“I think we are in trouble,” Syman announced. “I don’t see any way down into the canyon and it looks like it runs for leagues in both directions. We dare not turn back in case those are invaders following us and every moment we waste trying to find a way across gets them closer to us.”
“Maybe we can fell a couple of those large trees and make a bridge,” Antello suggested.
“Fargi trees are very dense hardwood,” informed Lyra. “We will never down one of them. How much time do you think we have Syman?”
“They will have moved through the swamp much quicker than we did,” mused Syman. “Fours hours at the most I guess. They can move quickly without fear that three of us will lay an ambush for them. Maybe as little as two hours if they have a good tracker.”
Chapter 7
Ancient Forest
Syman led the way eastward along the northern rim of the canyon, searching for a path down, which would allow them to reach the other side before the invaders had a chance to catch up to them. They had not traveled more than a league when he stopped where a fallen fargi tree had bridged the chasm. The ancient hardwood giant must have served as a bridge in the past because Syman could see where someone had mounded dirt at each end to allow access to the log. The fargi tree was huge and the diameter of the fallen log was several times his height, still, he did not look pleased with the prospect of riding a horse across it.
“What are you waiting for?” called Antello. “Let’s get across before they catch up.”
Syman ignored his friend’s impatience, dismounted and walked around the nearest end of the fallen tree. The log appeared to be well anchored and it certainly was sturdy. Perhaps he was being too cautious, Syman mused, but there were no visible tracks of anyone using it and the dirt mound should show some recent use.
“Look at the other end,” called Lyra. “It doesn’t look like there is much ground underneath it.”
Syman walked to the cliff and peered over the chasm at the far end of the tree bridge. There was a dirt mound similar to the one at the nearest end, but the canyon rim underneath it had eroded badly.
“It doesn’t look like much is holding the other end,” he stated. “We should keep going until we find a path through the canyon.”
“We could be looking for a path for leagues,” cried Antello. “This is too good to pass up. I am sure that it will hold us. Fargi trees last forever and I will even go first.”
“As much as I would wish to be free of your chatter,” frowned Syman, “I do not wish to be free of you. No matter how sturdy the tree is, unless there is solid ground underneath it, we will fall to our deaths.”
“That is a thought,” smiled Lyra. “If we could make it across and somehow disable it so the raiders could not follow us, we would gain a lot of time.”
Syman turned and with a scowl opened his mouth to berate Lyra for encouraging Antello, but stopped before the rebuke was uttered. “Are you really willing to risk your life on this tree?” Syman inquired. “Even if it held the weight, I cannot imagine riding a skittish horse over it.”
“Nor I,” Lyra grinned. “We have plenty of rope. Let’s tie a rope around Antello and let him cross. He can tie off the rope on the other side and we can hang on to it when we cross. And we will not ride the horses. I will walk each of them across after I have cast a calming spell on them. They will not be nervous and will walk calmly.”
“Then we can sabotage the other end so that the raiders cannot follow us,” beamed Antello. “It is perfect.”
“I cannot believe you two,” Syman said while shaking his head. “The plan is fine except for the first part. A rope around Antello will do nothing for him, except allow us to haul his body up after he dies. He would just swing into the rock cliff if he fell.”
“Nonsense,” laughed Antello. “First, I am not going to fall. The log is huge and I could run across it without any fear of falling off. Second, the log is not going to just instantly fall. If it does fall, I will feel it starting to go and I can run back before it tumbles. You can keep an eye on the other side and let me know if you see it starting to move.”
Syman stood shaking his head, knowing that his friend was going to cross no matter what he said. Antello thought he was invincible and all Syman could do was try his best to protect him.
Antello was already preparing the rope when Lyra came up beside Syman. “I think it will be alright,” she said. “I will go first if that matters to you. I would not ask Antello to do anything I wouldn’t do myself.”
“No,” Syman agreed, “Antello is the best one for the job. He is quick and sure-footed. I just hope nothing happens to him.”
Lyra nodded as she turned to the task of calming the horses. It only took moments to calm the horses, but when Lyra turned back to the log, Antello was already roped and ready to cross the bridge.
“Be careful,” Syman cautioned his friend.
Antello smiled in return and started walking along the log, over the perilous drop of the canyon. Antello did not look down but kept his eyes focused on the other end. Despite his comments about running across, Antello walked slowly and deliberately, as if testing the sturdiness of the bridge with each step. Time seemed to slow for the trio as Antello, dwarfed by the hugeness of the fargi log, slowly made his way to the center of the bridge. Suddenly, a cascade of dirt and small stones tumbled into the canyon from the far end. Antello immediately halted with one foot still raised. Syman shouted a curse and Lyra inhaled deeply and held her breath.
No one moved until the last of the stones hit the bottom of the canyon. Lyra exhaled as Antello placed his foot down and continued walking, more cautiously than before. Once again, the dirt cascaded into the ravine and Antello froze waiting for the stones to drop. Sweat beaded upon Antello’s brow and for a moment he began to doubt the wisdom of crossing the bridge. Three fourths of the way across, Antello fought the urge to dash the distance and dive to the opposite rim. Antello’s legs began shaking as fear coursed through him and he fought to control his emotions. Stopping completely, he bent down and grasped his legs with his hands. He ignored Syman’s shouted questions about what was wrong and concentrated on calming himself. He flexed his arm muscles and then his leg muscles to force the shaking limbs to know their master. Slowly, his limbs responded and submitted to his will. Steady once again, Antello straightened and stepped forward. He began whistling a favorite tune and imagined that he walking the ledge outside the Academy which he had used many times to avoid Master Caulder’s attention when he sneaked off to play. His distraction worked well and Antello found himself over the southern rim of the canyon. Wiping the sweat off his brow, he turned and bowed to his friends on the other side.
Antello quickly secured his end of the rope around a standing fargi tree and signaled the others that it was tied. Lyra took the reins of one of the horses and started to cross. Antello had not meant to indicate that it was safe to cross and he scampered to the rim of the canyon to examine the footing of the tree bridge. He cursed silently as he caused stones and dirt to tumble in his haste, but Lyra appeared not to notice. With a casual attitude, she led the horse across, talking to it as she proceeded. Neither the horse nor Lyra seemed to recognize the danger of their crossing and Antello wondered if Lyra had cast the calming spell on herself. Lyra arrived quickly and Antello saw Syman leading another horse across as soon as Lyra got off the bridge.
When Syman arrived he handed the reins to Lyra. “You two see what chances we have of sabotaging the bridge,” he ordered. “I will get the other horse.”
Syman returned across the bridge and Antello bent to examine the log. “It is a lot sturdier than I thought,” he murmured to Lyra.