Cursed Shadow Land

"We can't climb down these trees."

"Why not?" Jess saw that even though the trees were tall, small branches stuck out like climbing pegs. They would provide perfect footholds and handholds as long as they descended slowly.

"This is what we call the razor tree," Chezim said. "Each of those little spikes is poison and sharp as blades. Watch." He looked around for a second and found a piece of broken metal. When he dropped it out of the window it hit one of the spikes that cut it neatly in two.

"But we have to get out of here."

As if to accentuate his claims, the ship slid forward a few more feet.

"If we could just fly."

Oglethaine glided in through the open window. "Forests everywhere. A river through its middle. No sign of Blonders."

"Get us out of here, Oglethaine."

"So, I get to be pack horse again."

"Dainler first."

Dainler hung on to his neck while the dragon swooped out of the ship and spiraled to the ground. He let his passenger down and returned to the ship.

"You next, Chezim," Jess said.

"No. Our world needs you, Jess the journeyer. You're going to have to learn about our prophecies and what they foretell … well, never mind. Go."

Jess started to protest but several things happened at once. First, the ship lurched forward and before Jess had time to speak, Oglethaine grabbed him from behind and flew out the window. As soon as they touched down, a series of cracks and crashes, which sounded like the simultaneous explosion of hundreds of fireworks going off at once, split the air. The ship slid forward, hung precariously on some branches, and then broke free. It hurtled a hundred feet and hit the ground. One minute it was the great war machine, and the next, a smoldering heap of ruins and also the tomb for Chezim.