pointed to a metal ring glinting from her glow.

Keys, she chimed softly.

The shouts in the courtyard were now very loud.

Carefully, Bakari unhooked the ring of keys from the hook on the sleeping guard's belt. Then, with Tink leading, they raced down a torch-lit corridor leading left, back toward Peter's cell. They pa.s.sed a dozen empty cells, then one filled with small dark shapes. Leonard stared.

Monkeys, said Tink in his ear. The next cell is Hook's, and thena But before she could finish, there were angry roars from behind. Bakari and Leonard whirled to see the two guards they had left sleepinga”apparently awakened by the shouts outsidea”charging toward them with swords drawn. Leonard and Bakari drew their own swords, and in a moment the stone corridor rang with the clash of steel on steel, swords flas.h.i.+ng in the torchlight. Leonard and Bakari were excellent swordsmen, but time was against them; the sound of the battle was sure to bring more guards. Leonard heard an urgent chime in his ear.

Close your eyes! said Tink. Tell Bakari!

”Bakari!” shouted Leonard. ”When I count to three, drive him back, then close your eyes!”

”During a sword fight?” said Bakari.

”Trust me!” said Leonard. ”One, twoaNOW!”

Leonard and Bakari both thrust their swords violently, driving their opponents back; they then closed their eyes, Bakari quite reluctantly. In the next instant the once-dim corridor flashed with a white light more brilliant than the midday desert sun. Tink, having used all her energy, dropped to the floor. The two guards screamed, covering their eyesa”too late, as they were temporarily blinded. When the brightness was gone, Leonard opened his eyes and stepped quickly between the helpless guards, raising his sword, hilt-first, and quickly clubbing them both unconscious.

”Come on,” he said to Bakari, turning to run along the corridor. He pa.s.sed a cell where the tall, thin figure of Hook stood in the shadows. Then, at last, he came to the cell where Peter was waiting with his mates.

”All right, boys,” Leonard said. ”We'll have to move quickly now.” He looked over his shoulder at Bakari, who was standing ten feet away, next to a torch.

”Bring the keys!” said Leonard.

Bakari did not move.

”For heaven's sake, man!” said Leonard. ”Hurry!”

Bakari did not move.

”Lord Aster,” said Peter.

”What?”

Peter was pointing toward Bakari's feet. ”Look.”

Leonard looked, and his blood ran cold.

Bakari had no shadow.

There was shouting in the corridor now, the sound of many men running, coming closer.

Leonard raised his sword, pointing it at Bakari's chest.

”Give me the keys,” he said.

Bakari opened his mouth, but instead of Bakari's voice an awful groan came out.

”Go ahead, Lord Aster,” it said. ”Stick your sword into your Starcatcher friend. Do you think I care?”

Leonard hesitated, then lowered his sword, his shoulders slumping. Ombra emerged from the shadows, and now the groaning voice came from his own dark shape.

”A wise decision, Lord Aster,” he said. Moments later, thundering feet announced the arrival of a dozen guards; Leonard was now hopelessly outnumbered. On Ombra's orders, the guards disarmed him, then shoved him, along with the slack-faced Bakari, into a vacant cell next to the boys'.

”Now that you both are comfortable,” groaned Ombra, ”I will return your a.s.sociate's shadow. I need no longer burden myself with it, as it has given me all I need to know.” A shadow emerged from under his robe, and as two terrified guards leapt out of the way, it slithered across the floor and into the cell. It attached itself to Bakari, who groaned and slid to the floor.

As Leonard was helping the disoriented Bakari to his feet, King Zarboff, surrounded by his personal guards, entered the corridor, huffing from the exertion of crossing the courtyard.

”Lord Ombra,” he gasped. ”My men have sealed the palace. It is impossible for the Starcatchers to get inside.”

Zarboff felt a chill as...o...b..a looked at him, then groaned, ”The Starcatchers are here.”

Zarboff stared at Leonard and Bakari. ”But that's not possible!” he sputtered. ”How did they get in?”

”They were admitted by an accomplice, a member of your palace guard,” said Ombra.

”Who is this traitor?” roared Zarboff. ”I will feed him to Kundalini one piece at a time!”

”I will give you his name,” said Ombra. ”But first you must dispatch a group of your best mena”ten should be sufficienta”to the port of Ashmar. Have them wear civilian clothes and travel un.o.btrusively. They are to board a French s.h.i.+p called the Mich.e.l.le.”

”No!” said Leonard, lunging to the cell bars.

Ombra ignored him, continuing to speak to Zarboff. ”On the s.h.i.+p is Lord Aster's daughter, whose name is Molly.”

Now Peter was gripping the bars of his cell, staring at Ombra.

”Your men are to seize this girl,” said Ombra, ”and bring her here.”

”You don't need my daughter, Ombra,” said Leonard. ”You have me.”

”Your gallantry is touching,” said Ombra. ”But the girl has already caused me far too much trouble. She is a Starcatcher; the more of you in captivity, the better.” He turned to Zarboff. ”Dispatch your men to Ashmar at once. I will see you in your chambers.”

Zarboff, who disliked taking orders but had no intention of contradicting Ombra, huffed from the room, trailed by his personal guards.

”Ombra,” said Leonard. ”Whatever you're planning to do here, I give you my word that I will not interfere if you will leave my daughter alone.”