Free Darkin: The Prophecy of the Key (The Darkin Saga Book 2) by Joseph Turkot

length. Its head had two long stalks, each fixed with a tiny ball at the end, encrusted with small spikes. Ulpo recognized it from earlier: What do they want with me? he thought.
     
    “I am Kimp, leader of the forest,” came a high-pitched voice.
    “What do you want?” cried Ulpo.
    “I want to know when the star comes.”
    “When the star comes?”
    “Yes.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about! What have you done with Remtall? Release me from this infernal sack of pus!”
    “Your friend didn’t know either. We will not need you any longer if you know not when the star comes.”
    Ulpo was confused by the beast’s odd query, and he frantically thought for a reply. Then something popped into his mind: a matter had drawn the concern of the Erol Drunne council months ago; it had been about a lingering star new-formed in the firmament, growing larger with time. Still, he didn’t know if that was the same star the plant creature spoke of, and he was certain he had no information worth telling about it.
    “I will offer you as a sacrifice, together with your friend,” came the guttural whine of the plantbeast.
    “Wait—what is your name? You speak the common tongue of Darkin,” Ulpo said, struggling to keep the plant leader in conversation, hoping to create a chance to escape.
    “I’ve told you—I am Kimp, leader of this wooded realm.”
    “ Kimp! Kimp! Kimp! ” floated a melodic chorus from beyond the depths of Ulpo’s vision.
    “I mean, ugh—I meant your race, what is your race’s name? We have never encountered ones like you before. The King will surely be pleased to meet you all.”
    “The King?” replied Kimp.
    “Yes, he’ll be along now in just a few more minutes—with his legion.”
    “What King, what legion? We traced no others in the forest besides you and your small friend—”
    “That’s because the King is aided by great Vapours, who have concealed all evidence of their passage.”
    “It cannot be. For what purpose do rockfolk travel through our homeland?”
    “The King comes to establish the defense of the star,” Ulpo lied.
    “Defense of the star?”
    “Yes. You see, the star is coming. It will crash right here and destroy this forest, and everything in it.”
    “Tell me more,” Kimp eagerly replied. Ulpo tried to hide the utter joy that swept through him as he realized the primitive plant believed his lie.
    “We, erm, rockfolk, have traveled far from home to stop the destruction, lest it spread to our lands next. That star you’re worried about, it will explode here, in this very forest, without the King’s help, and without the Vapours he brings. We will all be doomed if I am kept long from the King. You see, I am his most personal guide for this great defense.”
    “Oh, but we do not worry about the star—we await its coming with the greatest desire.”
    “What?” Ulpo replied, his crafty tale foiled.
    “We Drya do not have fear, such as you wish to instill, for the star,” Kimp explained. “The coming of the star has been foretold by all generations of Drya, and the great time of legend draws near at last!”
    “But, I know precisely when it comes.”
    “You do?”
    “Yes—tell me, why have you captured my friend and me? What have we to do with your race’s legend?”
    “Nothing,” replied the squeal of the Drya leader. “It is as the ancestors foretold: once the star begins to grow, let none pass through the forest, for any could be the spy of the star-stopper…”
    “Star-stopper?”
    “One who wishes to thwart the coming of the star. One who would end our legacy before it begins. And so you and your King must die before an attempt is made to defile our legacy. Do you deny now what you have already told, that you aid the star-stopper?”
    “I can assure you I am no star-stopper! Nor is Remtall!”
    “Remtall did you say?”
    “Yes, that’s my friend,” Ulpo said, urgently fidgeting to check if a weapon was left on him. His pod-sack swung