Unicorns' Opal by Richard S. Tuttle Read Free Book Online

also have four Black Devils among them. I wouldn’t want to take the chance of any of you getting blasted off your perch.”
    Niki was opening her mouth to speak, but nothing was coming out. She looked frantically from Fredrik to Jenneva, but both of them just smiled. “I think we can take care of four Black Devils,” Jenneva stated.
    “What if we just toasted the entire pass?” asked Fredrik. “There wouldn’t be need for any one of us to climb the mountain and risk injury.”
    “That would alert Sarac as much as the sky clearing,” Alex said thoughtfully. “Prince Midge might be able to take care of the Black Devils for us, though. Jenneva, do you have the ingredients for that Fire Glue you concocted during the war?”
    Jenneva’s eyes widened with agreement. “Of course,” she smiled. “I never travel without the ingredients. I see where you are heading, Alex, and I like it. If Midge can put the Black Devils asleep, the rest of us can light the entire pass on fire without making any magic signs which point to us.”
    “What is Fire Glue?” asked Tanya.
    “Fire Glue is a concoction that burns through anything,” answered Jenneva. “Well, not really anything, but it is a gel which burns fiercely and sticks to whatever it touches. Water won’t even put it out. It continues to burn until it burns itself out.”
    “The Targa Rangers used it in a similar situation,” continued Alex. “Thousands of goblins were pouring through a pass in the Boulder Mountains and Targa did not have enough men to hold them off. We positioned Rangers above the pass and at the Targa end of the pass and fired arrows with Fire Glue on them. The pass became a furnace and the goblins were cooked in it.”
    “What if Midge can’t put the Black Devils to sleep?” Arik asked.
    “Then we each choose one and they become the first targets of the battle,” Alex declared. “We start the fight with the four Black Devils dying at the same time.”
    Niki was going hysterical, stamping her feet and shaking her head from side to side. Suddenly, her scream filled the morning air and she looked more surprised than anyone. Everyone started laughing and Niki stormed off to be alone.
    “Fredrik,” Alex began, “you help Jenneva with the concoction. We should have two containers each. Tanya, you will pair off with me. Arik and Tedi will take the other side of the pass. We have a good day's ride to reach the mountains and I do not doubt they will be looking for riders coming their way, so we will have to split up halfway through the ride. We must swing wide enough away from the pass so they will not see our approach. Prince Midge will be used as a messenger to coordinate the three groups.”
    “Three groups?” quizzed Fredrik. “Why three groups?”
    “Our magicians are going to lag behind,” explained Alex. “If another group comes from the West, we don’t want them to reach the pass. You three will be dressed very colorfully and be in plain sight of the pass, but you will not approach it. You will set up a camp and have a large campfire as if you are travelers that plan to transit the pass tomorrow. They may send a scout to check you out and that is okay. Jenneva has makeup that will make you look like three old hags and the Dark Riders are looking for younglings.”
    “Can’t we all use the makeup and just ride through the pass?” asked Tanya.
    “The makeup won’t hold up through a close inspection,” Jenneva explained. “We will look disgusting enough and diseased so the scout won’t want to get close. Trying to get through the pass in the disguises would never work.”
    “So, the attention of the sentries will be on the old hags,” chuckled Arik. “In the meantime, we will be climbing the mountain.”
    “Yes,” commented Alex, “but I still have concerns about everyone getting up the mountain safely. Mountain climbing is a skill I have not taught you yet. It is not as easy or safe as it sounds. I can help Tanya, but I