Amos Daragon_ The Mask Wearer - Bryan Perro [41]
Out of straw and small pieces of wood, Beorf made a charming doll in Medusa’s image. The young gorgon kissed him tenderly on the cheek to thank him. Beorf wished that their time in the cavern would never end. He felt respected and liked. He had fallen in love very fast. Medusa’s words sounded like soft music to his ears. At night they slept back-to-back to keep warm. The fat boy lived in a constant state of happiness. Hours seemed like minutes; days like hours.
On the morning of the fourth day, Medusa asked Beorf if he knew why the sorcerer had taken such an interest in Bratel-la-Grande.
“Oh, yes, I do know,” Beorf answered as he stuffed himself with hazelnuts. “He’s looking for a pendant. But don’t worry, he’ll never find it!”
“Why?” asked the gorgon, surprised by Beorf’s confident tone.
“Because I hid it myself,” Beorf answered proudly. “I don’t know what this pendant represents for the snake-man or what power it has. He told me a story about it, but I didn’t believe a word of what he said. One has to be wary of nagas. They’re wily liars.”
Medusa thought for a moment. “But if we had the pendant, maybe we could use it against him,” she said. “I know a little bit about magic. If I could see it, it might help us understand its power.”
“I believe it’s more dangerous to have it in our hands than to leave it where it’s hidden. I think that Karmakas could detect its presence. He would be after us in no time.”
“Yes, you’re right, my friend,” Medusa answered. “Yet I’m curious to know where it’s hidden.”
“I’d like to tell you but I won’t. If Karmakas ever captured you, you’d be tortured until he got the secret.”
Vexed, the young gorgon turned her back to him. “If Karmakas were to capture me, I’d be killed right away for having helped you to escape,” she said. “I understand that you wish to keep the hiding place secret. But I thought I was your friend. Back home, we tell everything to our friends. You may be right not to trust me. After all, I’m only a vicious gorgon!”
“Of course you’re my friend. Even my best friend,” Beorf said. He was confused. “It’s to protect you that I don’t want to tell you where the pendant is.”
“Pardon me,” Medusa said after a while. “I know that you’re doing this for my own good. I’m too inquisitive. I admire you so much! I’d just like to know what trick you used to keep the sorcerer from finding his pendant, that’s all.”
Beorf was touched by the compliment. “All right, I’ll tell you. It will be our secret,” he said, coming close to her ear. “I hid the pendant before I met Karmakas. My friend Amos Daragon told me that something or someone very powerful was looking for it. After he left for the woods of Tarkasis, I thought of a spot where no one would look for it. The pendant is hidden in Bratel-la-Grande’s cemetery. There are thousands of tombs and dozens of vaults there. It’s like a labyrinth of hiding places. I thought the gorgons would never question the dead, and I was right. I’m sure that Karmakas will never think to search there, either.”
Medusa smiled tenderly. “Thank you for trusting me, my friend. I’ll never tell this secret to anyone. But if I may ask you one more question, where did you hide it in the cemetery?”
“I’d rather keep that to myself,” Beorf answered. “It’s difficult to explain to someone who doesn’t know the place. I went there with my bees because the cemetery is covered with beautiful flowers rich in pollen. If you want, I’ll take you there later.”
At that precise moment, Karmakas entered the cavern. His long tail was gone and he moved on two legs. Promptly he grabbed Medusa and put a dagger to her throat.
“Ssss, it was about time! I’ve been watching you, ssss, for three days. I was becoming ssss, impatient. Now, young beorite, ssss, you will go to the cemetery and, ssss, bring me back my pendant. If not, ssss, I’ll kill your friend. One less gorgon makes no difference to my army.”
Medusa seemed calm in spite of the menacing blade touching her throat.
“Don