‘This is no time for jokes, Vin. This is serious. I’ll just pick it up. That’ll tell us if it’s inside, right.’
He lifted the box, weighing it in his hand. ‘Phew, that was scary. It’s still there.’
‘But why’s all that dust there?’ asked Vin.
They looked at each other, then looked over to Carter and the unlocked window. Their stomachs fell to the floor, both Guards now feeling quite sick.
‘Someone’s going to have to open it,’ said Vin.
‘Does it affect you if you touch it but don’t see it?’
‘Dunno,’ said Vin. ‘If it does, it could mean being sent out of town, or worst still, assigned to guard duty here forever, to watch over it.’
‘This is what we’ll do, Vin. I’ll throw my cloak over the box, then close my eyes and sort of rummage around inside to check it’s there. I know what shape it is from the painting. If anything happens to me, you’ll have to push me away and get me out of here.’
‘Okay, I’ll do that. I got your back,’ said Vin.
The guard draped his cloak over the table, then blindly rummaged around underneath. Vin saw his hands lifting the box lid and feel around inside. Suddenly, the guard opened his eyes. There was a sick look on his face. He swiped away his cloak and stood staring down at the box with dirty stones inside.
‘Oh no, not again!’ said Vin.
‘We only just got it back.’
‘Carter, you’d better come over here. We got a real problem,’ called Vin. ‘You go tell The Boss,’ Vin said to the Guard.
*
‘Dolan, you go find Naz. Bring him back to Vin’s house, I’ll be there shortly. We need to speak with Vin’s mother. Guards! Send scouts to check the plateau between here and the High Pass. Get a message to the Guards on patrol, tell them to send a troop to the second and third passes, and to stay alert! The Crystal must not leave these borders. We can’t let it happen again.’
‘I’m heading home, Boss,’ said Vin.
‘I’ll be there very soon,’ said The Boss.
‘You better come with me, Carter.’
‘Vin, I’ve got to go,’ said Carter.
‘Go where?’
‘After Holly, of course.’
‘Wait, Carter, is sending a troop of guards after her. We can go with them.’
‘I don’t have time to wait, Vin. The longer I wait, the more chance she’ll have of crossing the border. I don’t know what got into her to do such a thing.’
‘I do. She must have been exposed to the Crystal when she was under that thieving Dumas’ control. Once you’ve been touched by it, you’ll never get it out of your system.’
‘I’m so sorry I’ve brought this on your people, Vin.’
‘This is not your doing, and I don’t believe it to be her doing, either. She’s under a spell that’s gradually taking her over. She probably couldn’t stop herself, even if she wanted to.’
‘Vin, you’ve been a great friend. You and your mother have been like family to me, but I must go, now.’
‘I understand, Carter, but you got to take supplies with you, just in case you don’t come back. Come with me quickly and we’ll pack food and water. I promise you, we’ll be right behind you. If you pick up her trail, leave us a sign to your direction.’
Carter nodded, seeing the sense in Vin’s words. They raced back to his home.
Vin loaded pies and a water flagon into a sack, which Carter strapped to his back. He fought against the panic rising in him to leave quickly, to take one last moment with the people he’d come to love.
He reached out to touch Rosie and Vin’s hands.
‘There’s so much I want to say, to thank you for, for what you’ve done for us, for taking us into your home, for…’
‘Shhh, we feel the same for you, Carter,’ said Rosie. ‘We know you have to go, we understand. Just remember… here,’ she placed her hand over his heart, ‘you remember there will also be a home for you and Holly when you return. There will never be any blame, and when you find her, you tell her that Rosie will have her favourite pie waiting for her.’
Carter closed his eyes, forcing back the grief, then knelt on the polished wooden floor.
Vin stood with his mother watching as Carter concentrated his inner strength on shifting himself into a hound. In moments, Carter stood before them on all fours, looking for a last time at the people he’d come to love. He saw the tears in Rosie’s eyes fall to her cheeks, the sadness in Vin’s face plain to see. With a last look at his new-found friends, he nodded goodbye, then ran for the edge of town.
*
The sun was at its zenith when he reached the plateau, his sense of smell searching for Holly’s scent amongst the vast open dust plain. Carter ran at a steady pace, heading for the high alps in the distance. His mind was in turmoil, trying to understand why Holly would do such a dangerous thing. Dangerous for her, and the whole land, if the apes now got hold of the Crystal. She must know that it would be discovered missing by morning, which would give her only a few hours’ start. What would I do if I were Holly? he thought. The first thing would be to change. She’ll make much better speed on four legs. Then she’d need to get off the plateau, where she’ll be easily seen, as quickly as possible. So I’m looking for a place where she changed, and her path to the alps.
Carter doubled back towards the town, making a sweeping arc in search of her scent. Nearing the outlying houses on the edge of the town, he just caught the merest hint of Holly passing. He circled around and then picked it up clearly. Following it to the edge of the plateau, he found her clothes and shoes.
So, this is where you started your run, he thought.
Carter found a fallen palm branch and carried it to her route out of the town. He placed it arrow-like, point west, to where Holly had made her dash. He then placed her clothes on the palm with the shoes in front, as if walking west. He turned and took a last look at the town made of stone and marble. Such a beautiful place, and such friendly people. I’m so glad I’ve seen it, but he was also so sad to leave behind his friends.
Her scent was clearly heading toward the mountains, but he found himself veering off to the west. What’s going on in her mind? he thought. He stopped, looking to the far distance. The passes showed clearly between the mountains, but also showed the first signs of a building storm. The winter had arrived with its full ferocity in the High Peaks.
No, not again, please, not another storm. His spirit dropped at the sight of the winds billowing from the rock face. Is she strong enough for this?
He took a deep breath, then putting his nose in the air, he picked up Holly’s scent leading him to the mountains. He followed, with a heavy heart. Am I strong enough for this?
*
Holly ran all day. The more she ran, the more the energy surged through her.
I was born for this, she thought. One day I’ll nearly be as fast as Kerri.
Her mind was a jumbled mishmash of memories, hopes, dreams, and half thought through ideas. Her senses were on alert, but she was aware of nothing but the cool air coming down from the mountains and the dust trail she left in her wake. The sun falling below the western alps brought a fleeting relief from having it full in her face. The shadows of the high peaks came rushing at her across the plateau floor.
She was also aware that the coming night and the climb into the pass would make it so much colder. She felt the ground begin to rise beneath her. The climbing had begun, and also the danger of Guards patrolling the border. She slowed her pace to a steady walk, watching her footing on the loose scree, afraid of causing the rock and gravel to slip beneath her feet. She felt herself naturally starting to hunch her shoulders, making herself lower to the ground, knowing that Guards would be patrolling the approaching pass.
The first wave of scents to reach her came from a cooking fire. She lay flat for a moment, trying to see through the blackness for any sign of movement. Over the next ridge she could make out the increasing glow of a fire b
eing started and built up for the coming night. She decided to make a long sweeping curve to the right, to go around the Guards’ camp, hoping that they were content to watch the pass and weren’t patrolling the mountains to each side.
Slowly she started her climb, testing each footfall before moving her weight forward onto it. At the slightest feel of the rock slipping, she backed off and looked for a different foothold. She climbed high to the west, the glow of the Guards’ camp clearly to her left. The smoking fire and roasting food reached her senses. At times, with the changing wind, she could pick up the slightest snatches of conversation of the Guards sitting around their fire.
From her high vantage point on the mountain, she could see the outline of the furthest peaks to the west, where they blocked out the stars. But she could also see a faint silver glow appear to the east where the moon was starting to rise. Holly realised she’d soon be bathed in moonlight, making her silhouette stand out on the ridgeline. She changed her route to drop into a gully that she hoped would lead her back to the far side of the pass.
Holly could feel the Crystal start to get warm. The anticipation of the border being so near sent waves of excitement through her legs, which started to shake with the surge of adrenaline. Fight or Flight, she remembered. This time, flight was her best option. Climbing higher, she could feel the heat of the Crystal against her chest.
The wind changed direction for a moment, swirling in circles around the ridge that she climbed, and with it, she heard the Guards. There was alarm in their voices. She crept back to the ridgeline and peeked over. The Guards were shouting, pointing exactly to where she lay hiding. She realised the warm glowing light emanating from the sack around her neck was attracting their attention. The Crystal was beginning to shine, the border was very near, and the Guards now knew she was here. The calling in the pass suddenly turned to shouting. A new voice had arrived, raising the alarm. It was Carter.
How did he get here so quickly? she thought. Well, he was bound to come, he always does, even though this time I don’t want him to. He came quickly, scrambling up the side of the rock face.
Flight, she thought again, and turned, leaving any attempt at concealment behind. She climbed the rock face as quickly as she could, ignoring the slipping stones and the noise she was making. She put aside any thought of danger of being caught, thinking only of getting across the border.
She could hear Carter calling her name, begging her to stop and getting closer every moment. She had to use all her strength to stop listening, to block out what he was saying. But she could sense him getting very close. She struggled upward, the slope becoming impossibly steep, the Crystal uncomfortably hot against her chest. The glow filled the darkness, showing everyone where she was. Carter’s voice was clear and right behind her, calling her name, pleading with her to stop. She could hear the sound of rocks slipping beneath his feet as he scrambled upwards.
Please, she thought. Please, let the border be here, I’ve come all this way, please let me do this.
She scrambled higher. In her urgency, her feet slipped more than gripped the rocks, making her slide further downward.
A piercing scream of pain cut through the night. Then another. Carter was just below her, crying out in agony. She stopped and looked back to where he lay on the ground, his front paws clutching his head as spasms of pain shot through him.
I must go to him, I must help him, she thought and turned to descend the rock face, but as she did so, she heard the voice she recognised so well. The voice that had tormented her day after day while she lay beneath the snow, unable to move, locked in her waking nightmare in her prison beneath the ice. It was also the voice that had kept her alive, if only for his own purposes. The voice that had terrified her was also the voice that she finally came to need each day, to know that she was still alive.
And it was back. Flee, my little bird, the sickly sweet voice called, the border is here, don’t let them take it from you.
She looked back at Carter, lying on the floor, contorted with pain, gripping his head. I must help him, she thought, climbing down.
NOOO! The voice was like a thunderclap going off inside her head, her whole body shook with the power of the command, the force on her chest knocking the wind from her lungs. She gasped for air.
Leave now and I will take away his pain, the voice was no longer sweet, but dreadful, demanding and horrifying. You are mine and everything you possess is mine.
The last of her strength for independent thought collapsed. She could no longer hold back the tears. But then another voice, so very quiet, from the furthest reaches of her consciousness whispered to her, He’s got you now, Holly, but we will help you.
A spark of hope flashed through her mind. With the last of her mental strength, she screamed into the night, ‘You’ll not have it… never!’
She turned away and climbed again. The Guards called to her, shouting to each other, but Carter was now quiet. He lay unmoving against the mountainside.
Without warning, a blinding flash erupted in the darkness in front of her. A shimmering veil of light formed a circle on the edge of the ridgeline. The Gateway had opened.
‘I’m so sorry, Carter, I didn’t want to bring this on you, please believe me,’ she said into the night, but her words were carried away on the wind, without anyone to hear, except for one.
*
Lulu fell to the floor, screaming in agony, holding her head in her hands.
Sam and Salli rushed to her side. ‘What, Lu, what’s wrong?’
But she could only scream again, tears falling down her cheeks as she desperately tried to fight the pain in her head.
Salli came running back with moss that she placed on her forehead, pouring water on it to get the essences and oils flowing.
‘Breath deep, Lu,’ Salli was saying. ‘You can beat this. You are stronger than him. It’s only because you weren’t expecting it. You can beat him,’ Salli repeated over and over, trying to give Lulu strength.
‘Beat who, Salli?’ Sam asked, ‘what’s happening to her?’
‘I’ll explain everything later. I need to help her now. Trust me, Sam, she’ll be okay. Now go quickly, make moss tea.’
Salli held her hand, squeezing it tightly as another spasm wracked her mind. Lulu gripped her head in her hands, gasping for breaths, fighting not to cry out again. The spasm passed. Salli could hear her breathing getting slower, more shallow, and felt Lulu’s grip on her hand start to relax.
‘There, that’s the worst of it, Lu. It’ll never be like that again, I promise.’
‘Mom, what is this, what’s happening?’ she gasped, determined not to cry out.
‘It was Him, Lu, the one who’s trying to control Holly. This time he was attacking Carter. He was stopping Carter from reaching Holly.’
‘I could hear Carter, Mom. He was screaming in agony, and then when I tried to help, to find what was wrong, it was like lightning going off in the middle of my mind. There was a light so bright it seemed to burn the back of my eyes, and then an explosion went off, like thunder going off in the middle of my head. It felt like my ears were exploding outwards and my forehead would crack.’
‘Believe me, Lu, it’ll never happen to you again. He is hurting Carter, to make Holly do what he wants. That “lightning strike” is one of the few weapons he has left, and now you’ve felt it, he’ll never be able to use it against you again. I’ll teach you how to sense it coming and how to block it.’
‘Mom, I think it’s time to tell Dad everything. He can’t see these things happen and not know what’s going on, it’s not fair.’
‘You’re right, Lu. I’m sure who it is now, and we must prepare to fight Him.’
‘Fight? Is it going to come to that?’
‘I’m sure it will. I sense His desperation. His plans have gone wrong and He’s lashing out at everyone in his way.’
‘Let’s tell Dad.’
*
‘How did you manage to persuade your mother to
let you leave, Vin?’ asked Naz.
‘It wasn’t so much persuading, Naz, she pretty much threw me out of the door with my supplies packed already. She’s become very close to Holly and Carter. She feels terribly upset with what’s happened. If I hadn’t said I’m going to look for them, I think she’d have gone herself. She’s come to love them guys.’
‘Yep, I’ve grown quite attached to them myself. Carter was a good travelling companion. Didn’t say much, but had a lot of sense. Good man to have around,’ said Naz.
‘And he saved both our lives.’
‘I remember it well. And it’s good to have you along, Vin, the old team together again.’
‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Naz.’
‘You know, The Boss asked me to escort Carter home, don’t you?’
‘No, I didn’t know.’
‘Yep, asked me yesterday. He gave me a letter to give to Sam.’
‘What’s it say, Naz?’
‘I dunno, it’s not addressed to me, it’s for the King of the Southlands.’
‘Didn’t you take a look?’
‘Well… it’s like this. He gave me the letter and told me, because I’m promoted to a boss now, so I can take as much rations as I think we need.’
‘You’re a boss? Congratulations, boss, you deserve it!’
‘Thanks, Vin. So I figured if The Boss trusts me with the food, I better not have a look at the letter.’
‘Hmm… I can see your point. You wouldn’t want him finding out and then losing the extra rations.’
‘That’s what I thought.’
‘So, boss…’
‘Call me Naz, Vin. We’ve been through enough together. We don’t need titles. I learnt that from the Southerners.’
‘You sure, boss? It’s a great privilege being a boss.’
‘Nah, we’re buddies, on a mission. It’s better like this. Pity the mission has turned into a rescue though.’
‘You’re right there, Naz. But you know, my Mom believes Holly couldn’t have stopped herself from taking the Crystal. She reckons Holly must have seen it before.’
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