Free Furnaces of Forge (The Land's Tale) by Alan Skinner Page B

‘Now that we know what happened to Amelia, we should return and let the others know. You will convey our sincere apologies to everyone for the trouble she caused, won’t you?’
    ‘Of course,’ Cres assured them.
    ‘Now, you’d better pack and be on your way, my dears. We wouldn’t want the stone to melt the wagon and be let loose on the Land, would we?’ said Hazlitt.
    Touch and Cres were soon ready, with the wagons hitched to their bikes. After another round of thanks to Edith and Hazlitt, they pedalled away from the cave. Touch didn’t even feel the pain of his burns. They were going back to Forge with their prize. They would be redeemed. They would be famous.
    As soon as the young apprentices were out of sight, Hazlitt and Edith hurried through the dark tunnels until they came to a large cavern with three connected rooms. Quickly, but without haste, they packed provisions and spare clothes into two bags.
    ‘We’ll not make it to Mint tonight, Edith my dear,’
    ‘There’s that charming little lakeside spot we saw a few days ago, near the meadowland. We’ll stay there tonight and start early tomorrow,’ she replied.
    ‘Such a pity we can’t get the mounts through the tunnel,’ Hazlitt mused ruefully.
    ‘You don’t get enough exercise as it is, Hazlitt. The walk is good for you. And they’re quite safe where they are. Ready?’
    ‘When you are, my dear. Always when you are,’ Hazlitt replied.
    ‘Let’s away, then,’ said Edith.
    They picked up their packs and walked back the way they had entered. As they left the cave, Edith gave a sharp, trilling whistle. The click of claws on stone followed them down the long tunnel.

Chapter 5

Cinerite
     

    T ouch and Cres rode all through the day and the night. They made it to Forge a couple of hours before sunrise. They were tired and hungry but elated. Touch thought it unfortunate that they had arrived back in Forge when everyone was still asleep. He had dreamed of making a grand, triumphant return to cheers and congratulations.
    They went straight to their workshop. The cinerite would be fine where it was for a while longer. Once they had had some sleep and reported to Beatrice, they would work out how to store it safely. They unhitched the wagons, bid each other goodnight and went to their beds. They agreed to meet at Beatrice’s office at ten o’clock. They hoped she would see them.
    The next morning, Cres entered the Town Offices ten minutes early. She climbed the spiralling stone staircase to the next level. The large wooden door to Achillia’s office was directly opposite the staircase. Cres ignored it and walked along the corridor to the left and stopped at the next door, where Touch was already waiting.
    ‘Morning,’ said Touch. He smiled and his face glowed. ‘Since we’re both here, we may as well knock.’
    ‘Do you think she knows we’re back?’ asked Cres.
    ‘This is Beatrice we’re talking about. Of course she knows we’re back.’ Touch grinned. ‘I’ll bet she knew even before she woke up and knew she knew.’
    Touch knocked. From within came Beatrice’s beautiful but toneless voice. ‘Come in.’
    They pushed open the door and entered. Beatrice was at her desk. She indicated the visitors’ chairs.
    ‘Touch, Cres. Good morning. Please sit.’
    When they were seated, she said, ‘I saw your wagons. I didn’t look inside. Judging by the heat coming from the metal one, I assume you were successful.’
    Touch leaned forward in his chair. ‘We brought it back, Beatrice. Enough cinerite to power all the factories of Forge,’ he said, with perhaps a little too much pride.
    ‘Cinerite?’ said Beatrice. ‘You’ve named it?’
    ‘Well, not us, actually. That’s what Hazlitt and Edith told us it was called,’ Cres explained. ‘We met them at the cave of blue fire. They’re Myrmidots, like us. Well, sort of.’
    Beatrice looked at her hands. She was silent for a few moments before speaking softly to herself. ‘Myrmidots.