Chapter 15

It was a gorgeous spring day. The snow had melted in the forest, and birds were perched on the evergreen branches, trilling blithely. The sun shone brightly overhead, and the sky was blue and cloudless.
Jane took a deep breath of the crisp, fresh air, and smiled at Matrim. “Isn’t it beautiful, Matrim?”
“Oh…yes.” He seemed preoccupied.
Andrija turned and looked at him. “What’s wrong, Matrim?”
“Nothing. Nothing,” Matrim said quickly, and then cleared his throat. “Andrija, I can see a waterfall down the mountain slopes about a half-mile. Would you like to go see it?”
Andrija shrugged. “As long as it’s near the path leading down the mountain.”
“It is,” replied Matrim, shading his eyes and looking down the trail.
Jane looked at him, her brow wrinkling in puzzlement. “You…almost look like you waiting for something, Matrim. Is everything alright?”
“Yes! Of course,” Matrim said agitatedly. Then he grinned. “Race me?”
Jane smiled and put her head to one side. “Where to?”
“That oak tree, way down the path…”
“I see it.” Jane took off her coat and handed it to Andrija.
“Ready, set….Go!”
The two took off down the path. Jane was a swift runner, the fastest on her school track team. She jogged along a few feet ahead of Matrim.
The trail was red dust and clouds of dirt billowed up around the two. Jane pushed her dark hair back, shooting a flashing smile at Matrim. He gave her a taunting grin and, to her surprise, began to pull ahead with lightning-fast speed.
The oak tree was nearing. Jane put all her strength into the final stretch. She was running as she had never ran before. But Matrim was by now, many yards ahead of her. He touched the tree and waited as the girl came panting up and leaned against the old oak, gasping for breath.
“How in the world did you do that?” asked Jane, once she had caught her breath.
“Hahahaha!” Matrim’s lusty laughter rang out over the trail. “For nearly two years I ran as a messenger in the army before I got upgraded to Serge--” He stopped and pretended to cough.
Jane stood up. “What? What did you say?”
Matrim looked at her, his eyes wild. He looked quite different from the Matrim she had known a moment ago. Jane stepped back from the tree, shaking her head.
Matrim shook his head desperately and then looked gravely into Jane’s eyes. “Jane. I must speak to you. This is why I raced you down here. I have only a few moments to talk. Listen to me. Jane, I swear by everything good and holy that I am your friend. You know I would never do anything to harm you?”
Jane swallowed, and tears came to her eyes. “Matrim, I trusted you as my brother a moment ago, but now? I do not know.”
Matrim’s eyes were hurt, and he swallowed before speaking. “Jane. Remember this, no matter what happens, no matter how things seem, I am your friend and you can trust me.”
Jane nodded, looking at the ground.
Andrija and Will came trotting up. “Good job, Matrim,” called Will.
“So where is this waterfall you wished to show us?” Andrija asked Matrim. Matrim pointed towards a clump of green trees to their right. “It’s hidden through those trees.”
In a few moments they had reached the towering oaks, and, with great difficulty, they made their way through the dense underbrush to a clearing. A huge slab of stone jutted over them, and over it poured a waterfall, crashing down into a churning pool of water. The pool emptied into a larger pool, calm and serene, with great birds and small scaly animals frisking about in its waters.
“It’s beautiful,” sighed Jane.
“Come on, Jane.” Andrija . “Let’s go see how cold the water is.” The two skipped hand-in-hand over the lush green grass.
Matrim and Will followed them to the sandy bank. Warm sunlight filtered down through the green canopy of tree tops above them, caressing them in a golden glow of light.
Matrim leaned against a weeping willow, watching Andrija and Jane as they stepped into the pristine but frigid water.
Will sat down in the sand and yawned. He leaned back against the dirt bank and closed his eyes. It seemed like only moments later that he was abruptly awoke with the screams of the girls. He jolted up, his heart beating.
Jane was running towards him, her eyes wide with terror, pointing towards the pool. A slimy animal the size of a large dog was emerging from the pool-- and it had seized Andrija’s arm in its gaping mouth.
Will leapt to his feet, but tripped over a tree root and went sprawling onto his face. Pulling himself to his feet, he glimpsed Matrim flashing by him and plunging into the cold water. In a moment, Matrim reached the beast’s side. He whipped his dagger out from his belt and thrust it repeatedly into the black and gray speckled scales. Scarlet blood spurted over him, but the monster did not yet relinquish its hold on Andrija. Again and again, Matrim drove the dagger into the creature. Suddenly, it opened its jaws and wheeled about to face its attacker.
Meanwhile, Will and Jane dragged the unconscious Andrija out of the water and laid her gently on the sun-warmed sand. That accomplished, Will left Jane to care for Andrija, and rushed to the aid of the older boy.
The scaly beast hissed, its small squinty eyes gleaming with ferocious rage. Matrim raised his hand to strike the death-blow—but the creature was too quick. It hissed and slithered about him, coiling its lithe slimy body around him. The dagger dropped from Matrim’s hand into the water.
Will caught it as he dove headlong into the fray. With all his might, he sent the glinting silver blade into the creature. It tightened its hold for a moment, and then relaxed-- sinking into the water, sending up a dark cloud of scarlet blood. Matrim gasped for breath and managed a weak grin as he shook hands with Will.
“A job…well…done, Will…” he panted as he stepped out of the water.
Andrija had recovered and now she rose shakily to her feet. “Thank you, Matrim,” she whispered.
Matrim swallowed, nodded, then turned abruptly away and went to sit alone by the weeping willow.
Jane breathed a sigh of relief. Then she stiffened. Where was the small wooden box? Where was the Diadem? “Andrija, where did you put the Diadem before you went wading?”
“To your left, Jane. On the bank beside the-.” Andrija’s face paled as she realized the wooden box was gone.
Will ran towards the sand bank and examined the ground closely. “There are footprints! Two pairs of them. Large footprints.”
Andrija stared in disbelief. Will shook his head numbly.
Jane turned…and looked at Matrim.

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