was a wondrous yet dangerous monster and it hurtled into Ash before the knight had time to defend himself. The armour protected Ash well but the bird’s claws still lacerated part of his exposed neckline. Ash was knocked over narrowly avoiding a lethal pit and, as he quickly stood up, he could feel his warm blood trickling down his body. For a moment Ash thought his time was finally up. The bird swooped down for another attack but Ash was strong and delivered a lethal blow with his sword, slicing the beast in half with a decisive upstroke. Blood splattered everywhere and feathers filled the air. Part of the carcass fell into a pit, which was promptly followed by the chilling sound of dozens of snakes hissing.
“Where did that come from?” wondered Ash, getting his breath back. The knight didn’t have to wonder for long, out of the caves high up on either side of the valley poured dozens more of the giant birds.
Ash had to make a quick decision: fight or flight? He immediately chose flight, the birds would quickly overwhelm him even if he managed to take a few of them down.
“Where do I go?” he panicked.
He contemplated entering the caves at ground level, but what if the witch was in there? He couldn’t take that risk. The V-shaped valley ahead was his only hope, at least there the birds couldn’t swarm and attack him on mass. The birds would be upon him in less than a minute, there was no time for cautious steps and so Ash sprinted over the vegetation, trusting his memory of the route he had scouted from the last tree. Ash could feel his heart pounding in his chest and the fresh rush of adrenaline subdued the pain from his injuries. Fortunately his neck wound wasn’t too deep.
Ash reached the end of the meadow safely and entered the narrow chasm, which immediately twisted left and, to his absolute horror, straight into a dead end.
“No! It cannot be!” he shouted out.
A sheer vertical wall of dark grey rock greeted him and, at its base, was a pool of clear water. However, there was no time to think. The flock of birds were instantly upon Ash and the knight ferociously swung his sword to fend off the creatures. But there were too many and Ash’s sword was knocked from his hand and it disappeared into the deep pool of water. Ash was pinned face down on the ground by the weight of a huge bird landing on his back. He curled up into a ball next to the water, a last desperate act to protect himself from death.
This is it , he conceded. The Gauntlet is impossible. I’m sorry, my son. I have failed you .
At that moment he noticed a light! A faint blue dim emanated from the bottom of the water pool and illuminated his sword which rested at the bottom. Without hesitation and summoning all of his strength and will to live, Ash rolled into the water and under the weight of his armour, quickly sank to the bottom. The birds screeched with frustration but didn’t go into the water. At the bottom of the pool Ash struggled to release his armour, but he finally managed to remove his heavy breastplate. Ash looked up, the birds were still there waiting for him to resurface for air. Ash looked to the left and to his relief there was another route!
Picking up his sword, Ash swam through the narrow underwater tunnel at the bottom of the pool. The tunnel went on for several metres and it was a tight squeeze but Ash made it through. He swam the short distance upwards and emerged to the glorious fresh air on the other side of the rock-face. Ash wearily pulled himself out of the water and rested on his knees, catching his breath and feeling relieved to be alive. But the strenuous effort, plus the loss of blood, had exhausted the knight and he passed out, collapsing forward with a dull thud on the soft, muddy ground.
Chapter Three – The Valley of Peace
Ash regained consciousness to the sound of voices talking around him – human voices!
“His wounds will heal, they are not deep,” said a female voice.
“He’s a big
“Where did that come from?” wondered Ash, getting his breath back. The knight didn’t have to wonder for long, out of the caves high up on either side of the valley poured dozens more of the giant birds.
Ash had to make a quick decision: fight or flight? He immediately chose flight, the birds would quickly overwhelm him even if he managed to take a few of them down.
“Where do I go?” he panicked.
He contemplated entering the caves at ground level, but what if the witch was in there? He couldn’t take that risk. The V-shaped valley ahead was his only hope, at least there the birds couldn’t swarm and attack him on mass. The birds would be upon him in less than a minute, there was no time for cautious steps and so Ash sprinted over the vegetation, trusting his memory of the route he had scouted from the last tree. Ash could feel his heart pounding in his chest and the fresh rush of adrenaline subdued the pain from his injuries. Fortunately his neck wound wasn’t too deep.
Ash reached the end of the meadow safely and entered the narrow chasm, which immediately twisted left and, to his absolute horror, straight into a dead end.
“No! It cannot be!” he shouted out.
A sheer vertical wall of dark grey rock greeted him and, at its base, was a pool of clear water. However, there was no time to think. The flock of birds were instantly upon Ash and the knight ferociously swung his sword to fend off the creatures. But there were too many and Ash’s sword was knocked from his hand and it disappeared into the deep pool of water. Ash was pinned face down on the ground by the weight of a huge bird landing on his back. He curled up into a ball next to the water, a last desperate act to protect himself from death.
This is it , he conceded. The Gauntlet is impossible. I’m sorry, my son. I have failed you .
At that moment he noticed a light! A faint blue dim emanated from the bottom of the water pool and illuminated his sword which rested at the bottom. Without hesitation and summoning all of his strength and will to live, Ash rolled into the water and under the weight of his armour, quickly sank to the bottom. The birds screeched with frustration but didn’t go into the water. At the bottom of the pool Ash struggled to release his armour, but he finally managed to remove his heavy breastplate. Ash looked up, the birds were still there waiting for him to resurface for air. Ash looked to the left and to his relief there was another route!
Picking up his sword, Ash swam through the narrow underwater tunnel at the bottom of the pool. The tunnel went on for several metres and it was a tight squeeze but Ash made it through. He swam the short distance upwards and emerged to the glorious fresh air on the other side of the rock-face. Ash wearily pulled himself out of the water and rested on his knees, catching his breath and feeling relieved to be alive. But the strenuous effort, plus the loss of blood, had exhausted the knight and he passed out, collapsing forward with a dull thud on the soft, muddy ground.
Chapter Three – The Valley of Peace
Ash regained consciousness to the sound of voices talking around him – human voices!
“His wounds will heal, they are not deep,” said a female voice.
“He’s a big
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