by Last, K. A.
I hesitated for a moment, then took her hand and squeezed it gently. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Daniel pushed one of two buttons that sat in the centre of the desk. His smile was the last thing I saw as Grace and I left Heaven.
THREE
Grace slipped and grabbed my arm. The warmth from her touch spread through me and made my head fuzzy. I gently held her until she regained her feet and kept moving. The moment she let go it was like she took a piece of me with her. Like there was something missing. On Earth everything was so much more alive than it was in Heaven. So many textures, smells and tastes, so much to experience that we couldn’t back home. Which is why when Grace touched me, it was like tiny bolts of lightning coursing across my skin.
“I can’t believe they dumped us this far away,” Grace grumbled. She looked to the castle in the distance. “Why can’t we just orb to where we want to be?”
“Because, you know the rules—we have to follow their instructions.”
“Yeah, yeah. Since when have you been an advocate for good behaviour?”
I chuckled. She was right. Every chance I got I looked for ways to try something new, or piss someone off—especially when it came to Michael. He was one of those angels that couldn’t help making everyone else’s business his own. He’d caught me off guard a while ago, and found out about my decision by pure accident. Archangels were stronger mentally and physically. When Michael discovered I had a thought worth listening in on, there was no stopping him. I resented him for his invasion of privacy. His argument had been it was his job to look after the safety and welfare of all Heaven’s angels. Apparently he had a right to know. I didn’t care; I was still pissed at him.
Grace and I walked in silence for a while. The countryside was breathtaking, but harsh. Rock piles littered the green hills, and Grace winced with almost every step. She miss-stepped again, and I managed to catch her before she hit the ground.
“Sit,” I said, placing her on a large flat rock. “Your feet are cut to pieces. Let them heal a bit before we keep going.”
“I’m fine, Seth. I’m a big girl.”
“I know, but I want to rest as well.”
“He who loves walking so much?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Walking on Earth is different to walking in Heaven.”
“Yeah, the cloud dust doesn’t cut your feet,” Grace scoffed. She lifted her foot, rested it across her knee and inspected the damage. Her skin was already beginning to heal. She shivered against the cold. I wanted to hold her to keep her warm, but it would only make things harder.
I turned my attention to the valley below us. In the crevice of the hills I saw the river the Council had spoken of. I didn’t want to get up. I didn’t want us to keep moving, because if we did it meant I’d have less time with Grace. I’d made my decision and my argument with Michael rang through my mind, but I didn’t want to think about it too much.
Grace’s gaze burned into my cheek and I couldn’t help looking at her. Her eyes sparkled and she wore a content smile. After a few moments she frowned. Grace always knew when something was wrong. Her ability to read people was something all angels could do. She just did it better than the rest of us.
I’d spent so long keeping my secret away from her it took all my strength not to open my mind and let her in. She knew I was holding something back, but she was too nice to pry.
“Everything all right?” she asked, slipping her hand into mine.
I dropped my eyes to where our hands sat on my leg, fingers entwined. It was hard for me to know where I finished and she began. I wanted to tell her that no, everything was far from all right. Instead, I pulled her to her feet and we started walking again.
“I can see the river from here,” I said. “I hope the first cottage isn’t too far away.”
“If someone can give me a coat and some shoes, I’ll be happy,” Grace replied. She freed her hand from mine and wrapped her arms around herself. Even though the sun was shining it was cold.
“I’ll second that,” I said.
Every time we came to Earth, we faced the same problem. Heaven sent us with nothing. We didn’t get to stock up on the necessities before we left. All I wore were my white linen pants. And Grace’s dress, although beautiful, was far from warm. Again I wanted to hold her and never let go.
“What did the Council show you through the cloud dust?” Grace asked.
“A castle. And a young pregnant woman.”
“Why do you think she’s so important?”
I shrugged. “There could be many reasons. Maybe it’s not her, maybe it’s the child.”
“Did you see anything else?” she asked.
“Grace, I just wanted to get out of there and come back to the cloud field. It was like every other time I’ve been summoned. I wasn’t paying much attention.”
Grace sighed. “You should know by now you have to pay close attention.”
“I do … when it matters.” I took in the profile of her face as we walked and committed the details to memory: her black hair; her smooth, porcelain skin. The corners of her mouth turned up but she kept her eyes straight ahead.
The rest of our walk was mostly silent. It was one of the things I loved about Grace. We didn’t need to talk. Usually all it took was a glance or a smile, and we knew what the other was thinking. Often she’d open her mind to me. She wouldn’t say anything in particular; she’d just show me places and images, or her feelings. When she did that it was like wrapping my heart in a warm blanket. Grace had an irritating way of making me feel safe; irritating because I was supposed to be tough. I didn’t usually do mushy, but she softened me in a way no one else could.
By the time we reached the river the sun was high in the sky. The first cottage wasn’t much farther. In the distance the castle loomed over the village like a monster with pointy teeth. Smoke curled from the chimneys. The smell was welcoming and promised warmth.
The gate to the first cottage hung askew on its hinges. I pushed it open and a black dog greeted us. He gave my hand a quick sniff then returned to his post by the front door. I rapped my knuckles against the splintery wood and waited. After a few moments there was no answer, so I went to knock again. Grace gently grabbed my wrist to stop me. She pointed down to the river where a woman walked towards us. She wore a full brown skirt and a cream lace bonnet, and carried a wicker basket under her arm.
When the woman reached the gate she stopped to catch her breath, offering us a welcoming smile.
“I was wondering when you’d turn up,” she said.
The woman stumbled and I raced to catch the basket before it could fall to the ground and scatter vegetables everywhere. Grace opened the door and we all shuffled through into the dim cottage. I set the basket on a rustic wooden table and the woman bustled around the place, putting the produce away and generally tidying up. She stoked the fire then settled back into a chair lined with soft cushions.
We’ve found the right person, then? Grace asked.
I looked into the woman’s eyes and saw nothing but a kind heart and grateful soul. You know we have, I replied, taking a seat at the table.
I know. I was just testing you.
“Go through to the bedroom, dear. Some clothes and boots are on the chest for you,” the woman said to Grace. “We can’t have him half-naked.”
Grace blushed. She went into the next room and returned with the clothing in her arms. She sat at the table and laced the brown leather boots up to her shins. She quickly put a jacket on and buttoned it over her dress. It had a wide collar and open elbow length sleeves. It wasn’t the highest of fashion for the time, but she would have looked beautiful in a potato sack. She passed me some boots, a pair of brown slacks—which I pulled on over my linen pants—and a long sleeved shirt.
“Thank you.” I took my seat at the table again. The woman inclined her head and smiled warmly. “Can you tell us your name?” I asked.
“I am Ellis Stanway,” she said. She unfaste
ned the bonnet from under her chin and laid it on the arm of the chair. Her silver hair fell to her shoulders and she smiled again. Creases formed around her friendly, hazel eyes.
“Do you have any information for us?” Grace asked. She went to the small window at the front of the cottage and stared out into the road. “Where are we supposed to find her,” she murmured.
“Questions later,” Ellis said. “First, we eat.”
“That’s very kind of you,” I said.
“Always happy to help the likes of your people.”
Ellis rose from her chair and went to the kitchen. She busied herself and quickly prepared a meal of bread and cheese, which she served to us on wooden plates.
“It’s just you living here?” Grace asked.
“Yes, yes. Just me,” Ellis said, taking a mouthful of bread. “The Keep boys over yonder make sure I’m all right, and they watch out for the sheep that roam this side of the river.”
When we finished our meal, Ellis disappeared into the bedroom and came back with a blanket for each of us.
“It gets so cold in here even with the morning sun,” she said.
She draped one over Grace’s shoulders and handed me the other. Inside the cottage was like a small cave with its stone walls and dirt floor. The only natural light came from two small windows. The rest was generated by the crackling fire and a couple of oil lamps. Ellis took one of the lamps from a shelf near the door and set it on the table.
“Now, we get down to business,” Ellis said.
She placed a pot of water on the stove. It slowly came to the boil and bubbled noisily. The fire crackled and Grace went to stand in front of it to warm her hands. In the centre of the table Ellis put a large, round dish. It was almost flat like a platter, but had enough depth to the sides to hold fruit or vegetables without them rolling off. Ellis set a slab of wood on the table next to the bowl and brought the pot over from the stove.
“I trust by now you know what I am?” Ellis asked.
“Of course.” Grace turned away from the fire. “You’re our go-between. We have one on every mission.”
“Good. Now, come sit down and see what I have to show you.”
Ellis waved Grace over and we sat together on one side of the table. Grace pulled her blanket tighter around her shoulders and leant in. Ellis poured the boiling water into the shallow dish. Steam curled into the air and the surface of the water clouded over. She dipped her finger in the centre and began to run it through the water in a figure-of-eight. Grace sucked in a breath at the shock of Ellis putting her hand in boiling water. We’d never seen our path using this method before. Each time was different, and dictated by our go-between. Ellis had probably been doing this for many years.
When Ellis withdrew her hand the tiny clouds floating on top of the water began to part and an image appeared in the dish. The face of a young woman rippled on the surface of the water. She was the same woman the Council had shown me through the cloud dust, and her eyes were just as striking as they’d been the first time I’d seen them. She wore a servant’s dress and was quite obviously pregnant. Grace frowned and pursed her lips.
“Is this the woman you saw as well?” I asked.
Grace nodded, and then her hand flew to her mouth. I returned my attention to the image in the water. The woman wore a pained expression and she clutched her swollen belly.
“It’s the baby, isn’t it?” Grace looked at Ellis with questioning eyes.
“You must find her, and make sure both she and this child survive,” Ellis said.
“Can we ask what will happen if we fail?”
“You can, dear, but I won’t answer you.” Ellis’ eyes sparkled and she chuckled deeply. “I’m not permitted to tell you anything other than where to find her.”
“Then tell us where she is. We’ll go straight away. We can get there in seconds,” Grace said.
But Ellis was shaking her head. “I’m not sure it’s wise to be so hasty. There’s a lot of unrest at the moment. It might do to wait a bit.”
“We can look after ourselves,” I said. “And tomorrow may be too late.” I stared at Ellis. If she’d been any normal person without a divine blessing, I’d have been able to see and hear everything she was thinking, but her thoughts were off-limits to us. The Council always made sure we only knew what was necessary to get the job done.
Grace glanced at me sideways. She was eager to get going, but she knew the rules as well as I did. The first person we met was the one to trust. There was always a reason we landed where we did.
Ellis regarded us for a moment. Even though she had the power to sway our decisions, she wouldn’t stand in our way. She would agree with whatever we chose to do.
“Very well then,” she said. “But be careful. If anyone questions who you are, tell them you’re visiting me.”
Ellis picked up the shallow bowl and the image of the girl disappeared. She tipped the water out and busied herself with cleaning up. Grace and I sat patiently at the table.
Ellis sighed. “She’s a scullion in the castle kitchen and her name is Amity, but I can’t tell you any more than that. Now go on, get, before I make you stay.” She waved us out the door.
I handed Ellis our blankets and held the gate open for Grace. A chicken clucked and flew down from its perch on the fence.
“You know where to come if you need help,” Ellis called after us.
“Thanks.” I waved as we walked down the road.
Farmers tended sheep in the surrounding fields. The village was a hive of activity, but the faces of the people were strained. Peasants worked in their own gardens, and many of them stopped what they were doing to stare as we walked by. Some children played close to their homes but their enthusiasm was low, others peered out windows with worried expressions. There was noise and chatter everywhere except between Grace and I. I wanted to talk to Grace, to say something to fill our silence, but I didn’t know what to say. Until that moment it had always been so easy with her; we’d always been connected, but my decision weighed heavily in my mind, and for the first time ever I was growing uncomfortable in her presence.
“Seth…” Grace paused. “You’ve hardly said anything since we left home. I’m worried. I know there’s something you’re not telling me.”
“Of course you do,” I sighed.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Grace frowned and folded her arms.
I shook my head. “Just that I can’t get anything past you.” I could feel her gently probing the wall in my mind, but I didn’t let it budge. It was better she didn’t know about what I was going to do. She’d never condone it, and when she realised she couldn’t stop me, she’d probably want to come with me. I couldn’t ask her to do that. “Really, I’m fine.” I smiled half-heartedly.
“If you say so,” she said.
Grace looked up at me and smiled. Light glinted in her sapphire eyes, making them sparkle, and it was like staring at a star filled galaxy. If I could I would’ve frozen her in that moment. Since I’d known her there had probably been a million moments I’d have said the same thing. But the way she exuded beauty, divinity and grace captivated me. She didn’t know I was in love with her. She loved me, just not the way I wanted. Grace loved everyone unconditionally. But true, passionate love was forbidden for any angel. So many times I’d come close to telling her, but it was better this way. If she knew how I felt, it would change everything between us. I couldn’t risk it. And if the Council ever found out I’d confessed my love for her, they’d condemn both of us.
I had to give her up, and the only way to do that was to leave.
I returned her smile, and struggled to hold back the tears that stung my eyes.
FOUR
Grace and I walked the length of the road that snaked through the village and discussed our options on ways to find Amity. Grace wanted to orb right in there, but I pointed out the flaws in her hasty plan.
“We can’t just materialise in a ball of light,” I said. “Don’t
you think it might scare a few people?”
Grace scowled. “Well, what’s your suggestion?”
“She’s a scullion. We’ll get into the castle first then go straight to the kitchen.”
We stopped at the bridge and I casually tossed some pebbles into the moat while eyeing the entrance to the castle. The portcullis was closed and the porter was quite noticeably asleep. His head lolled to the side. He startled himself awake only to nod off again almost instantly. The watchman came past on what I assumed was one of his rounds. He stopped and kicked the porter who swore and jumped to his feet. They exchanged some heated words. The watchman looked out through the portcullis then continued on his rounds. I chuckled when the porter made a rude gesture at the watchman’s back before he sat down and nodded off again.
Soldiers lined the wall-walk and conversed amongst themselves while they kept an eye on the surrounding country side. There didn’t seem to be any evidence of an imminent attack, but everyone was on guard none the less—except for the porter.
I took another glance around. The village bustled with activity, but people mostly stayed close to their homes. Inside the castle everyone should have be sitting down to dinner, and that meant Amity would hopefully be where we expected—in the kitchen. The porter was still dozing, and the watchman was out of sight.
“I wonder if we could walk up and knock,” Grace said. “Do you think he’d let us in?”
“I think we’d be pushing our luck,” I replied. “Do we really want to draw unnecessary attention to ourselves? All we have to do is get past the barbican. Once we’re inside it should be easy to blend in. If the porter stays asleep he won’t give us any trouble.”
“If you say so,” Grace said. “Ready?”
I nodded, took one last look around to make sure no one was watching, and orbed. Balls of pure, white light emanated from our centres and grew out until they engulfed us. Moments later our light spun on the other side of the portcullis. When we had re-formed, Grace and I quickly dropped back into the shadows. The porter mumbled something in his sleep, but didn’t wake.