Alex Bell - Fighting with fire

THE PENALTY TASK

Lex Trent dangled from the tree branch hundreds of feet above the ravine, his tenuous grip the only thing between him and instant death

Well, perhaps not instant death, as such. It would probably take a good thirty seconds to fall all the way to the jagged rocks below. He risked a glance down.

Thirty seconds at least, he muttered. Probably more like forty.

Not that he had any intention of falling. He couldnt use his left hand because that would mean dropping the golden egg his arm was clamped around. He was, therefore, dangling from the tree branch one-handed, which explained why he was having some difficulty pulling himself to safety. It was quite a conundrum. If he dropped the egg hed have his left arm free and then hed be able to get himself back on to the branch. But the fact was that Lex would sooner cut off his own foot than willingly drop a solid-gold egg. It was not in his nature to voluntarily relinquish treasure? especially treasure hed had to work so hard to get. There had to be another way

He risked another look down. Then he looked at the egg. Then he looked at the branch he was clinging to, noting the fact that it was creaking in rather an ominous way. His hand was getting very tired and his arm felt as if it was about to pop right out of its socket or, quite possibly, had already done so. He didnt want to let go of the egg, but he didnt want to fall to a messy, untimely death either. He could feel the weight of the silver whistle tucked beneath his shirt against his chest and a spectacular, horrifying, genius thought occurred to him. But how long would he need for it to work? Twenty seconds? Thirty? Would there be enough time? The smallest miscalculation and he would end up painted on to the rocks below. He ought to think about it very, very carefully before he-

And then the branch snapped and he was free-falling.

For such a young person, Lex had done a fair amount of free-falling in his time. But this was the first occasion hed ever fallen from such a significant height. He may have been the luckiest guy in the world but he would have to be made out of sponge to survive that fall. So as he fell through the air, the wind whipping his hair, struggling to maintain a grip on the egg with one hand, he fumbled desperately for the whistle around his neck. He got it between his lips in a record-breaking five seconds and blew for all he was worth.

No sound came out, but that was normal. It was such a high frequency that it was undetectable to human ears. A precious ten seconds passed and Lex continued to fall with no sign of rescue. He carried on blowing the whistle? even more desperately now. Surely one of them would hear and come to his aid?

Ten more seconds slipped past and by that time the jagged rocks were looking uncomfortably close and pointy. Lex didnt have time to waste on swearing out loud but he swore in his head as he frantically blew on the whistle.

Fifteen seconds, max. That was all he had left before he was just a smear on a rock. What an undignified end that would be But then a great monstrous thing wheeled overhead, there was a raucous cry, a flurry of feathers and, just before Lex was impaled on one of the rocks below, two clawed feet wrapped themselves around him, sticking into his ribs rather painfully, and then he was moving away from the ground rather than towards it as the griffin took off with Lex firmly gripped in its talons. He really must teach the griffins to swoop under him so that hed land on their backs rather than being carried off in such an undignified manner, like a mouse being taken away by an owl. Still, he had the egg and he was still alive, and that was all that really mattered.

Lexs great silver ship soon came into view, nestled grandly amongst the clouds. The griffin soared over it and then dropped Lex? slightly prematurely? when they were still about ten feet above the deck.

He had time for a brief shriek before hitting the wooden boards hard with a loud thumping sound. The egg flew out of his grip, bounced and rolled a little way across the deck. The griffin landed beside it lightly and gracefully a moment later. Lex would have lifted his head to glare at it but he was too preoccupied with the searing pain in his wrists, his arms, his legs Lex had never broken a bone before but there was a first time for everything and it certainly felt like every bone in his body was now broken.

You bloody great stupid, blundering, brainless bird! he gasped. Youve practically killed me!

Killed you? Lex, really, what a melodramatic exaggeration, a familiar voice remarked. Theres hardly a mark on you. Do get up and stop making such an exhibition of yourself.

A hand gripped his collar and dragged him to his feet. It was with genuine surprise that Lex found he was able to stand. Lady Luck was quite right: he did not appear to have any broken bones or any bones sticking through his skin or any other ghoulish injury whatsoever. He did, in fact, appear to be fine apart from a few light grazes and one bruise on his right knee.

And dont take your bad mood out on the griffins, Lady Luck said, running her fingers down the feathers of Montys neck.

Ill take it out on whoever I like! Lex snapped.

He stomped across the deck to retrieve the golden egg.

Oh my Gods! he exclaimed, horrified. Its dented! The egg is dented! Just look at it! Its practically worthless now! All that work for nothing!

That is utter nonsense, Lex, Lady Luck said calmly.

Lex glared at her ferociously. There is nothing more irritating to someone who is already in a bad mood than being told that they are talking utter nonsense.

The dent wont make a scrap of difference to the value of that egg, as you well know, Lady Luck went on, brushing an imaginary fleck of dust off her white toga. And its not like youre going to be allowed to keep it, anyway. How much longer are you going to sulk like this? I have to say its getting rather tedious.

Im not sulking! Lex said sulkily, dropping the egg carelessly on to the deck. Im justifiably furious! Im understandably livid! Im rightly vexed! Im validly seething! Im-

Save your silver tongue for someone who cares, my sweet.

I hate him! Lex spat viciously. I hate that stuck up git!

Then beat him, Lady Luck replied. Give him a good thrashing in the Game and make sure you win.

I will win! Lex replied. Ive never been so determined to win in my life!

Im very glad to hear it, the Goddess said sharply. The Game starts in twenty-four hours and you must be ready. I dont want any more of this nonsense, Lex, I mean it. Hate Jeremiah all you like if its going to help you win the Game but dont let him get the better of you again. Youre lucky you didnt get disqualified this time.

Lucky? Lex spluttered indignantly. He pointed at the golden egg on the deck and said, There was nothing lucky about retrieving that thing; there was just an awful lot of pluck, courage, wit and-

Yes, dear, you did very well, the Goddess said soothingly. And now that youve successfully completed the penalty task, theyll have to let you back into the Game. Now, give me that egg and Ill go make sure its all smoothed out.

Lex picked up the egg and moodily handed it over.

Thank you. Now youd better set sail for the Sea Volcanoes straight away. Youre behind the others already and you dont want to be late for the start of the Game.

And with that she disappeared, taking the egg with her.

THE OUTLAW, JESSE LAYTON

Four Days Earlier

When Lex walked into the Guild of Chroniclers in the heart of the Wither City, he fully intended to do things right this time. Hed just had a little smirk over the Royal Monument and left his old companion, Mr Montgomery Schmidt, standing there. His suggestion that the lawyer tag along on the upcoming Game had been turned down, as Lex had known it would be. He would certainly never have made the offer in a million years if he thought there was even the remotest possibility that the lawyer might accept. He may have come to feel a tiny inkling of liking, and even respect, for Mr Schmidt, but the man was still a doddering old fool and Lex was not going to allow himself to be hampered by him a second time. The first occasion had not been his fault. He hadnt been aware then that the Binding Bracelets would tie him to someone for the entire course of the Game. Now that he did know, he was going to make his choice very carefully indeed.