Connor Clover and the Lost Children (Book 1) Read online

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  The Queen of the Palamores

  Descending the steep stone, spiral staircase proved especially awkward for Obi and Bromie, since their feet were huge. Cheering and jubilation sounded from various passageways, as Obi’s comrades were helping other children escape.

  Naturally alert for any further sign of alarm, their senses remained heightened to the environment. Ready for battle, they continued cautiously. Since the incident with De-ma, Connor had become more confident and sure of his abilities. He held in the forefront of his mind an attack, which could turn their enemies into stone, for he disliked blood so it seemed a reasonable way of stopping any opponent. He’d never done it before but it couldn’t hurt to try.

  But much to their relief, nothing prevented them progressing to the next level. Apart from their soft footsteps treading on the stone floor and an occasional grunt from Obi, as he slipped on the odd step, they journeyed in silence. They exited the stairs to another lengthy corridor.

  Connor tightened the handkerchief. The stench increased the further they descended and the odd whiff stabbed his nose. On the verge of vomiting several times, Connor controlled it by holding his breath. This meant becoming dizzy but Connor hadn’t much choice.

  Obi ran ahead, shouting further warnings to give people a chance to move back, before lifting his sword and slamming it into the hard stone. Since De-ma had already explained more humans needed assistance, fear took a backseat in this repeated performance.

  ‘Stand back! Get away from this wall!’ The thick walls crumbled at his feet.

  Connor and Bromie kept their distance as Obi moved to the next cell. They approached the first uncovered cell and watched as more half-starved people clambered from it, dazed and disorientated. They were much older than the younger children on the level above them but had the same wild appearance, as if they’d been in the cells forever. They walked hunched and it became obvious why – the ceilings of the cells were low, making it impossible to stand straight.

  Some of the people weren’t older than thirty years but they had grey hair, bald in places. Their faces were sunken as if they were old beyond their years, holding expressions of uncertainty and relief.

  Bromie took charge of the corbee and a portal manifested near him. Bewildered faces watched the portal as if it were a threatening enemy. Gasps of disbelief and fear erupted from the freed prisoners, ranging in age from thirty to eighty years.

  This time Arbtu sent linguistic star-spirits through the portal to help. These star-spirits were able to communicate by speaking different languages. Some of the people had lost the ability to communicate.

  ‘I don’t believe it,’ whispered Bromie. ‘These people have forgotten how to talk.’

  Obi, Bromie and Connor continued to assist by helping people leave the cells and supported on the rubble. Now the linguistic star-spirits had arrived, children were going through the portal more quickly. They’d already grouped certain individuals and lead them through the portal. The star-spirits helping were a tall race of gentle people. The females had beautiful, long flowing white hair and wore long light-blue dresses. They were oddly out of place in the gloomy corridor and more likely to be seen in a place of worship. The men wore plain trousers and long baggy tops, draping past their waists. But the most amazing thing aura of light they possessed protruded an inch from their bodies. They held a certain presence of strength and appeared no more threatening than teddy bears.

  ‘They’re Palamores,’ explained Bromie, giving them a wave. ‘Very sweet people, I might add.’

  Obi joined them. ‘Where’s Lidena?’

  ‘Lidena?’ quizzed Connor.

  ‘Bromie’s bride to be’

  ‘You’re marrying a Pala… a Pala…’

  ‘Palamore,’ grinned Bromie.

  A single figure came through the portal, a woman with white hair flowed gently in a slight breeze coming from the portal – more beautiful than any other Palamore. Her face beamed as she ran towards Connor, but when she called Bromie’s name, the boy realised his error.

  ‘Bromie!’ she cried, running towards him with outstretched arms.

  Bromie rushed forward, grabbing hold of her tightly before lifting her into the air by her waist and swinging her round. Lidena’s face shone with happiness.

  ‘Can’t you come home as yet?’ she breathed.

  Bromie stroked her hair from her face and kissed her forehead. ‘Once we’re finished, I’ll see you at home.’

  ‘Okay my love. Please be careful.’ Lidena turned to the others. ‘Take care of him for me. I want him in one piece if we’re to be married.’

  ‘Lidena, meet Connor,’ Bromie promptly made the introduction, pulling her to his young friend. ‘He’s the one the Starstone has chosen.’

  Lidena moved towards Connor, as if walking on air. Her voice possessed a dreamlike quality and she absorbed his attention. Her eyes had the power to grab his attention as they searched his mind with deep intent.

  ‘I’m pleased to meet you, Connor. Well, I must say you’re causing a stir at the AAA. You’re the topic of conversation. So many star-spirits are relying on you at this present time. You are their hope of defeating Definastine. It’s not fair and you doubt yourself from time to time. But the Starstone chose you for unknown qualities you do not know exist within you. Yet I see them clearly. You are a true leader. It’s strange one so young should be chosen, but the Starstone has chosen wisely. Believe in yourself and don’t doubt your newly found abilities.’

  Connor, unaware of his surroundings, snapped of it when Obi roared with laughter to break the spell.

  ‘So she had you under her charm as well,’ he chuckled.

  Connor grinned.

  ‘Don’t worry. She has that effect on a lot of people. She’s a queen.’

  ‘A queen,’ whispered Connor. ‘How come she’s marrying Bromie? Doesn’t she have to marry a prince or a king or something?’

  ‘She doesn’t have to but when they met, they fell in love straightaway. It’s a coincidence Bromie is a prince too.’

  ‘Bromie is a prince?’ gasped Connor.

  ‘So am I,’ smirked Obi. ‘You’re mixing with royalty now. We’ll take you back home with us one day when it is safe so you can see our home. You’ll love it.’

  An elderly man, chuckling madly, emerged from another cell, waving his arms sporadically. A couple of Palamores were struggling to help him without being hit. He had silvery white hair and a long beard. His clear blue eyes had no pupils for he’d been blinded in the year kept in darkness. As he passed Connor, he sang out of tune – but sang none the less. They watched as a Palamore guided him towards the doorway to the AAA.

  Although tempting for Connor to jump into the gateway to a place of safety too, he knew his friends needed rescuing first.

  Obi looked puzzled. ‘Has Sparkie or Tookar been found as yet?’

  ‘Not yet,’ said Connor.

  Obi strode to the end of the corridor, with Connor following. They came across two cells on either side, which had previously been overlooked.

  ‘Keep clear of the wall!’ Obi shouted. ‘We’ll free you in no time.’

  To Connor’s surprise, Obi released some small, round, fluffy pink creatures. They appeared to be heads without bodies, or were they bodies without heads? It wasn’t clear what they were. Being gentle and cute beneath their pink matted fur, they captivated Connor. They were the size of footballs with limbs hidden beneath their thick unkempt fur. Huge golden eyes watched Connor with interest. Nervously at first, Connor stroked several of them at once, but realising they wouldn’t hurt him his confidence increased.

  Squeaking in a bizarre language, which increasingly became irritating to the human ear, they bounced off in the direction of the portal. Several gasps of delight came from the Palamores who cuddled and took them to the AAA.

  ‘We call them Pinklepoppos,’ explained Obi. ‘They’re as gentle as rabbits.’

  In the last cell on the opp
osite side of the corridor, Obi discovered Tookar and Sparkie.

  ‘Connor!’ Obi called to him.

  ‘Sparkie! Tookar!’ cried Connor.

  Tookar was first, shaking his head. ‘Thank goodness you came in time. Those creatures took Sparkie away and when they returned an hour ago he was unconscious and hasn’t woken since. I don’t know what they’ve done to him, but he needs help.’

  ‘Don’t worry. We’ll get him to the AAA as quickly as we can.’ Obi ducked to fit into the small, cramped cell, appearing seconds later cradling Sparkie in his massive arms. Holding him securely Obi took gigantic strides towards the portal. Throughout this time Sparkie lay unconscious with his head rocking from side to side.

  Tookar’s face looked battered and bruised as he hugged Connor. ‘I’m so glad you’re alive. I knew if De-ma helped you, you’d survive. He did help you, didn’t he?’

  ‘Yes.’ Connor remembered the fate of the innocent rock dweller.

  Tookar wiped dust from his shirt. ‘He promised he would. I wonder where he is now. We must help him leave this wretched place. He’s different to the other rock dwellers, did you notice?’

  ‘Yes, but he died a short time ago.’

  ‘Died?’ Tookar’s joyful expression dropped. ‘What happened?’

  ‘He’d been punished for helping me, Tookar. They tortured him. You should have seen him. When I tried to heal him, it had been too late. But I saw him – I saw him leave his body and disappear into a strange, peaceful light. Do you want to know the strangest thing? He smiled and waved to me as he floated upwards to the light. Despite being dead, he looked happy.’

  ‘You saw him going home,’ whispered Tookar.

  ‘Obi said the same thing.’

  ‘It’s true. But it doesn’t make it any easier to accept though, does it? When a life has been taken against the will of another individual, when murder has been committed it is a terrible crime. No one deserves to die by someone else hand. We have the right to live a full life to progress as much as we can before our timely death arrives to claim us and take us back to the land of the spirit. People who’ve been murdered don’t get the chance to fulfil their potential and level of learning.’

  ‘But I’m a murderer. I’ve killed an Armatripe. Should I have let it live?’

  ‘Connor, the Armatripes murder innocent people. They must be stopped. They are evil and continue to harm others. Killing those creatures will help end their terror they inflict on others. There’s no other way. Light must defeat the darkness. You don’t go killing innocent people who have caused you no harm, do you?’

  Connor shook his head and turned his attention back to the Palamores standing near the portal. Many had returned to the AAA, since the rescue operation had been completed. The remaining few talked briefly to Bromie and Obi before disappearing through the portal.

  Bromie said his goodbyes to Lidena and she waved to Connor as she left, and passed a small package to Bromie before the portal closed as soon as she passed through.

  Bromie appeared tense after speaking with Lidena and adverted his gaze whenever Connor looked at him. His shifty behaviour unsettled the boy, who sensed the giant knew something, which involved him. He’d been so preoccupied by this, he hadn’t noticed Tookar’s transformation into a huge, grey wolf next to him where he jerked in fright.

  ‘My hearing is greatly enhanced like this. I’ll change back if it bothers you though, Connor.’

  ‘No, it’s fine.’ As Connor familiarised himself with his friend’s new form he soon forgot about Bromie’s suspicious behaviour.

  Tookar remained close to Connor, padding noiselessly along the corridor. His dark brown eyes fixed straight ahead and his ears constantly twitched on high alert.

  Obi turned to the others. ‘We’ve Kia to rescue now. De-ma said we’d find her on level five – another two levels below this one. Apparently a trap is waiting for us.’

  Connor recalled De-m’s words. ‘He told us to be careful of Sheena and not to make eye contact with her.’

  ‘Well remembered, Connor,’ said Obi. ‘I have no idea who Sheena is. I imagine her being a woman but she may be in the form of a grotesque beast.’

  They followed Obi along another narrow flight of steps, not knowing what to expect. In Connor’s mind he held the strong mental image of his stone attack in case they were ambushed.