Experiments with Seeds
Ellie’s mouth hung open. Light glittered in her vision.
‘The Queen can destroy the Enemy,’ she said.
Seth nodded. ‘That makes sense. The same god that lived in the Crone lives in Kate.’
A bubble rose inside Ellie, turning to sudden laughter as it left her lips. ‘Kate can destroy the Enemy.’ She leapt at Seth and hugged him tight. ‘Thank you, Seth!’
‘I didn’t do anything,’ he said, patting her uncertainly on the back.
‘Yes you did! You went back into your vision-memory things, and talked to your past self!’ Ellie bent to pick up her cane.
‘You’re going now?’ said Seth.
‘Of course! There’s no time to lose. If I can help Kate learn how to use her powers, she’ll be able to fix the island and destroy the Enemy!’
After a moment, Seth nodded. ‘Okay. I’ll come with you. I’ll help too.’
‘No, trust me – this isn’t something she’ll want to talk about in front of someone she doesn’t know. And, well, you didn’t make the best first impression on her.’
‘All right, but be –’
‘Careful, yes, I promise!’ said Ellie, beaming excitedly, then racing into the streets. She stopped briefly at a market along the way, then hurried up to the palace.
‘I need to see the Queen!’ she told the first Warden she passed. ‘It’s, um … a royal emergency!’
The Warden eyed her sceptically, then motioned for her to follow him upstairs. Ellie’s leg sang in pain by the top of the first staircase, screamed by the time she’d climbed the tenth. But she didn’t care. She was led to the highest level of the Grand Atrium, where the upper deck and the hull of the ship merged together in a sharp point. At the top of the final staircase was a tall pair of golden doors flanked by two Sentinels.
They swung back the doors, and Ellie had to shield her eyes. It was like opening a box of polished jewellery in the blazing sun. For half a moment, Ellie thought the chamber was filled by a crowd of people, then realized only one of these people was real.
Statues had taken over the chamber. A boy and girl peeked slyly between ebony pillars; an austere man stood atop a varnished gold-edged bookcase. A watchful old woman leaned heavily on a silver bathtub. They were all staring at the girl who stood alone at the centre of the room, so fixedly it seemed that if she took a step their marble eyes would follow.
‘Oh, hello, Ellie,’ said Kate.
Ellie glanced around, noticing a statue of a particularly tall woman, who closely resembled Kate, staring sadly at her clasped hands. Ellie was sure it must be Kate’s mother. ‘These are the previous Vessels.’
Kate nodded. She was dressed in a purple silk robe and was tugging at her fingers with the same nervous intensity that Ellie had noticed before. Her eyes were puffy from lack of sleep, and there were smears of make-up on her face.
‘Are you okay?’ said Ellie.
‘Oh yes,’ said Kate, sniffing, then rubbing her nose. ‘Yes, I’m fine. Fine.’ She got to her feet. ‘Yes, I’m fine.’
‘Okay …’ said Ellie slowly.
Kate stared at the floor, leaving a great empty silence that filled the chamber. Ellie rubbed the back of her neck, searching for something to say. She glanced up, and nearly screamed in fright.
A gigantic bird hovered over the chamber, bearing down on Ellie like it might be about to pick her up in its beak. It was bigger than a horse, with wings as long as a fishing boat, curling up and around so the tips of its feathers met to form a circle. Beyond the circle was a round stained-glass window, and beneath this was a platform, flanked by two golden staircases, on which sat a four-poster bed.
Like the statues, the bird appeared alive at first, its feathers glittering in the sunlight. But as Ellie stared, she saw its entire surface was studded with purple amethysts, with orbs of menacing coal-black onyx for eyes.
‘That’s what the god inside you looks like, between its different Vessels? That’s its physical form?’
Kate looked up, and wrinkled her nose. ‘The God-Bird,’ she said. Ellie thought it must be strange for Kate to be constantly reminded of what she’d turn into when she died.
‘Here,’ said Ellie, unslinging the sack from her shoulder. ‘I brought you some things.’
She removed three plant pots, a bag of soil and a pouch of seeds. Kate inspected them curiously. ‘Ellie, it’s fine – you don’t need to make up for that crystal whale with this … bag of dirt.’
‘No – they’re for you to practise with!’ Ellie explained, trying to sound cheerful.
Kate’s lips pressed tightly together. ‘Practise what?’
Ellie nibbled her fingernail. ‘Your powers,’ she said quietly.
Kate stiffened.
‘Look,’ Ellie said hurriedly, ‘I know this isn’t something you like to talk about, but –’
‘What could you possibly know?’ Kate spat, fists clenched.
‘I think you’ve been struggling to use your powers. That’s why you’re frightened about the Festival of Life.’
Kate took one long, loud breath. Ellie took a step back towards the door.
‘Get out,’ said Kate.
Ellie swallowed. ‘Look, why don’t you just have a go? It couldn’t hurt, could it?’
‘Yes, it could, Ellie. If I can’t do it then it will be extremely hurtful.’
Ellie knelt by the plant pots, filling them each with soil and pressing a seed inside with one finger.
‘I’m not doing this, Ellie,’ Kate insisted, folding her arms.
‘Oh, I almost forgot,’ Ellie added, rummaging in the sack and pulling out a small wire cage. A startled mouse scrambled madly inside.
Kate’s eyes widened in adoration and she leapt on the cage. ‘Oh, it’s so cute!’
‘I thought you could try healing it,’ Ellie explained, as the little mouse sniffed Kate’s finger.
Kate looked at Ellie quizzically. ‘But there’s nothing wrong with it?’
‘No.’ Ellie shrugged, fishing out a pair of pliers from her coat pocket. ‘Not yet.’
Kate hugged the cage close. ‘Ellie, I will not let you harm an innocent mouse for some bizarre experiment!’
‘It’s not an experiment – it’s training.’ She looked at the mouse, and at Kate, then moved the pliers towards the cage. ‘Practise on the seeds, or else this little fellow’s ankle might have an unfortunate accident.’
Kate snatched the pliers from Ellie’s hand. ‘No! Anyway, I don’t need to use my powers any more. Your machines are going to fix the harvest.’
Ellie grimaced. ‘We don’t know that for sure. It’s good to have a backup plan. Besides, wouldn’t it be good for you to learn how to use your powers?’
Kate closed her eyes tightly, and Ellie felt a twinge of guilt, which turned to horror as tears rolled down Kate’s cheeks. Kate put a hand to her face, and scowled resentfully at her own tears. She paced over to a golden cabinet, opening it to reveal many shelves of shimmering crystal vials.
She selected one, unstoppered it, then ran it up her cheek, collecting the tears. She caught the look of astonishment in Ellie’s eyes.
‘The Cabinet of Tears,’ Kate said, gesturing to the cabinet. ‘These are the tears of all the previous Queens and Kings. They’re supposed to have magical properties.’ She picked up another vial and swished it around suspiciously. ‘But I’m pretty sure most are just seawater.’
‘I bet your ancestors had things to cry about,’ said Ellie. ‘I bet some of them struggled to use their powers too.’
Kate looked round at the statues, then sighed. ‘None of them. Not even my great-great-great-uncle,’ she added, pointing to the small boy sitting cross-legged on the cabinet. ‘And he choked to death on a chicken bone.’
‘Well, if he could do it, you definitely can.’ Ellie picked up one of the plant pots. ‘Now, the Vessel needs to empty their mind and become the plant they’re trying to grow.’
‘How do you kn
ow that?’
‘It’s –’ Ellie fiddled with the fabric of her sling. ‘It’s an old legend from Ingarth Island.’
Kate touched the hand of the statue that resembled her. ‘My mum said something like that once. But it sounds so ridiculous. How can I pretend to be a plant?’
‘But you’re great at pretending! You pretend to be the Queen.’
Kate’s head turned sharply. ‘I am the Queen!’ she snapped.
‘I know,’ said Ellie, wincing. ‘What I mean is, you still have to act like the Queen in front of people – the way you stand, your tone of voice. It’s terrifying.’
Kate stood a little taller, her cheeks slightly pink. ‘Thank you.’
‘Look, just give it a try, okay? I really think you can do this.’
Kate stared at Ellie for a long moment, then sighed. ‘Fine, I’ll play along. If only to keep you from harming small animals.’
Ellie bounced excitedly, placing one of the plant pots at Kate’s feet. ‘Just have a go. If nothing happens today, there’s plenty of time.’ Ellie forced a smile.
Kate took several deep breaths, then fixed her gaze on the pot.
Ellie watched the soil intently. Kate frowned. Her nose started twitching. Her breathing grew heavy. Her eyes closed.
Ellie felt a hot excitement in her chest. This was exactly how Seth looked when he was controlling the sea!
Kate’s hands trembled. A vein pulsed in her forehead. Her eyes opened wide.
‘This is ridiculous!’ she roared. ‘How am I supposed to imagine myself as a seed?’
She kicked the plant pot. It flew across the room, colliding with the face of a tall moustached statue, spraying soil everywhere.
‘Sorry, Grandfather,’ Kate muttered, then spun round. ‘I can’t do this, Ellie.’
‘Imagine you’re curled in a tight little ball, with all these … possibilities inside you. A small thing that will turn into something great. What were you imagining?’
Kate’s lips twitched. ‘Me, standing in front of all my subjects, trying to make one silly seed grow.’
‘Well, that’s not good,’ said Ellie, casting around for ideas. She noticed a map sitting on an easel nearby, and frowned. The outline looked familiar, but it took her a moment to realize why. It was a map of a place Ellie knew very well.
‘It’s the Enemy’s City,’ Kate explained, following her gaze.
A chill travelled up Ellie’s spine, lingering at the base of her neck. The map was drawn badly, as if from a vague memory, but she could still pick out features she recognized – the Salvation Waterfront, where she’d gone fishing with Finn in their little boat; the Flats, where the orphans waded through the mud, hunting for expensive relics. The northern tip where she’d faked her own death, by the Chapel of St Bartholomew.
Words were scribbled on the map. By the Minor Docks was written: Vulnerable?
Ellie shivered. ‘You’re not … thinking of attacking it, are you?’
‘I’m not foolish,’ said Kate. ‘The Enemy’s City is defended by a fleet of massive ships. They use them to hunt and kill whales, even though whales are sacred. “Whale kings” they call themselves, or something stupid like that. They’re masters of seafaring. It would be lunacy to attack them.’
‘How do you know all this?’ said Ellie.
Kate picked up the cage, smiling at the mouse inside. ‘We’ve sent spies there in the past, though not for a long time. The last two … Well, one was captured and executed and the other barely escaped.’
Ellie rattled the pouch of seeds in her hand, trying to keep her voice steady.
‘So … do you think the Enemy’s City knows about this island?’ She thought of Hargrath. ‘Would they ever attack us?’
‘I doubt it. They have ships, but from what we know, little in the way of an army. Whereas I have a thousand trained Wardens,’ she said proudly, ‘and the Seven. A war between us would be too costly for both sides.’
It was strange to see Kate discussing military strategy while cooing over a mouse. ‘Would you like to see more of my maps?’ she added, a little too eagerly.
Ellie cleared her throat. ‘No, no we should really keep practising,’ she said, picking up another plant pot. ‘Try not to destroy this one.’
In Kate’s defence, it was at least fifteen minutes before the second plant pot sailed into the face of her great-grandmother. For the third and final pot, Ellie tried different ways to motivate Kate. First, she rewarded her with sweets for every full minute she stayed focused. Next, she tried hitting her lightly on the leg with her cane every time her concentration lapsed.
‘Ow!’ Kate complained. ‘You know I normally execute people who touch me!’
‘You couldn’t even hurt a mouse – I doubt you’ve ever had anyone executed.’
Kate bared her teeth. ‘There’s a first time for everything.’
‘Shh,’ said Ellie. ‘Focus.’
Finally, Ellie tried blindfolding her, figuring it would be easier to imagine being nothing if she couldn’t see anything, either. But even blindfolded, Kate was able to kick the plant pot straight across the room, towards the face of the servant boy who’d brought her lunch. He ducked just in time, miraculously spilling not a drop of soup.
‘This isn’t working, Ellie!’ Kate cried, ripping off her blindfold as the servant beat a hasty retreat.
Ellie stroked her chin. ‘We could try dressing you up like a plant?’
‘Dressing –’ Kate clutched her head, eyes bulging with indignation. ‘That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard! I can’t concentrate in here. Let’s go outside.’
‘But how do we get outside on our own? Won’t the Seven Sentinels try and follow you?’
Kate snorted. ‘I’ve got a secret route. Besides, the Seven have to do everything I say,’ she said, pulling off her gown and shoving her arms into a shirt. ‘My father trained them that way.’
‘Your father?’
Kate flung on her blue cloak. ‘The Seven Sentinels were his idea. Although they loved my mother much more. Everyone loved my mother.’
‘I’m sure the Seven love you too. And I know everyone else does.’
Kate frowned, tugging again at her fingers. ‘Come on, let’s go.’
They hurried down a damp spiral staircase, then along a dark tunnel that led out of the Ark through an abandoned butcher’s shop. The streets and alleys were golden in the sunlight, the air humid, thick with the smell of sun-baked stone.
‘Let’s find a quiet garden for you to practise in,’ Ellie said, eyeing the alleyways, in case Seth was wrong and Hargrath was still lurking on the island.
‘In a minute,’ said Kate. ‘I want to go to the Azalea Markets since we’re here. Sometimes they have the most amazing sky dancers – you have to see them.’
Ellie grumbled, convinced that Kate was pretending to be more excited about the dancers than she really was. She hobbled after her into a busy square, rife with cheerful haggling. Sandstone buildings rose to the sky, their balconies draped with colourful sheets and gossiping neighbours.
‘There they are!’ Kate cried excitedly.
Between the buildings hung thick ropes, and swinging from these were muscular dancers dressed in costumes of blue ribbon, spinning round one another in mid-air, seeming to defy the physical laws that demanded they fall to earth.
Kate took Ellie’s hand, leading her through the shoppers. ‘Let’s find somewhere to sit.’
‘I know what you’re doing,’ said Ellie.
Kate smiled innocently, perching on the edge of a fountain in the centre of the square. ‘Look at them, though, aren’t they amazing? I wish I could do that.’
‘We came out to practise.’
The shadows of the dancers crossed Kate’s face. ‘Your head is too full of cogs and numbers to appreciate art.’
‘That’s not true!’ Ellie said. ‘I used to do lots of drawings back home.’
‘Of cogs?’
Ellie grumbled and joined Kate on th
e fountain, staring up at the dancers. She was forced to admit that they were impressive, but tried very hard not to let this show.
‘I see that wonder in your eyes,’ said Kate, smirking.
Ellie huffed. ‘Right, come on, we’re –’
‘NEWS! NEWS!’
The cry pierced the square from somewhere unseen. Ellie looked around as the noise of the crowd quietened to a low mutter. There was a rustle as a sheaf of papers was hurled into the air, dipping and weaving overhead. Kate leapt up and caught one, holding it out for them both to read.
FAMINE IS COMING! LOREN SAYS: ‘BUY EVERYTHING YOU CAN!’
‘What is he doing?’ Kate snarled. ‘It’s not like the food has already run out. This will only cause panic!’
Even as she spoke, a scream tore apart the quiet. Shoppers fell on the stalls like seagulls on the carcass of a whale, streaking the ground with flour and smashed fruit, sticky shards of honey jars and cracked eggs that bubbled on the hot paving stones. Ellie felt a stab of terror as a distracted sky dancer missed the rope he’d been jumping to, crashing into a stall below and ripping through its cloth roof. She sighed in relief as the dancer pulled himself up, then gasped as a tiny girl was knocked to the ground. The girl wailed, a crush of boots trampling round her.
Kate darted forward, sweeping the girl up in her arms. Ellie steered them out of the churning crowd.
‘Meredith!’
A pale-faced man pulled the girl into a tight hug, without a word of thanks. Kate gazed unblinking at the chaos behind. When Ellie took her hand, she could feel it trembling.
‘Kate, if you can figure out how to use your powers, we can stop all of this.’
Kate nodded, a fierce look in her eye. ‘Come on.’
They ran along the street, Ellie struggling to keep up. Kate stopped outside a dressmaker’s, and Ellie sighed in gratitude as she caught up with her, then yelped as Kate grabbed her by the arm and threw her into an alleyway.
‘What is it?’ Ellie whispered. Kate leaned against the corner, peering into the street. Ellie stood on tiptoe to see over her shoulder.
Shipwreck Island Page 13