They all contemplated that in silence.
“You might need us,” Cole said. “You might not survive without us. Jace is pretty good with that rope.”
“I sure am,” Jace said. “Don’t try to get rid of me ever again. I’m done having this conversation. If you’re determined, I am too. I see the town. It’s a mess. We knew this thing was powerful. But I won’t abandon you.”
“If it goes really bad, we can still try to run,” Twitch said. “You know, last minute. I’m not quitting now.”
“What about you, Cole?” Mira asked. “You’re not even from here. You have friends to find. Do you really want to get killed fighting my shaping power?”
“I don’t want to get killed,” Cole said. “I promised my friends that I’d find them, and I’m going to keep that promise. Your father has my friends as slaves. His laws led to us being taken from our world. You want to overthrow him. Doing that would be the surest way to help my friends. It all starts with you getting your powers back. I’m with you, Mira. Not only because I need to help Jenna and Dalton. You’re my friend too.”
Mira wiped at her eyes. “Okay. I’m grateful. It’s not that I want you to leave. I just feel so responsible.”
“We get it,” Jace said.
“Where did you kids come from?” a voice interrupted.
They all jumped and whirled toward the speaker. An older man with a long white beard was coming their way down a side street. He wore dirty work clothes and walked as if he might be a little arthritic.
“Didn’t mean to startle you,” he said. “I’m wondering what news you’ve had.”
“We came from the northwest,” Cole said. “Things are quiet that way. The towns have evacuated.”
“We were mostly evacuated,” the old man said, drawing closer. “Some of the men stayed to fight.”
“You saw Carnag?” Mira exclaimed.
The man shook his head. “Not me. I weathered the attack down in my root cellar. I’d seen a town the monster had hit. It leaves some of the buildings untouched. I’ve lived here all my life. Decided to take my chances hiding out.”
“What happened to the men?” Cole asked.
“No sign of them,” the old man said, his voice quavering. After a moment, he regained his composure. “You’re the first people to happen by since Carnag visited five days ago.”
“Any idea which way the monster went?” Twitch asked.
“Looked like the fiend doubled back the way it came,” the old man said. “I didn’t see it, mind you, just signs of its passage. That’s been the pattern. Carnag ventures out farther every time, but falls back between forays.”
“Are you all right?” Mira asked. “Do you need anything?”
“I have plenty,” the old man said. “A whole town’s supplies. The worst of it should be behind me. So far there have been no reports of Carnag hitting the same place twice. What brings you this way?”
“Family emergency,” Mira said. “We better get going.”
“Need provisions?” the old man asked.
“We have enough,” Mira said. “Thanks, though. Keep safe.”
“You too, young lady.”
They returned to the autocoach. Mira instructed Bertram to go around the pit in the road and then continue to the southeast.
The autocoach trotted ahead through the night. Whenever he jerked awake, Cole peered out the window, half-expecting to see a monstrosity charging at them. But all he saw was the countryside under the dull light of a reddish moon.
“No star,” Mira said one time after he looked outside.
“No?” Cole asked.
“I haven’t seen my star since we fled through the cloud-wall,” Mira said.
“I guess that means nobody can trace us,” Cole said.
“No enemies and no help.”
“Is it almost morning?” Cole asked.
“Not yet,” Mira said. “Try to rest.”
“What about you?”
“I’m trying too.”
Just after sunrise, they heard the pounding rhythm of an approaching gallop. A quick look revealed a lone legionnaire racing along the road from the opposite direction. Jace got his rope ready.
“It’s one guy,” Mira said. “He’s probably not here for us. He may just ride by.”
The horseman slowed as he reached the autocoach. He looked like a teenager, though he might have been twenty. His uniform was disheveled. “Whoa!” he called. “You people need to turn around right away!”
Mira ordered the autocoach to stop.
“What’s the problem?” Jace asked.
“Only the biggest threat in Sambria,” the legionnaire said, panic behind his eyes. “How did you get this far without catching on? Carnag is just beyond the next hill.”
His insides squirming with anxiety, Cole instantly turned his attention to the road ahead. He saw where the lane disappeared behind the next rise. Everything looked quiet and normal.
“Is it coming this way?” Mira asked.
“I’m not waiting around to find out,” the legionnaire said. “I was part of a scouting party with eleven other soldiers. Good horsemen. I’m the only one who got clear.”
“Did you see it?” Mira pressed.
“Glimpsed it through the trees,” the legionnaire said. “It’s gigantic, I can tell you that much. Hard to speak to the details. The others wanted a closer look. They got it all right.”
“You abandoned your unit?” Mira asked.
“We’re a scouting party!” the young legionnaire protested. “Somebody has to report back. It might not be too late for you. Turn around.”
Jace looked at Mira. “What do we do?”
“Take him,” Mira said.
The golden rope lashed out, bound the soldier’s arms to his sides, and yanked him off his horse. The legionnaire hit the ground hard, his pinioned arms unable to help break his fall. The horse whinnied and reared, then settled down.
At first the legionnaire could only cough and wheeze. “What are you doing?” he finally managed.
“We’re on holiday,” Bertram replied. “My grandniece and grandnephews are helping me take in the countryside.”
“Let me go!” the soldier cried. “Do what you want, but don’t hold me here!”
“Play dead, soldier!” Mira ordered. “We have nothing to fear from Carnag. We work with it. Keep your mouth shut, or we’ll make you a sacrifice.”
The legionnaire mostly obeyed. Cole heard faint whimpering.
“Do you have some of that tea?” Mira whispered to Twitch.
“It isn’t warm,” Twitch said. “But I’ve kept some of it in water since we left Gerta’s place. It should be pretty potent.”
“Give him some,” Mira instructed.
“Feel this?” Jace asked. The rope creaked as it tightened.
The soldier cried out.
“I can make it much tighter,” Jace said. “Our friend here has a refreshment for you. Drink it, and we’ll let you live.”
“How do I know it isn’t poison?” the legionnaire asked as Twitch climbed down to him.
“Because there are easier ways to kill you,” Jace said. “For example, I could squeeze you to death.”
The soldier let out an anguished groan.
While Twitch gave the tea to the legionnaire, Cole leaned over to Mira. “If the legionnaires are scouting this thing, does that mean your father isn’t directly involved?”
“Probably,” she said. “Unless he’s keeping it secret from his own people, which is possible.”
“What . . . what . . . what was that stuff?” the legionnaire asked, his words slurred.
“Herbal tea,” Twitch said.
“Not bad,” the soldier said contentedly. “Am I sinking? Feels a little like . . . like I’m . . .” The legionnaire sagged.
Twitch snapped his fingers by the legionnaire’s ear. “He’s out. Might have been an extra-strong dose. The tea looks really dark.”
“Good,” Mira said. ?
??We can’t have him in the way. In fact, I don’t want to risk leaving him here. Tie him up and we’ll bring him.”
Jace pulled some spare rope from the storage compartment. After binding the soldier’s wrists, legs, and arms, it took all three boys to drag him up into the autocoach.
“I wonder if I should ride the horse,” Mira said. “It might be good to have the extra speed and mobility.”
“Go for it,” Jace said.
Just then Mango fluttered down to the window. “I’m not sure if this is good news or bad, but Carnag is just up ahead.”
“We know,” Mira said. “Where have you been?”
“It’s been hectic.” Mango sighed. “I’m keeping track of many things.”
“Did you see it?” Mira asked.
“I didn’t want to get too close,” the bird said. “It’s big. And noisy. I heard people crying for help.”
“Thanks, Mango,” Mira said.
“On the bright side, I helped bring some assistance,” Mango said.
A guy on a flying disk swooped alongside the autocoach. “Better late than never,” Liam announced.
“Liam!” Cole exclaimed. “I thought you said you’d be too busy to help out!”
Liam scrunched his face apologetically. “I know. I didn’t want you guys counting on me. But I got bored.”
“You’re here because you were bored?” Jace asked.
“Why not? I like how nonchalant it sounds. You want the whole story? We had to flee Cloudvale, and Declan is settled in his new hideout, so I figured they could spare me. I’m here with permission.”
“How’d you find us?” Mira asked.
“You didn’t think Mango was only spying for you?” Liam chided. “She reported to some of my other birds so I could keep track of your progress.”
“Kind of a shady gift,” Mira said.
He placed a hand over his heart. “I did it to be helpful. Promise.”
“Do you know anything new about Carnag?” Cole asked.
“I haven’t had a close look yet,” Liam replied. “But I can feel it more clearly than before. It’s just throbbing with power. I’m no slouch at shaping, but I can’t imagine my power burning half so bright. This won’t be easy. What’s the plan?”
Nobody answered.
“We’re kind of making this up as we go,” Mira said.
“Might be all we can do,” Liam said. “Nobody has ever confronted anything like this. Tell you what. I’ll hang back and watch how it goes, study Carnag for weaknesses. That way you’ll have somebody in reserve.”
“That’s really brave of you,” Jace said.
“I’m being strategic!” Liam complained. “Who’s going to save everybody if this goes bad? You?”
“Is anybody else coming?” Jace asked.
“I tried to talk Asia into joining us,” Liam said. “She’s too set on defending Declan. But an old friend of yours is on his way. Well, more of an acquaintance. Barely even that. He’s on your side, though.”
“Who?” Cole asked.
“Joe MacFarland.”
“The guy from Skyport?” Mira asked. “The messenger?”
“The man is dedicated,” Liam said. “He warned us that the legion was planning a major offensive through the Boomerang Forest.”
“How’d he warn you?” Mira asked.
“He used the confusion of you guys escaping Skyport to find a hiding place,” Liam said. “Keeping his ear to the ground, he discovered you had escaped into the Eastern Cloudwall and lived. When he learned about the planned offensive, he stole a skycraft and came through the cloudwall to warn you. I rescued him from the terminal void the same way I saved you four.”
“Where is he now?”
“Coming as fast as he can on horseback,” Liam said.
“Why didn’t you bring him?” Jace asked.
“How big does my disk look? It’s hard to keep it aloft away from the Brink. Some of my birds are guiding him.”
“Should we wait?” Mira asked.
“I’m leaning toward no,” Liam said. “After missing us at Cloudvale, the legionnaires are coming this way. Joe is a good distance behind me. There’s a chance he’ll never make it to us. Right now will be our best opportunity to confront Carnag without the legion at our backs.”
“Sounds okay to me,” Mira said. She approached the legionnaire’s horse and stroked its neck. “Good girl. You don’t mind heading back into danger, do you?”
“Have you ridden a lot?” Cole asked.
“A fair amount,” Mira said. “I had lessons in my youth, and opportunities have come up over the years. She feels warm. He was riding her hard.” Placing a foot in a stirrup, she mounted up. “You guys ready?”
“I’m not sure,” Cole said. “How about ‘willing’?”
“Good enough,” Mira said.
Liam laughed warmly. “I’m going to put some distance between us. You won’t see me at first, but I’d like to stay in communication.” Drifting closer to Cole, he held out a hand. “If you put these in your ears, I’ll be able to hear you, and you’ll hear me. They won’t work over huge distances, but they should be perfect for today.”
Cole took what looked like a pellet of clay. The others each accepted one as well.
“It’s not fragile,” Liam explained. “Just squish it in there. Not too far. It’ll mold to the shape of your ear canal.”
Cole pressed the pellet into his right ear. It molded to fit snugly.
“Any other goodies?” Jace asked.
“That’s it,” Liam said. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Bertram,” Mira said from astride her mount, “take us to find the monster over the hill.”
The autocoach started forward. Mira kept pace alongside. Liam soared out of sight.
“We came looking for this, and now we found it,” Cole murmured to Twitch. “Be careful what you wish for.”
“Because you might get it?”
Cole gave a nod. “Exactly.”
CHAPTER
32
CARNAG
As the autocoach came around the side of the little hill, Cole gripped his bow like a lifeline. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but he knew it would be horrible. As Mira had made clear, this time they were running toward the danger.
He wasn’t sure how to prepare himself. Was he going to shoot an arrow at something that turned towns upside down and defeated regiments of trained soldiers? Maybe it would have a weak spot. At least he could help distract it while Mira figured out how to defeat it. With his Jumping Sword, he might be hard to catch.
What if he got killed? He tried not to dwell on the possibility, but he couldn’t resist. There was a very real chance that they were all about to die. Nobody back home would care. His parents didn’t remember him. There would be no mourning, no grave. It would be like he had never existed.
What would happen to Dalton, Jenna, and the others from his world? He supposed they couldn’t blame him for not saving them if he got killed. That was a pretty ironclad excuse.
Then again, if he did nothing, that wouldn’t rescue them either. They might never know it, but he was doing his best to help them.
He was relieved Liam had come. His shaping might not be as strong here as at the Brink, but the guy could fly, and he was confident, and he certainly had useful skills. Hopefully, Liam would be able to lend Mira the kind of support she deserved.
“There,” Jace said, pointing into the woods.
Cole squinted. In the distance, treetops swayed violently, as if something not much shorter than them was passing through.
“I see it,” Mira replied from astride her mount. “Bertram, can we go that way?”
“The forest is too thick for the autocoach,” Bertram said. “Perhaps we can work our way around the perimeter of the woodlands.”
“You better just stop and let them out,” Mira replied. “Then try to work your way around. Stay as close to us as possible. Flail, follow!”
Cole jumped
down. Mira led the way into the forest on horseback, cantering through the trees, the flail jangling in her wake. Jace used his rope to slingshot himself from trunk to trunk. Twitch put on his ring and started hopping. Cole knifed forward, using the Jumping Sword to take long low leaps between the trees. Soon he was ahead of Mira.
There came a creaking moan, like a barn about to collapse or the hull of an old ship under stress. The hugeness of the sound made Cole pause. The great creaking repeated, somewhat lower and slower. Mira kept loping forward, guiding her horse through the light undergrowth. Jace and Twitch continued to advance as well. Feeling a little jealous of the legionnaire sleeping back in the autocoach, Cole exclaimed, “Away!” and sprang ahead.
After a few more jumps, Cole saw Jace stop at the edge of a meadow. Twitch came to a halt beside him. Their backs to Cole, the two just stared. Cole heard the enormous creaking again, massive groans of tortured wood.
Cole’s next leap brought him almost to his companions. As he edged forward, he looked out to the meadow and caught his first sight of Carnag.
The towering creature was made of tree stumps, dirt, rock, shrubs, part of a chimney, wooden beams, some crumbling battlements, bricks of varied shapes and sizes, half a wagon, a section of cobblestone street, a damaged rowboat, and three iron cages. It balanced on two asymmetrical legs and had a pair of long arms, but it was only vaguely humanoid, like a haphazard scarecrow. The misshapen head displayed a crude imitation of a face.
The scale of the monstrosity was astonishing. Cole stood no taller than its ankle. Only the loftiest trees in the forest overtopped it. The moaning creak hadn’t come from the mouth—it was the sound of Carnag taking steps. With a grating of stone against stone and a crackling of timbers, the giant bent over. It gripped a good-size tree with one hand and yanked it out of the ground with an earthy rending of roots and soil.
Tree in hand like a club, Carnag turned to face them from the far side of the clearing. The colossus roared, the bellow blending the howl of a jet engine with the deep rumble of an earthquake. The cacophonous cry reverberated for a long time, echoing strangely, the volume surging unpredictably.
The roar shook Cole to his core. He felt like he had awakened on railroad tracks to find a train bearing down on him.