Lion Quest

By Mel Eldridge

Only she can decide between what is right and what is easy...

In a different world, in a different universe, there stands an ancient prophecy which - if fulfilled - could change life as the Ribeons know it. Far from wanting to thwart it, the Ribeon leader forces Loretta, a light speck, out into the human world to fulfil the ancient prophecy. Although the vengeful Evil Eye warns her not to go, Loretta takes charge of her destiny. Hiding inside the head of an eagle named Robert, she flies to Scotland where the witch Granny McMartin converts her into a twelve-year-old girl with magical powers. Where to next?

In Paris she befriends the circus runaway, Tom. Together they release the lioness, Martha, then escape in a hot air balloon. After adventures and deathly encounters with the Evil Eye, Martha is delivered safely home to the Lion People. But although all seems safe, they all know the Evil Eye must be destroyed. Aided by her new friends, Loretta pursues him into the underworld for one final encounter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Aug 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781800466586

Mel Eldridge

Retreat West Books and WriteTime have published Mel Eldridge's stories. He's a grandfather with a Law Degree, served as Chairman of Governors at a local Secondary School and has taken multiple writing groups and courses.

Book preview

9781800466586.jpg

Copyright © 2021 Mel Eldridge

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Matador

9 Priory Business Park,

Wistow Road, Kibworth Beauchamp,

Leicestershire. LE8 0RX

Tel: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Web: www.troubador.co.uk/matador

Twitter: @matadorbooks

ISBN 9781800466586

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Matador® is an imprint of Troubador Publishing Ltd

For Saskia, Yasmin, Jake and Jack. My Grandchildren, who helped shape this story.

Contents

Chapter One

The Prophecy of the Quest

Chapter Two

Loretta Becomes Human

Chapter Three

Loretta Prepares for Paris

Chapter Four

Loretta Meets Tom the Circus Runaway

Chapter Five

The Rescue of Martha the Lion

Chapter Six

Escape from Paris

Chapter Seven

Clock Castle

Chapter Eight

The Evil Eye Pounces

Chapter Nine

The Desert Bedouin Reveals a Message

Chapter Ten

Granny, the Pyramids and the Plane Crash

Chapter Eleven

Stowaways on the Desert Train

Chapter Twelve

Kidnapped by the Ungool

Chapter Thirteen

The Escape

Chapter Fourteen

Rescue by the Stilts

Chapter Fifteen

The Blue Lake and the Lion People

Chapter Sixteen

Preparations for Battle

Chapter Seventeen

The Army of the Evil Eye

Chapter Eighteen

Loretta fulfills Granny’s Task

Chapter Nineteen

Into the Underworld

Chapter Twenty

The Future

Chapter One

The Prophecy of the Quest

At the beginning of time alien Ribeons existed in the black, uninhabited spaces between planets. Single energy forces, specks of dim light, that drifted in the timelessness of space. As planet Theia formed, Ribeons were sucked into its dusty vortex to become part of the new planet. Trapped on Theia, its eventual cosmic collision with Earth destroyed its core and mantle that mixed with the new planet. The Earth became the Ribeons’ new home. With no use for feelings, sight, taste or hearing they sensed their surroundings, speaking to each other with a hive mind, their thoughts and actions linked. They learned to shut out the background noise of the millions of others of their species.

Curious by nature, over time they found ways to hide from the sunlight within plants and animals. The strongest were able to live within humans until they learned how to become human. They had no use for names except for Septimus, the Ribeon leader. A young Ribeon had been summoned to him. All were required to glow as a tiny speck of yellow, but the young one had glowed green. Septimus floated in the fissure of rock and began to speak.

Your behaviour reflects a sense of difference.

I’m sorry.

Rogue behaviour must be extinguished.

I’ll try to improve.

You have a disruptive streak. Septimus sensed the Ribeon wanted to leave for fear of punishment. You will be sent to the outer world.

No, never. My home is here inside the mountain. It whizzed around the rock fissure, not knowing what to do to stop itself from being banished.

There is a prophecy written by our first ancestors. It has floated on the molten core of the Earth since it merged with planet Theia. It shows a future planetary alignment when the Earth will be in danger from an evil force.

But that has nothing to do with me.

The prophecy requires a Ribeon to be sent out into the human world. Our forefathers lodged instructions in the histories of humans because of the danger. Each knows only a part of the prophecy. The Ribeon sent on the quest must solve the puzzle to conquer the evil. This is all that is known.

The energy speck sensed Septimus inside its mind, searching. I don’t want to be chosen to fulfil the prophecy.

The planets are now aligned as shown on the Earth’s core. You are a Ribeon strong enough to survive as a human.

It’s a hateful idea.

It will be dangerous with many hurdles to overcome.

Please, I don’t want this responsibility. Its hive mind raced, knowing to defy Septimus was impossible. But how will I become human?

You must travel to the witch Granny McMartin, who lives in Scotland.

But the sunlight will absorb me? It sensed in Septimus a lack of interest in its survival.

To live in the human world to solve the puzzle will require resourcefulness.

Beside Septimus the Ribeon sensed in the distance the dangerous white light of the outside world. Even at this late stage it hoped Septimus might change his mind.

One last time the Ribeon pleaded with Septimus. Please don’t make me go.

It is necessary.

Can I return?

Septimus hesitated. It is possible if you succeed. But now I will give you the gift of sight to aid your travels.

The Ribeon felt an energy surge until in the distance white light from the outside world made it recoil. Reluctant but ready, the Ribeon edged towards the light at the entrance to the point of no return then flew from the dark out into the dangerous rays of the sun. Light fizzled around the energy speck until, in pain, it hid in a dark crack of a snow-covered rock.

Not knowing what to do, it watched a dark cloud begin to form. A swirl at first, it became a halo around the mid-day sun. The circle of darkness expanded as its speed increased to blot out the bright sunlight. The mountains were plunged into darkness with lightning, accompanied by crashes of thunder, that flashed on all sides of the giant swirl. The Evil Eye formed, its flame-red pupil surrounded by a yellow iris. A voice boomed into the mind of the Ribeon.

This world will be mine; you cannot save it.

You want to turn the Earth to dust.

The Evil Eye flushed with anger. Great tears of fire fell to scorch the mountainsides. The heat melted the snows to send plates of ice down the mountain to crash into the valleys below.

My army is on the move. Remember my words.

The cloud of dark evil receded, chased away by the sunlight.

The Ribeon scanned the barren white landscape in search of escape. In the valley below a great bird soared in circles. Its brown feathers rippled as it flew, the yellow beak with its black tip sharp, ready to strike its prey once it had pounced with its talons. It cruised without a care in the world, its beady brown eyes trained on the ground as it circled, serene.

The carefree bird didn’t realise an intruder had entered its world until it stopped flapping its wings. It fell from the sky as the alien intruder struggled inside its head with the controls to link their energy fields to enable them to communicate.

What’s your name, bird?

I don’t have one.

I shall call you Robert.

The bird squawked as it tumbled.

What type of bird are you?

A steppe eagle. What are you?

A Ribeon.

With another squawk Robert opened his eyes wide to enable the Ribeon to see out into the human world.

I will not harm you. Do you know the way to Scotland?

You’ll need to check my magnetic global chart.

The Ribeon searched for the information. We should fly straight over India into Europe. When we reach the North Sea, we’ll go to Scotland.

It’ll take me weeks with stops.

You must trust me.

Have you ever flown a bird before?

No, but it is within my abilities.

Why Scotland?

Granny McMartin lives there. I’m to become human. With the Ribeon at the controls Robert flapped his wings to keep in the middle of the air currents.

Can’t you go any faster?

I’m a bird, not a machine.

Maybe I can get you to flap your wings to produce more speed. Its brain controls were complicated. You may feel a bit odd, but trust me.

Robert wasn’t at all sure he liked the feel of a Ribeon rummaging about in his head.

You’ve hijacked my brain. Why should I be worried?

When I fuse together the next set of cells your wings will beat faster.

Not too fast or my feathers will drop off. No more bird isn’t good for either of us.

Robert, helpless, began to beat his wings faster until the soft down on his breast began to be stripped away.

This is not good, he said.

We should be in Scotland tomorrow.

Robert continued to zoom through the sky at breakneck speed. What happens once you become human?

I’m not sure. It’s part of a quest to save the world.

It all sounds a bit silly and vague.

We’ll have to find out.

The Ribeon continued to fiddle with Robert’s brain cells. I’ll make a few adjustments so my energy can merge with yours.

Concerned his head might be blown off, he said, This is more than fast enough.

Robert’s wings began to beat in long, strong flaps. His speed increased to leave his feathers plastered to his body. The skin around his beak rippled until he couldn’t open his beak to warn the Ribeon.

In front of them a large white two-winged aircraft flew like a giant bird without a single beat of its long, majestic wings. Fascinated by the big white beast the Ribeon dived Robert nearer until, caught in the turbulence from the aircraft, he tumbled over and over like a crisp packet caught in a strong wind.

Robert began to fall towards the ground. Unless you regain control, we’ll come to a nasty, splatty end. With a long high-pitched squaaaaaawk, he tumbled towards the Earth.

The Ribeon wanted to return home and leave the strange human world to its fate. But as it struggled with the controls it knew the bird’s death meant the end of the quest before it had begun, never to return home.

Chapter Two

Loretta Becomes Human

Robert continued to tumble while the Ribeon tried to regain control. He flipped upright; his wings beat again until, in a great upward