The Adventures Of Edwin Groob - Chapter Four

Chapter Four – Return To The Land Of Hark

The peaks of the mountains splintered through the white fluffy clouds, white peaks glistening in the sunlight. In places the clouds were thick and in others wispy and thin, moving down from the cloud cover the mountains took on their dark, black colour and the ice coloured peaks faded away. The range of mountains spread across the entire width of this northern landscape, a place where very few people ventured, except for explorers looking for all kinds of exotic and wonderful things, and yes, that includes treasure.

This is the Quarland, an expanse of mountains and wasteland high up in the north of Hark, far away from the warm sunny Southlands. The mountain range which made up the majority of Quarland spread from the west coast all the way across to the east coast and the only way through from the south would be to climb the mountains, although there where certain paths and routes which could be taken but this would include meeting all kinds of extraordinary creatures. Beyond the mountains on the northern tip of Quarland was the town of Quar, it was home to some very weird people indeed who very rarely ventured out to the south. Visitors were also common place, even though the mountains made it difficult to visit Quar, the sea route from the north could bring smugglers, fishermen and pirates. Quar was about to receive some new visitors, not from the south and not from the sea.

Diving down from the cloud cover, the giant eagle swept through the air with magnificent grace, the four passengers strapped into leather seats on the back of the massive bird. Kale was positioned at the front of the bird, holding on tightly to the straps which wrapped themselves round the neck of the bird and then tied to the beak. Behind Kale was Cedric, his eyes were closed and he held on tightly to Sophie, her hair was flying around in the wind and she stared straight ahead blinking as the air caught her eyes. Edwin was strapped tightly into his seat at the rear so as to stop him falling out the back, he was still asleep.
The eagle soared left and then dived down more through the thin cloud cover, Kale noticed the mountains to his right and the sea to his left, he was looking for an opening in the clouds so that he could move the bird to the right and then direct the group south for the journey to the Southlands. In the distance he could see a narrow opening in the mountains, Kale flicked the leather strap, the eagle gained more speed and they headed for this opening which was just wide enough for the giant bird to fit through. Just as they came to within a short distance of the opening there was an ear piercing scream, Cedric suddenly opened his eyes and Kale looked at a cave embedded in the side of the mountain.

“Oh no it’s a Drall!” Cedric screamed.

Darting out from the dark cave came the winged beast, a Drall, it hunted in Quarland on humans and animals, it was brown in colour, with deep set black eyes, sharp teeth, a slim body with huge muscular wings. Drall’s were close relatives to dragons, but horrible creatures who just lived for eating and nothing more.

Kale moved the eagle away from the mountain, the group missed the opening they wanted to take as the Drall headed them off, it darted down after the eagle, gaining on the group because Drall’s were the fastest creatures in the skies and Kale knew this.

The eagle dived down as fast as it could, Kale could see the ground moving closer by the second, Cedric let out a scream as the Drall moved in, huge mouth open to eat the group, Kale heard the warning and moved the eagle left, then right. The Drall flew over the top of the group and then circled round to come back. Kale pulled the straps of the eagle and it lifted its head just as they reached the tree line of a forest, skimming the tree tops the eagle lost some large feathers which glided down to earth. The Drall closed in again from the side and then at the last minute dived down towards the ground. Cedric looked round to see where the next attack was coming from but could not see the Drall anywhere.

“That was close,” he said puffing his cheeks.

Kale was not convinced, he quickly looked around wandering where the next attack was going to come from. Just as he was about to pull the eagle right to move back over to the mountain there was an almighty thud from beneath the eagle which cause everyone to shudder in their seats, the eagle let out a loud screech and Kale felt himself losing control. Bumping around on top of the eagle, Cedric lost control of Sophie, the straps of the leather seat were not tight enough to hold her small frame and she instantly slid over the side and down to the tree line below.

“Noooooo!” Cedric screamed.

As Cedric reached over to grab her hand he saw her disappear into the trees below and then suddenly the face of the Drall appeared from beneath the eagle, Cedric jumped back, lost his footing and he too went tumbling over the side of the eagle down to the trees below.

Kale turned to see that two of his group had disappeared, he was unable to control the eagle who plummeted to the ground below. The trees came closer and closer until the eagle went crashing into the forest skidding along the forest floor on its belly, branches and undergrowth spinning up and covering Kale and Edwin. Eventually the eagle came to a stop and Kale was now slumped forward in his leather seat. The speed of the branches of the trees had caused the straps holding Edwin to snap and he had been lost on the landing. Kale lifted his head and looked up towards the sky, he saw the Drall circling but knew that it would not dare come this close to the ground.

Looking back he saw that he had lost his passengers, he then bent forward to check on the eagle, its eyes were closed and there was no sign of breathing. Kale patted the head of the giant eagle and then released himself from the leather seat, he climbed down the feathers and jumped down onto the damp floor.

He knew he must search for his group, for Quarland was no place for them to be lost in.