THE THIRD MAGE 30 Squeaky

General Luther, on the other hand, couldn't take it anymore and sat on the ground, drinking from his canteen. "Crown Prince, isn't there anything we could do to lure it out?"

The Crown Prince looked down and thought. "I don't know. The last I remembered was when we named him. After that, he was lost in the old school. Hmm, what is a rat's favorite food?"

"Cheese!" Samarra answered loudly.

"Do we have cheese in here?"

One of them nodded and ran back to the pantry. When he came back, he brought one block of cheese. "Would this suffice?"

"That's more than enough. Now let's place the cheese there and we will surround it some meters away. You all ready?"

Everybody nodded. They then settled on their positions and waited.

An hour has pa.s.sed, and then two. The ground was scorching hot, everyone was parched. General Luther liked to call it a day but then they heard a squeak. They all looked at each other, a silent understanding pa.s.sed in each of them.

Then Squeaky came out from under the ground, like a badger getting out of its home. He sniffed the cheese in every side. Just when he was sure it was safe to eat, he bit out a chunk and was ready to flee when suddenly, the Crown Prince called him.

"Squeaky, the Great General of the mice."

Squeaky halted in his steps and looked at the one who called him. Recognition dawned on his tiny face.

"Oh master! When did you come back?"

"Master?" Amon asked confoundedly.

"Yes. Master Denaire instructed us all to call you our Master too. She said whatever you command of us, we will follow."

Amon was unsure if he wanted to cry in grat.i.tude or in shame. But nevertheless, this is who they were looking for.

"Uh, okay. Squeaky, have you been in contact with Denaire?"

Squeaky looked down, crestfallen. "Since she was taken by those barbarians, we, her creations, haven't been able to speak to her. Only Raj, who had somehow managed to connect to Master telepathically."

"Well then, did Raj tell you about what Denaire has planned now?"

Squeaky looked very sad now, he was on the verge of crying. "Since Master was taken, Raj never spoke to us again. He's always sitting in a corner crying. He… he.."

"He what Squeaky?"

"It's best if you talk to him Master Amon. And by the way, why were you all looking for me?"

"Well, Denaire has asked us to look for the island she made so that we will all move to it. The Exoshans are plotting to attack this place soon."

"Oh, you mean the Garden?"

"The Garden?"

"Yes. That's what Master named it. It has such beautiful plants and all. It really is a paradise."

"Is it a moving island?"

"Of course! Master made all her islands moving!"

Amon scratched his head. He was overwhelmed by all this information. "Okay, how many islands did Denaire make? Oh you know, just don't answer that. Is The Garden fit to house us all?"

"Yes absolutely. It is the largest one she has ever made."

Crown Prince Amon looked at his companions. "Shall we go?"

He was answered by a collective nod. "Then Squeaky, show us the way."

"Follow me."

***

Squeaky took them to the other side of the island. He then spoke something no one understood. And then, he looked at the people and said, "Then we wait."

"Wait?" Dranx asked and spoke for the first time that day.

"Yes! It is a moving island after all. We don't know where it has moved undetected now, so we wait until it arrives."

"Uh, Squeaky," Samarra interrupted. "What language did you speak earlier?"

Squeaky laughed maniacally. "It's a secret code the Master taught us. It's a defense against someone eavesdropping. And that includes all of you. Now, if you don't have any more questions, I'd like to take a nap. Good day."

And the rat lay on the sand with his eyes covered with his small limbs.

Realizing that they got nothing else to do, they all sat down on the sh.o.r.e and enjoyed the fresh sea breeze. Some of them had started to doze off, including Samarra because she stayed up late last night during the festivities.

A couple of minutes had pa.s.sed when they heard a loud booming voice. Then something s.h.i.+mmered in the air in front of them. Squeaky jumped up and spoke something again.

Then the island revealed itself on them.

A bridge then appeared between the two islands. Squeaky grinned at them and said, "Hop on then!"

And they all followed the rat. The day hasn't gotten any better yet, they all thought.