Benotripia- The Complete Trilogy Page 8

  Her vague message came across clear to him; he stretched forth a finger and three large jets of electric light bounced across the room. Half the Darvonians were lying on the ground, the lightning having struck them forcefully. The remaining ones were blocking the exit on the far side of the room.

  Roseabelle shouted to her mother. “Fly overhead to the exit!” Danette shook her head, and Roseabelle knew what she was trying to say.

  “I won’t leave you.”

  Gathering courage, Roseabelle turned back to the fight and was dismayed to find that Jessicana and Astro, though near the exit, were struggling to escape. All that could be seen was the blur of the figures that were Jessicana and Astro and the glow of Astro’s Dragocone Ray. They were working furiously to keep their enemies far away from them. The dungeon was filled with the sounds of clashing metal.

  Jessicana had a cut on her left cheek, and Astro’s leg was bleeding; an arrow had nipped his skin while zooming past.

  Trying desperately to turn the Darvonians’ focus away from her friends, she drew her dagger and, with both perfect agility and speed, hurled it at the Darvonian closest to Astro. It struck the warrior in the leg, and the impact jerked him backward and onto the cold stone floor.

  Multiple Darvonians whirled around, and Roseabelle found herself desperately shooting arrow after arrow at her foes. She was relieved to see that amidst the commotion, Jessicana and Astro had managed to sneak out the doorway. A dozen Darvonians were closing in on her, and Roseabelle knew that she wouldn’t be able to hold them off for long. Just as they had formed a tight circle around her, two gentle hands scooped her up into the air, and Roseabelle nearly cried with relief. Danette was flying over the Darvonians, Roseabelle on her back.

  Danette shot out of the room and past the Darvonians, eyes firm and focused. The Darvonians, shouting with rage, followed not too far behind the flying mother and daughter. A few feet ahead, Jessicana and Astro were sprinting as fast as they could, covering more ground than they would have in normal circumstances.

  “Astro! Jessicana!” Roseabelle shouted. “Follow our lead.”

  The four Benotripians tore through various passageways, doors, and hallways. Danette and Roseabelle flew; Astro and Jessicana ran. The Darvonians were right at their heels.

  Astro suddenly flung open a door and his face filled with hope. “This leads to the courtyard!” he shouted, and Danette shot through as quick as an eagle. Astro and Jessicana followed behind. Much to their horror, the drawbridge began to rise.

  Doubt filled Roseabelle’s mind. “Will we make it?”

  “Astro, get on my back! Jessicana, transform! We’re going to have to fly over it!” Danette shouted. Roseabelle wrapped her arms around Danette’s neck, and Astro hung on to Roseabelle. Danette lifted into the air.

  Roseabelle heard angry shouts of Darvonians and looked back fearfully to the ground. The Darvonians were loading arrows onto bows that had been concealed in their robes. “Mom, they’re firing!” Roseabelle screamed.

  Danette fought against the harsh wind to fly faster, but just before they soared over the top wooden plank of the drawbridge, the Darvonians pulled back their bowstrings and fired their arrows. A dozen arrows shot toward them at lightning speed. Astro shot a bolt at one but missed. As a bird, Jessicana could dodge the arrows more quickly, but Danette was the most vulnerable target. Ten arrows couldn’t withstand the wind and took off in different directions, but two remained strong and battled it. Roseabelle stared in utter horror as the two arrows came zooming at her at top speed.

  She had no time to think before the missile headed straight for her arm, where her bow was hanging. The arrow split the bow and Roseabelle sighed in relief but not after seeing the other arrow head right to Danette’s shoulder. “Mom!” Roseabelle shouted. A gust of wind blew upward, and the point of the arrow tilted up—cutting through her sleeve. Roseabelle sighed with relief but then grimaced as Danette bit her lip. “Are you all right?” Roseabelle cried out. Danette nodded, and both her daughter and Astro could tell that she was in pain. “It just nipped me,” she said, forcing a smile. Roseabelle felt Danette shudder and realized that she was struggling to remain in the air.

  Jessicana flew over and tried to support Danette, but it was no use. Although they were gaining momentum in their flight pattern, Danette was starting to fall.

  Roseabelle saw the land of Darvonia below whiz past: the market where they had bought supplies and the village that Roseabelle had discovered after arriving in enemy territory. She looked ahead, and her heart skipped a beat. Blackwater Sea was just ahead, and on the shores of the beach were a crowd of two dozen Darvonian warriors, gleaming swords waving in their hands. Danette began to lower herself even more, and Roseabelle whispered to Astro “They haven’t spotted us yet. Quick, we need to land without being seen.”

  He scanned the land below, then pointed to an outcropping of rock. “Under there,” he suggested quietly. Danette heard him and aimed for the spot that Astro had indicated. She began to pick up speed and momentum, and soon Roseabelle realized that Danette didn’t have enough strength to stop them from crash landing. As the black rock came nearer and nearer, Roseabelle wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist. “Hold on,” she whispered. Just as the pointed mass of shiny black rock came just a few feet away from Danette’s face, Roseabelle pulled her mother up, and they landed on the dry, dirty beach.

  Jessicana landed beside them and Astro hissed “Quick, they’re looking our way!”

  Danette was so weak that Roseabelle had to gently lift her underneath the covering of the rock. Astro also ducked behind it, and Jessicana flattened herself against the rock wall.

  “Roseabelle,” Astro whispered, “shadow tumble to the cave and bring back the raft. We’ll be waiting for you.”

  She nodded, immersed herself in the shadow of the rock, pictured the cave, and stomped her foot.

  Thankfully, no Darvonians were guarding the cave, and Roseabelle quickly snatched the raft. Taking a quick peek of the exterior of the cave, she crept out and saw that the outcropping of rock that her friends were hiding under was directly below her.

  As the Darvonians viewed the area, Roseabelle knew what her only option was. She had to jump to her hiding place.

  Roseabelle knew it was risky, but, gathering courage, she aimed for her landing and leapt.

  When she landed, she saw a hooded face turn her way and she ducked. Roseabelle glanced around the corner of the rock. The Darvonians knew where they were and were slowly and silently advancing. Terror filled Roseabelle. Escape seemed almost impossible.

  She crept around to where her friends were crouching and showed them the raft.

  “They know,” she whispered. Her friends understood the message. Danette looked more pale than ever.

  A crazy idea formed in Roseabelle’s mind.

  “We’re going to have to surprise them,” she whispered. “If we jump out suddenly, they’ll be distracted for a second. It’ll give us a head start.” She looked to her friends for approval and they nodded. It was a desperate attempt but their situation was frightening.

  Roseabelle motioned for Jessicana and Astro to take hold of the raft as well. “I’ll help my mother,” she whispered to them. Jessicana shook her head.

  “No, Roseabelle. It’s too risky.”

  “I’ll be fine,” she whispered back and put her arms around Danette. “You go first.”

  Jessicana and Astro darted out of their hiding spot, and Roseabelle heard a shout of rage from the Darvonians. Half carrying, half dragging Danette, Roseabelle emerged and saw that the Darvonians had broken into a full sprint. Roseabelle stared at the beach. It seemed as far away as ever.

  Adrenaline rushed through her and she ran, helping Danette across the shore and to her friends and the raft.

  The Darvonians were gaining, swords drawn and Roseabelle was losing energy. The sight of her foes gaining on her motivated her to reach Blackwater Sea.

  Astro and Jessicana had mad
e it to the water; the oars were in their hands. Their expressions were full of fear and horror. “Roseabelle!” Jessicana screamed as the Darvonians rushed to her.

  Using her last bit of energy, Roseabelle tore to the waters and felt the soothing and comforting sensation of water on her ankles. Rushing deeper, she placed Danette on the deck and climbed onto the small watercraft. The Darvonians were now wading in the water. Astro and Jessicana raised their oars and determinedly steered the raft away from the beach and the Darvonians.

  Roseabelle and Danette held each other for a long time and didn’t let go.

  IT HAD BEEN MORE THAN TWO WEEKS SINCE THEY HAD LEFT Darvonia, and the island of Benotripia was nearing. During the journey, Danette told them all about what had happened.

  Roseabelle secretly vowed that she would never let this happen to Danette again. There was a pit of anger in her heart. Roseabelle was still upset about the betrayal of Shelby—or Sheklyth.

  She still had the folder from Darvonia and entrusted it into Astro’s care. He told her that the folder was how he had gotten the information to get inside the castle.

  Jessicana started reading Kinetle’s autobiography. After the first few pages, she tossed it angrily into the ocean.

  “I thought it would reveal secret battle plans,” Jessicana said wrinkling her nose, “but all it talked about was how much she dislikes Benotripians. It’s such a waste of trutan.”

  When the small group pulled up on shore, the two mottels were there. Jessicana made her transformation and circled them, squawking cheerfully. Astro went to tell everyone what had happened to Danette. Roseabelle and her mother walked around the beach, chatting with their arms around each other.

  There were thousands of Benotripians that came to the beach and celebrated. They all made their way to the closest Benotripian village.

  CHAPTER 16

  Celebration

  ROSEABELLE, ASTRO, JESSICANA, AND DANETTE SPENT A night in Lokomonok, a Benotripian city. Danette was a frequent visitor there, so the residents had no problem housing the three friends.

  The following day, Jessicana’s family and Astro’s parents came to Lokomonok. Astro’s father said he was only here to interview his son for The Tropical Times, but Astro knew better.

  Jessicana’s siblings praised her. Jessicana was so stunned because she had never heard a word of goodwill from any of her brothers or sisters. The eldest child, Henryl, couldn’t stop patting her back.

  That night, Astro and his father (who both had the same power) shot brilliant, silver and blue lightning bolts into the sky like fireworks. They went so high into the sky that probably all of Benotripia saw them, even if they were tiny specks in the distance. Danette then traveled to Central Square to make an announcement to the people of Benotripia.

  Naturally, not all of them would come, but the news would pass along. Roseabelle, Danette, Jessicana and her family, and Astro and his parents traveled to Central Square. The next day, Danette stood on a high rock facing a large multitude of people.

  She told them how she had been drawn into captivity by the Darvonians and how they brought her there. The Benotripians listened intently. Danette stopped in her speech. “But this is not all of the story. May I invite my rescuers up here. Make way for Jessicana Wingling, Astro Jagged-Bolt, and Roseabelle Leading-ton.” Jessicana, Astro, and Roseabelle climbed up the stone steps embedded in the rock and joined Danette.

  Danette turned to face them. “Would you please tell us the rest of the story?” she requested.

  The three nodded. Danette backed away. Jessicana went first, telling them her version of the story. Astro went next. Roseabelle shared her part last, and the audience gasped and screamed more than ever.

  When they finished, Danette stepped up. “Thank you,” she said solemnly, “for sharing that with us. But before you sit back down I would like to award you.”

  A Benotripian dressed in green went up to them and handed Danette a wooden box.

  She opened it and pulled out a medal made of gold. Engraved on the surface was a parrot feather with a potion bottle. She gestured to Jessicana. The parrot girl blushed and bowed her head so Danette could place it on her neck. “For quick wit and healing talent,” Danette said loudly. The Benotripians clapped.

  Danette pulled another medal from the box. It was fashioned from silver and had a large lightning bolt on the front. “For profound bravery,” Danette announced, resting the medal on Astro’s neck.

  There was another roar of applauding. Danette pulled one last medal from the box. This one was the most majestic of all. Roseabelle couldn’t quite place what it was made of. It was swirling with many colors. Roseabelle could make out a large island with many twists and turns. Beside it was a scepter. “For outstanding leadership,” Danette called. She put the medal on Roseabelle.

  The clapping went on for at least five minutes. Roseabelle hugged Danette and Jessicana. She grinned at Astro.

  “You know, after this,” Roseabelle said to them, “I don’t think I’ll be able to stand going back to my normal schedule.”

  Astro sighed. “You’re right,” he said. “It really was a great adventure.”

  * * * * *

  FROM BEHIND THE STAGE, A RED-HAIRED MAN WATCHED the auburn-haired girl who had grown so much since the night he had made a promise to Danette. Only part of that promise had been fulfilled.

  Discussion Questions

  If you were faced with Darvonian opponents, what strategies, powers, and weapons would you use to defeat them?

  If you were a son or daughter of Danette and you discovered your mom was captured by the Darvonians, what would you do?

  When Astro fell asleep on watch when the friends were traveling to Darvonia by sea, what were the consequences? What would have happened differently if Astro had stayed awake?

  If you were a Benotripian, what power(s) would you like to have? How would you use your power(s)?

  What was Jessicana and Astro’s friendship like with Roseabelle?

  If you were faced with the danger of making a choice between two paths, which path would you take? Or would you choose to go back altogether?

  Contents

  1: THOUGHTS

  2: THE BLACK SHIP OF SHADOWS

  3: RIBBON OF PASSAGEWAYS

  4: DARVONIANS!

  5: AKU MOUNTAINS

  6: GARAGANTA

  7: DASTROCK

  8: THE JOURNAL

  9: SHADOW HORSES

  10: SEPHLOTINE SPIKES

  11: BROXLORTHIAN

  12: CAVERNS OF HORSH

  13: SILVER EYES

  14: MAZE OF ROPES

  15: AMBUSHED

  16: THE LOST ISLAND

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  CHAPTER 1

  Thoughts

  ROSEABELLE RAN HER FINGERS THROUGH THE SOFT sand, sifting it between her hands, deep in thought. The rumble of the ocean always helped her to relax and settle into her thoughts of the past. A soft breeze whisked past her, causing her long auburn hair to flutter.

  These days, she needed some time alone. Only one year ago, her life had fallen apart. The Darvonians—the ruthless, cunning, cold-hearted people that lived on a small, twisted island far away—had captured her mother, Danette, the ruler of Benotripia. Roseabelle and her best friends, Jessicana and Astro, had set out on an adventure to find and rescue Danette.

  Successful in their mission, they brought Danette back to the island. Shortly after her recovery, she was up and ruling Benotripia again. But the worst part of the journey to Darvonia still lingered in Roseabelle’s mind.

  While rescuing her mother from her prison, her former trainer, Shelby, turned out to be the ruthless Darvonian second-in-line, Sheklyth, who had betrayed her without a second thought. Roseabelle had felt hurt beyond belief, wounded, and torn. Every night since then, she wished that she would wake up from this long dream at any moment and that Shelby would be waiting at the Academy to teach her a new trick.

  But deep inside, Roseabel
le knew this wasn’t a dream.

  Jessicana and Astro had tried to get her mind off things, but nothing worked. Nevertheless, she appreciated them for trying. Roseabelle smiled as she thought of her friends. Jessicana was a smart and spunky blonde who had the ability to turn into a parrot, and Astro, an outgoing boy, could shoot lightning bolts from his fingertips.

  The best part about her life happened the day before. She graduated from the Academy and now had two months of free time. Yesterday, as the soft manila trutan, a writing material for Benotripians, bearing her graduation certificate was placed in her hands, she couldn’t help but feel happy.

  Roseabelle stood and brushed sand off her clothes. She tilted her head to listen to one more round of the crashing waves and then walked home.

  AS ROSEABELLE CLIMBED THE ROPE LADDER TO HER FRONT porch, she heard the window creak open above her and a cheerful voice ring out: “Roseabelle, where have you been? Dinner’s on the table!”

  Roseabelle looked up to see her mother hanging out of the window, her long blonde curls gracefully forming around her face. “Be right there, Mom!” she called up and entered through the bronze doorway.

  The two of them sat down at the table, silence permeating the room. Roseabelle picked at her bright purple fruit and prodded her bowl of orange broth. She finally sighed and dropped her spoon with a clatter. “I’m sorry, Mom,” she said quietly. “I just can’t eat tonight.” She started to get up when Danette gently clasped her hand.

  “Roseabelle, I know this is hard for you. I have an idea that might get your mind off everything that happened. Why don’t you invite Jessicana and Astro out on a ride in the dinghy?” Danette suggested.