Black dust

of light simply because it frightens them, they are afraid because they are creatures made out of pure darkness and evil. Light would easily turn them into dust.” Emmett took a deep breath as he finished.

“So we have to get the Light King to use his power to rid our land of the Prowlers and some new… bad creatures coming from the west”.

Emmett nodded.

“That’s right, little sister. But you’re going to stay here while I go.”

“What! Why? Oh, you are a mean brother, Emmett, please take me with you!”

Jasmine wouldn’t stop whining. Finally, Emmett gave in.

“Fine,” he muttered. “But if something happens to you, it’s not going to be my fault…”

“Oh, don’t worry, Emmett!” Jasmine began enthusiastically. “It’s you who’s going to need saving this time.”

Emmett hid a smile. He knew his sister could be a little enthusiastic and over confident sometimes but he had grown used to it. His only concern was that her sister’s foolishness shouldn’t lead her to danger.

“Jasmine…” Emmett began. “There’s one more thing.”

He paused and turned.

“Aro said that the Light King was a man of bargain. So I think we’re going to need to give him something in return for him to use his power for us.”

Jasmine sighed.

“Did Aro tell you anything he wanted… in particular?”

Emmett nodded.

“Yes… he did. Aro said that there is a very old riddle that the King wants to find the answer to … and whoever solves it… would be granted any one wish.”

Emmett grabbed his pack and pulled out a bunch of withered old papers.

“Look, Aro gave me this.”

There was a map of the way from their forest to the whole side of the Plains. The Light King’s kingdom was situated in between the Plains and the Tactess Mountains. So they were going to have to take Johnson’s Route.

“But ohnson’s Route is full of dangers!” Jasmine argued. “No one goes through there… surely there must be some other way!”

Emmett shook his head. “No Jasmine. There’s no other way! The route around the forests would take months… it’s only a matter of weeks before this place is overrun by evil creatures! Johnson’s Route would only take a few days! Besides you were the one who insisted on facing the dangers of this journey!”

Jasmine turned red. “Okay. I admit it. We’ll take Jonhson’s Route”.

Emmett looked satisfied. “Good. Now take a look at this.”

In Emmett’s hand was the riddle of the Light King. He opened the scroll and they inspected it closely.

THE RIDDLE

“If you are ever so bright then show me what you can do right:

A short story by TAMANNA CHHIBBAR

You’re riding from this place to that, And picking up a cat or a rat, Seven people come on and off, Then eight come on with a slight cough

A touch of ten

Two friendly men

Then a sister and a brother

What was the rider’s eye’s colour?”

Jasmine studied the riddle closely. She usually was very good at these things but this one puzzled her greatly. “Surely this is impossible! How could we know the rider’s eye colour by knowing who he picked up and dropped off?” she looked at Emmett, her big green eyes full of curiosity.

“Do not worry, Jasmine.” Emmett said calmly. “There must be a solution no doubt, but now we must pack for our departure tomorrow morning and after that we will clear our minds and find the answer to the riddle.

It was a bright morning and the air was crisp and fresh. The clouds headed north leaving a trail of mist behind. Jasmine was packing and getting ready for their big journey. Emmett, it seemed, had gone to the bubbling stream to fill their flasks with much needed water. Soon, the two companions set off to the Light King’s kingdom.

Two days had passed and Emmett and Jasmine had almost reached their destination. But do not think that their journey was easy so far, for it was filled with hardships. The Prowler outcasts lived along the borders of the Plains. Emmett and Jasmine had faced a few but thankfully Emmett carried his trusty torch. Some Prowlers were strong and could bear the light and had attacked Jasmine wounding her on her arm. Emmett had tended to it. The thing was, they still did not find the answer to the riddle. And, their flasks had almost emptied.

As the two companions were crossing a small grove, they heard an eerie sound. It sounded like some kind of music.

Emmett held Jasmine back. “It could be some kind of danger!” he hissed.

Suddenly a tall, broad man with long, braided hair emerged from behind a tree. Emmett and Jasmine jumped back. “Who are you?” the man asked cautiously.

“Who are YOU?” Emmett asked back.

“I am Alec of the Plains,” answered the man.

“I come in peace,” Emmett said slowly as he stepped forward.

“I will not harm you either,” Alec said calmly. “But may I ask what you are doing travelling in dangerous times like these?”

Jasmine shot a quick glance at Emmett and they both agreed to tell Alec on one condition.

“We shall tell you,” said Jasmine quickly, “if you help us.”

Alec looked puzzled but held his hand out in certainity. “Sure!” he cried. “But what do you need help with?”

Emmett quickly pulled the riddle out of the pack and handed it to Alec. Alec studied it carefully then began to grin broadly. “Ah, this was the childhood riddle!” he muttered. Emmett and Jasmine looked confused.

“What I mean is,” started Alec “That my Father Jasper of The Plains was the one who made this riddle up. He preached about intelligence and so the first thing my sisters and I were taught was this riddle.”

“What luck!” thought Jasmine and Emmett. They had run into the OWNER of the riddle. “So what’s the answer?” Jasmine asked impatiently.

“It is simple!” cried Alec. “Look at the second line: ‘YOU’RE riding from this place to that, picking up a cat or rat’. So that means YOU were the rider, so if I was reading this riddle, the answer would be brown because my eyes are brown!”

Emmett and Jasmine laughed at their foolishness.

“Oh!” cried Jasmine “It was so simple!”

“Yes!” cried Emmett. “I guess we were so intent on the riddle being tricky that we forgot that it might have a simple answer to it.”

Later Emmett and Jasmine stayed with Alec until the next day and they were glad they did. Because they felt completely refreshed with the food and water Alec gave them. They filled up supplies and were all set to go.

The next day they reached the Light King’s kingdom. It was called ‘Candless’. The city was dazzling. It was filled with light - as bright as bright could be. It took the two companions a few hours to find the King’s palace. And such a lovely palace it was! It had creamy high walls and polished marble floors, grand pillars and fine wood. It shone amongst the city of Candless brightly. Finally, they saw a man with an enormous shining crown on his head whom they presumed was the Light King. He had a splendid black beard and crystal blue eyes and of course that would be the answer to the riddle…blue eyes. As Alec had told them, Jasmine and Emmett explained the riddle to the Light King. He laughed heartily at the thought of being such a fool. And he granted Emmett and Jasmine one wish.

Of course, they chose to stop all the evil creatures from overtaking their beloved home.

The forest was now named… Sentora. Emmett and Jasmine never saw any Prowlers again ever. But one day Jasmine did see some black dust. She smiled to herself. Now she didn’t have to worry about the Prowlers. Because now, that time was over.

11-year-old Tamanna is a student of Melbourne’s Firbank Grammar School

Chatpati chutneys – how much more enjoyable they make our meals!

The ever-popular pudina (mint) chutney and imli (tamarind) chutney may continue to grace our tables for years to come, but every so often you come across a more exotic chutney like baingan (eggplant) chutney.

That chutneys can take innumerable forms, we’ve found out at Indian Link, thanks to the number of recipes that readers have sent us over the years.

Instant Coconut Chutney

Shakuntala Chamala

1 cup desiccated coconut

½ cup peanut paste

1 tsp chilli powder

2/3 cup yogurt

¾ cup water

1 tsp salt

For seasoning:

¾ tsp mustard seeds

½ tsp cumin seeds

1-2 tsp oil

1 sprig curry leaves

1 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped

¼ tsp turmeric

- Green chillies to taste, chopped

Blend together all the ingredients to a smooth paste.

To season, heat oil in a small pan and add mustard seeds, curry leaves, coriander leaves and turmeric powder. Let seeds splutter and then add to the chutney.

Carrot Chutney

Radhika Kulhalli

4 large fresh carrots

- Green chillies to taste

- Juice of 1 lemon

½ bunch coriander

¼ tsp roasted methi (fenugreek) seeds

¼ tsp asafetida

½ tsp mustard seeds

1 tbsp oil

Grate carrots, chop chillies and fresh coriander. Grind it coarse in the grinder with the salt, lemon juice and methi seeds powder. Heat oil and add mustard seeds. When they begin to pop, add asafetida and pour on the ground chutney. Mix well. This chutney can be kept in the refrigerator for a week.

Mint And Mango Chutney

Radhika Kulhalli

1 raw mango, medium sized

1 bunch fresh mint

1 small onion

- Red chilli powder to taste

½ tsp roasted methi powder

1 tbsp brown sugar

½ tsp mustard seeds

¼ tsp asafetida

2 tbsp oil

Chop raw mango, mint and onion finely. Grind coarsely in the grinder with chilli powder, salt, methi seeds powder and brown sugar. Heat oil and add mustard seeds. When they begin to splutter, add asafetida and pour on the ground chutney. Mix well.

Tamarind Chutney

Pramilla Chaturvedi