01_-_The_Alchemyst

reached an opening. We’re at the end of a thick root, about thirty yards away
from the main body of the tree. We’re well clear of the fighting,” she added.
Josh rounded a corner and discovered Scatty standing bathed in shafts
of early-morning sunshine that shone through a curtain of vines directly ahead
of her. She turned to face him, sunlight turning her red hair golden and
running along the blades of her short swords, and in that moment, Josh saw
her as the ancient and terrifying Warrior she was. The sounds of battle were
all around them, but louder than all the other noises was the groaning rumble
that seemed to vibrate deep in the ground. “What is that sound?” he asked.
“The cries of the Yggdrasill,” Scatty answered grimly. “Hekate’s
enemies have set light to the World Tree.”
“But why?” He found the very idea horrifying—this ancient living tree
had harmed no one. But the action gave him an insight into the contempt with
which the Dark Elders held life.
“Her powers are inextricably linked to it; her magic brought it to
towering life, its life force keeps her strong. They believe that by destroying
it, they will destroy her.”
Flamel came panting up the steps to stand behind Josh. The Alchemyst’s
thin face was bright red and beaded with sweat. “Getting old,” he said with a
wry smile. He looked at Scatty. “What’s the plan?”
“Simple,” she began, “we get away from here as quickly as possible.”
Then she spun the sword in her left hand so that the blade was lying flat
against the length of her arm. She pointed with the hilt. Flamel and Josh stood
close to her and peered out through the curtain of vines. On the opposite side
of the field, Dr. John Dee had appeared, moving cautiously through the
undergrowth. The black-bladed short sword that he held in both hands
glowed and flickered with a cold blue light.
“Dee,” Flamel said. “Never in my life would I have imagined being
delighted to see him. This is good news indeed.”
Both Scatty and Josh looked at him in surprise.
“Dee is human…which means that he came here via human
transportation,” the Alchemyst explained.