by Glen L. Hall
* * * * * *
Sam and Emily had been walking on the small hill atop the daffodil bank when they had seen people breaking out of the Silverwood. Long lines of people, and at their head they could see Eagan. But as they went down the hill and approached the horses, their joy turned to dismay as they caught sight of the wounded Reivers. Sam wondered whether these were even the same ones that they’d met in the wood.
Eagan turned to greet them, but then Sam gasped as an unkempt and bloodied figure emerged from behind him.
‘Jarl! Can that be you?’
A broad smile spread across Jarl’s face as he hugged Sam, and then he was opening his arms and sweeping Emily off her feet and hugging them both until Sam could barely breathe.
When the hugging finally stopped, Sam noticed they were now at the centre of a small throng. He felt uneasy with so many unfamiliar faces around him. He noticed a tall, lean man with blond hair and a young woman whose eyes flashed blue. Another man, with a jet-black beard and shaved head, was standing back quietly observing. There was something about him that made Sam look across at him and meet his piercing green eyes.
Then Kenrick was bursting through the crowd.
‘Give the boy and girl some space!’ he cried.
‘So this is Sam,’ said one of the men standing closest to Jarl.
‘Yes,’ said Kenrick, ‘but let us attend to the wounded first and then we will call a council. There is much to be done!’
He was interrupted by the toll of bells that filled the air with their echoes, but it wasn’t long before he was busy ordering people about. Gardeners appeared from every direction and quickly helped the wounded from the horses. Most were now conscious and able to walk, although there were those who needed carrying.
The crowd that had gathered around Sam and Emily would not disperse so readily, though, and even Kenrick losing his patience and trying to shoo them away didn’t help. It was clear those gathered wanted to understand why they had been forced into battle for people they did not know.
Just like the night in Birling Wood, the Forest Reivers ringed Sam and Emily, but this time Jarl and Eagan stood with them.
‘We will answer your questions later,’ said Jarl firmly. ‘I will be inviting the heads of the families to sit down with Sam and Emily this evening. They will report back once we understand the bigger picture.’
There was a clamour of discord that made the hair on Sam’s neck bristle. It seemed those around him were looking for someone to blame.
‘Jarl, my people have died defending this boy and girl,’ said a thick-set man with dark brown hair and a scar across his left cheek. ‘We need to know why! We have a right to understand why my people have sacrificed so much.’
Sam could tell he spoke for the rest of those gathered.
But Jarl replied, ‘Braden, this is not the time to discuss such matters.’
‘So you say, but what happens when the Grim-Witch and her horde descend on this place? They know we are here. Time is against us, Jarl. How long do we have?’
Sam felt his stomach knot, and when he glanced at Emily, she was looking uncomfortable too. He felt the man Braden probably had a point. The Reivers looked in no shape for another battle. But Jarl and Kenrick were still shaking their heads.
‘We have several hundred people to accommodate,’ said Kenrick. ‘And horses to feed and water. Do come along now.’
He put his arm round Braden’s shoulders and led him up the stone steps leading to the front gardens.
The others followed more slowly, still glancing curiously at Sam and Emily as they went. It took several long minutes before the hill had been emptied of Forest Reivers and all the horses led away. Jarl had gone with them, and Sam, Emily and Eagan were left by themselves.
‘There are so many wounded!’ said Emily, her eyes glistening with tears.
‘Yes, they’ve been in a terrible battle.’ Eagan’s voice was low.
Emily shivered, despite the warmth of the morning sun. ‘Poor Uncle Jarl does look as though he hasn’t slept for a week. His trouser leg was covered in blood. I can’t bear it, Eagan, and it’s not over, is it? You heard what that man Braden said. What if the Grim-Witch and her army attack? What if they are out there right now, waiting for darkness to fall? If you think those poor Forest Reivers can save us this time, then think again!’
Emily’s voice was getting louder and Sam could feel his cheeks beginning to burn. ‘It’s time we saved ourselves,’ he said abruptly. ‘The Forest Reivers have already paid a heavy price. But listen, the Grim-Witch is not the enemy.’
He looked straight at Eagan.
Emily drew a sharp breath. ‘Sam! No!’
‘What is it?’ Eagan turned to her.
She flushed. ‘I just meant … Sam, please don’t start all that again.’
‘I know you said you thought they were trying to help,’ Eagan said, looking back at Sam, ‘but her horde has killed our friends.’
Sam moved from one foot to the other, but kept his gaze firmly on Eagan as he replied, ‘Do you really believe she is the enemy?’
Eagan’s dark eyes narrowed. ‘Do you really believe I am the traitor?’
Emily gasped.
‘Should I think that?’ Sam asked suspiciously.
‘No, but you do. I know it.’
‘How?’
‘I can feel the flow just like you. But it affects me differently from either you or Drust. It affects me in ways that you could not possibly believe. And all those who feel the flow are connected.’
Sam looked surprised.
‘I am no traitor, Sam.’
Emily looked from one to the other, not knowing what to say.
‘When you rescued Emily at Alnmouth,’ Eagan continued, ‘I saw your blazing resonance in the flow – a fire I had never witnessed before. You have only just started to explore its power and already it’s amazing what you can do.’
Sam’s mouth had gone dry. He felt more confused than ever. ‘You were with the Shadow on the beach yesterday evening. I saw you.’
Eagan shook his head.
‘I don’t know why you would say that, Sam, but when you talk with the flow it won’t always be those from the light that are talking back.’ His eyes flashed suddenly. ‘If you begin to think your friends are your enemies, then where will that lead you? I told you earlier – we’re all caught up in this together, and together we must stand.’
Sam hesitated.
‘When the Shadow comes again, Sam, I am going to stand with you.’
Sam felt ice travel through him at the mention of the Shadow. He looked away.
‘Don’t worry,’ Emily said encouragingly. ‘You stopped it once and you will stop it again.’
Sam whirled back round to her. ‘No! I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again – I didn’t stop the Shadow! Oscar did.’
‘Hang on. We’ve also been here before. And you don’t see flames sprouting from my hands!’
‘This is getting us nowhere,’ Eagan interrupted.
‘You’re right,’ said Sam, recovering himself. ‘I’m sorry, Emily. I’ll go to the Way-curve in the hall and speak to Oscar. I need to find out more about this child once and for all.’
To his surprise, Eagan was smiling.
‘What is it?’
‘You say it so casually, and yet it took Brennus several years before he could light up the Way-curve.’ Eagan was shaking his head in disbelief. ‘And Brennus was taught by the best. Oscar spent years teaching him to speak first across space and then across time.’
Out of the blue he grabbed Sam and gave him a hug.
‘You wield the flow like no one since Oscar. I have seen this for myself.’
By this time Sam’s face was burning hot and he was feeling a little uncomfortable.
‘At the same time it’s
scary,’ he confessed, as Eagan released him. ‘It seems to be growing stronger. Every day I can see it more clearly.’
‘Well, I’m glad we’re back to being friends,’ said Emily impatiently. ‘Now how are we going to get back to the reading room without running into Morcant?’
Sam shot her a warning look. But it was too late.
‘Who?’ Eagan turned towards Emily, his eyes blazing. ‘What is Morcant doing here?’
‘Brennus sent him to seek help from Kenrick,’ she said. ‘At least that’s what he told us.’
‘How long has he been here?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Ha!’ said Eagan bitterly. ‘Obviously Kenrick’s trying to avoid trouble. He never even mentioned to me Morcant was here.’
‘I think it’s best if you just avoid him,’ Sam murmured lamely.
‘Avoid him?’ Eagan growled. ‘There’s nothing I’d like more! I don’t know what Brennus is thinking of. I know no one believes me about what happened in Alnmouth, but it’s all true. And Morcant’s a Pauperhaugh and can’t be trusted an inch.’
‘I’m half Pauperhaugh.’
‘Don’t you start.’
Emily was about to open her mouth again, but saw Sam’s little shake of the head.
‘Let’s just speak to Oscar,’ he said, ‘and then we can set off for Holy Island.’
The bells had fallen silent, but the hall was still busy with people coming and going. Looking back at it, once or twice Sam saw the white hair of Kenrick bobbing about amidst the throng.
‘Though I will miss it here,’ he added, ‘and I do think we’re safe here. I don’t think the Faerie I met would let anything bad happen to it.’
‘That reminds me, something very strange happened earlier on.’ Eagan took a deep breath. ‘Somehow the poison in the veins of the Forest Reivers was almost completely neutralised. Just like when we arrived, the avenue rained leaves and I could feel the flow close by. Though no one saw her, it must have been the Faerie who showed herself to you.’ Eagan’s face softened. ‘She lit the flow up like nothing I’ve ever seen. An intense glow that you could almost feel inside.’
Tears welled in Sam’s eyes. ‘I know,’ he said softly. Who had the woman been? Why had she had such an effect on him? What was so special about Howick Hall? So few answers and those unanswered questions creating so many more.
And he was still uneasy about Eagan. What could he trust? The vision that Eagan was the traitor or the fact that he had done nothing but help them? If he was the traitor, then why had the Grim-were’s poison almost killed him? Unless he wasn’t working for her, but someone else. But who?
* * * * * *
The hall was a hive of activity. The gates of the Walled Garden were now thrown open and gardeners were pushing wheelbarrows full of freshly picked vegetables from there to the kitchens. Smoke was billowing out of the kitchen chimneys, staff were bustling everywhere and orders were being shouted. Where had all the gardeners and helpers come from at such short notice, Sam wondered. How they were going to feed so many mouths was anyone’s guess, but they were clearly going to give it a go. Elsewhere, horses were being stabled or led out to the fields, upstairs windows were being thrown open and piles of fresh linen were being carried into the house.
Sam’s heart sank. ‘We can’t get back to the Way-curve with all this going on.’
‘Let’s go and sit in here and wait,’ said Eagan, heading into the Walled Garden.
The others followed.
‘So what’s the plan?’ said Eagan as he seated himself on a bench at the far end of the garden.
‘I’m going to speak to Oscar if I can,’ Sam answered, ‘and then find out more at this council meeting this evening. I hope that will give us more of an understanding of what’s going on.’
‘It might give Morcant more of an idea as well,’ Eagan muttered.
‘He does look and act like a villain,’ Sam admitted, ‘but Brennus and Drust trust him. And Jarl.’
Eagan looked a little perplexed. ‘It seems they do, but I don’t know why. If I’m right and Morcant is the traitor, then it could jeopardise everything. Or perhaps they’re just keeping their eye on him. Have you ever thought that sometimes you have to keep your enemies closer than your friends?’
Emily looked exasperated. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
Her cheeks flushed and Sam again thought how beautiful she was.
‘Perhaps Brennus wanted to get a message to the enemy?’ Eagan suggested.
Whilst Emily shook her head, this did prick Sam’s thoughts. ‘It would make a lot of sense,’ he said slowly.
‘But which enemy?’ Emily protested. ‘The Shadow, the Grim-Witch or someone else?’
‘If the Grim-Witch is one…’ Sam couldn’t help adding. ‘Listen, if Brennus wanted to fool everyone apart from Drust and Jarl, then perhaps he would have left the traitor in the camp long enough to tell him that he was travelling to the Dead Water. Then the traitor could get the message back to whoever he’s working for.’
‘Making sure that they follow him to the Dead Water and leave the way open for you two to escape,’ finished Eagan. ‘Yes, it’s a possibility. So it’s not looking good for Morcant, is it?’
He stood up.
Emily and Sam exchanged glances. ‘You’re not going to look for him, are you?’ asked Sam worriedly.
Eagan shook his head. ‘You don’t need me with you at the Way-curve and you might not even get there. So I’m going to carry on repairing the Celtic Flow. All I need is to get some wood from somewhere. There must be some in a shed, or some firewood that I can use. You just never know if we will need the boat. I’ve got a feeling about it. So remember it’s there if you have to make a quick getaway. And remember to take me with you.’
He gave them a brief smile then turned and walked away in the direction of the long line of wheelbarrows heading for the hall.
Emily plonked herself down on the seat that he had just left and looked up at Sam with an impish grin. ‘You aren’t going to forget to take me, are you?’
Sam laughed. ‘I don’t think I can.’
‘Does that mean you would if you could?’
Sam smiled. ‘That would be telling, wouldn’t it?’
Emily laughed too. Then she became more serious.
‘It’s all a bit of a mess, isn’t it? You need to start trusting people, Sam. It can’t be much fun for you.’
‘It isn’t really,’ Sam agreed, sitting down next to her. ‘Tell me, is this what it’s like in Warkworth all the time? Hoods, Reigns and Pauperhaughs squabbling away? Whatever happened between them all those years ago, what’s the point of it now?’
Emily sighed. ‘It isn’t easy being in the middle of it all,’ she admitted.
For a moment she almost thought about telling Sam about her parents’ divorce. She had meant to mention it back in the bookshop, but so much had happened since then it had become irrelevant. Part of another world.
‘We must be on our guard,’ Sam was saying. ‘Eagan might mean well, but he is angry and that will make him blind.’
‘He might actually be right about Morcant.’
‘Yes, I know.’ Sam sighed. ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to have some answers?! I mean, I’m going to talk to Oscar, but what if he doesn’t have any? I’ve been thinking about the Oscar we met in the Garden of Druids. I can’t get my head around how he didn’t know who I was, even though it had barely been a week since I’d met him in the Fellows’ Garden.’
‘That is strange.’ Emily frowned.
‘Sam! Emily!’
They were interrupted by the appearance of Kenrick at the garden gates. He marched to where they were sitting, saying hello to the gardeners as he passed them.
‘Sorry I couldn’t talk earlier,’ he said, pushing his hair from his eyes.
He stood there, touched by the autumn sun, whilst the garden remained full of men and women tenderly filling their wheelbarrows with a harvest fit for a king.
‘Something incredible has happened to the Forest Reivers! In our beloved walk from the wood to the sea it seems those Forest Reivers who were poisoned were healed.’
Sam and Emily exchanged glances.
‘There’s certainly a magic to this place that you can almost feel on your skin,’ Sam said.
‘It doesn’t surprise me that you can feel it, Sam.’ A warm smile broke across Kenrick’s face. ‘I have spoken to Jarl and after lunch he would like to speak to you in private before calling the council together. The Forest Reivers have suffered greatly and the head of the Dun-Rigs was lost last night. The anger you saw earlier was from exhaustion. But the heads of the Reiver families do deserve to understand why they have been drawn into this. It is time to put the jigsaw pieces together and make our next move swiftly and with great resolve. Why don’t you join us in the great hall for lunch in a few minutes and afterwards you can have your conversation with Jarl?’
‘Why is Morcant here?’ asked Emily bluntly.
Surprisingly Kenrick took the question in his stride, almost as if he had been expecting it. ‘Because, whatever people may think they know about him, he has been a loyal servant of the Keepers.’
‘He’s just not very pleasant,’ Emily commented.
Sam wondered where she was going with this.
Kenrick remained composed. ‘If that is a reference to Eagan’s misdemeanour concerning Morcant, then we will never know the truth, so I suggest we all just move on.’
‘Misdemeanour?’ Emily repeated. ‘It was a bit more than that, wasn’t it? And Eagan claims he told the truth. And that he was the innocent party.’
Again Kenrick looked unruffled. ‘So does Morcant, and he was the one who ended up in hospital, remember. What we should also remember,’ he went on, ‘is that we will need the strength and courage of all those who are here today. Let’s take each person as we find them and not allow empty words to make them guilty. Now come and join us when you’re ready.’