Read Freeglader for Free Online

stopped marching, and the long lines of Undertowners broke up into small groups, huddled together against the biting wind. Sitting between Molleen and Wumeru, Rook and Xanth escaped the worst of it – but were still both chilled to the bone.
    ‘I never thought I'd say this,’ said Xanth, smilingweakly, ‘but I almost miss Undertown. How can anybody call this desolate waste home?’
    Rook didn't answer. He was gazing past Xanth at the treeline in the distance.
    ‘The Twilight Woods,’ he murmured.
    From the cold, icy mud of the Mire, the twinkling light of the Twilight Woods was hypnotic. Warm, inviting glades sparkled, fabulous clearings shimmered; nooks and crannies, sheltered from the bitter winds, beckoned seductively.
    Xanth put his arm on Rook's shoulder. ‘Don't even think about it,’ he said sternly. ‘That path leads to death… A living death.’
    Rook looked away and shook his head. ‘I know, I know,’ he said. The Twilight Woods! That beautiful, seductive, terrible place that robbed you of your mind but not your life, condemning you to live on for ever as your body decayed. ‘It's just that … it looks so…’

    ‘Inviting,’ Xanth said grimly. ‘I know that.’ He shivered as a blast of icy wind hit him. The next instant he was up on his feet and waving wildly.‘Molleen! No!’ he cried out. ‘Molleen! Come back! ’
    Rook leaped up. The old banderbear had torn free of her tether and was stumbling across the mudflats, her eyes fixed on the Twilight Woods ahead.
    ‘Weeg-worraleeg! Weera wuh-wuh!’ Rook shouted desperately. Come back, old friend, that is death calling you!
    Wumeru, Wuralo and Weeg's anguished yodels rang out. Come back, old friend! Come back!
    But the old banderbear ignored them. And she wasn't alone. Up and down the column, individuals were cutting the ropes that bound them to their groups and dashing towards the alluring glades of the Twilight Woods.
    Deadbolt's voice boomed from the front of the line. ‘Column fall in, and advance if you want to see another dawn! Advance, I say! And keep your eyes looking up front, you mangy curs!’

    Ahead of them, the library sledges lumbered forwards. Rook, Xanth and the banderbears broke ranks as one, and made after Molleen, only to be jerked back bythe rope that secured them to their sledge. Rook tore at the rope feverishly.
    ‘Molleen, wait!’ he shouted. ‘We're coming to get you!
    ‘Fall back in line!’ roared a voice in Rook's ear. Deadbolt Vulpoon, his face like thunder, loomed over him. ‘Fall back in line or I'll run you through!’ He brandished a serrated-edge sabre menacingly. ‘And don't think I won't!’
    Rook stopped, tears stinging his eyes. ‘But Molleen,’ he said, his voice breaking. ‘She's our friend, we must…’
    ‘You follow her and you'll all be lost,’ said Deadbolt firmly. ‘There's no saving her, believe me, lad.’
    The library sledge pulled the rope taut as Rook fell back into line. The others followed, the banderbears moaning softly, Xanth shaking his shaven head.
    ‘Sky curse it!’ Deadbolt thundered. ‘This is all my fault. I took us too close to the treeline, then took pity on you mudlubbers and allowed you to stop. Well, there'll be no more of it. We march on! Or we die!’
    With that he was off, striding back down the column, barking orders left and right. Rook shut his eyes, and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. The plaintive yodels of the banderbears rang out across the white mudflats as, in the distance, the shuffling figure of Molleen disappeared into the Twilight Woods.
    They marched on all through that dismal grey morning and on into a rain-sodden afternoon. Few spoke; even the chants of the sky pirates up in front tailed off, and the only sounds were the barks and yelps of theprowlgrins and the relentless slap , slap , slap of mud-shoes on mire mud.
    The grey afternoon gave way to the dim half-light of evening, and the wind grew stronger once more, pelting