by R A Browell
‘Perhaps the two are not mutually exclusive?’
They all turned to look at Ziggy. He had calmed down from thinking about a bunch of vampires tearing each other apart and was now watching his quill scribbling away in a small notebook as he formulated a plan.
‘What do you mean?’ asked Valens.
‘Perhaps we can save Lily from harm and get the permissions at the same time,’ he said. ‘We all go back to Pergamont and get everything we need and then we split into two groups. One group is dispatched to the Magisterie with the necessary documents to obtain the authority, which we understand the Seleni will accept. In the meantime, the other group makes its way to Aldrovanda and, without disclosing their presence to the sisters, which would potentially create the diplomatic crisis that we wish to avoid, they establish contact with Lily, if she’s there. They can give her moral support and provide backup to ensure she isn’t…Well you know,’ he muttered, ‘to ensure that she doesn’t radically change her eating habits!’ Ziggy smiled awkwardly. ‘Essentially,’ he continued, ‘whoever goes to Aldrovanda first can ensure that she remains safe while they await the arrival of the others. They can be there, ready to take defensive action should the need arise and that way, we manage to cover all outcomes. If she’s not there then no harm’s been done.’
‘That sounds more like it!’ said Charlie, grinning at the alchemist.
The others nodded enthusiastically and then turned, waiting for Silky and Ilia and their reactions.
‘It has its risks,’ replied Ilia, nodding gracefully at Ziggy as she gave him a disarming smile, ‘but it seems to me that Ziggy’s suggestion covers all eventualities.’
Without warning the young alchemist’s stomach filled with butterflies and he reddened under the intense gaze of Ilia’s warm, caramel eyes.
James watched. There was something in the intensity of that look which was uncanny. It reminded him of Charlie and the way that he managed to leave girls at school breathless with just a single smile.
‘Then what are we waiting for?’ asked Charlie jumping to his feet again but taking care this time, not to dislodge any other decomposing creatures. ‘We need to get back to Pergamont and now!’
‘Before you go,’ Ilia warned, ‘there is something else that you need to know. I need to ask whether you’ve ever fought your kinfolk before, and I mean really fought… To the death?’ she asked and glanced at Romulus.
There was silence.
‘Then my advice to you is simple. Decapitate, burn and walk away. Don’t stop to think. Don’t stop to look at what you see happening. Just set the fire and walk. Valens, you will find it easier than the others. The screams and the stench from the burning flesh will not penetrate you as it will them, but for you three,’ she said, looking sadly at the three young sanguins. ‘You must be strong. Remember to keep your wits about you and if it becomes a choice between you and them, then you must not hesitate and you must show no mercy. You understand?’ There was a palpable silence. ‘I hope you never need to kill your own kin, for it will change you forever, but these sisters are experienced killers, if it must be done, then it must be done.’
The three boys nodded slowly but said nothing, remaining silent as they turned and followed Valens to start their journey back to Pergamont. Silky said her goodbyes and then caught hold of the besotted, love-sick alchemist and dragged him after the other teenagers; his head and heart full to bursting with dreams of a forest, filled with caramel-eyed, dirt-encrusted wise-women.
Home and Back
‘Look, there’s no point arguing. We’ve got to split up. Someone’s got to go to Aldrovanda to keep an eye on Lil if she’s there, and the others need to get to Serenisa as quickly as possible to ask the Magisterie for diplomatic authority,’ said Hari, scanning the group.
Valens sighed. ‘I’ve already said that Aldrovanda is most quickly reached by taking the Great Ocean route,’ he replied. ‘It’s about two days, quicker if you use the trenches. I can shape shift, breathe under water and go deep. Ziggy can swim that deep too but I’m not sure he’s the right person for the job and anyway, someone from Farisia needs to go to seek the permissions from the Magisterie. They won’t believe your intentions if you go alone, not even with that,’ said Valens, tapping the scroll of parchment.
‘The point that Charlie’s making is that whoever goes to Aldrovanda doesn’t go in on the offensive,’ continued Hari. ‘If we do, and the Seleni didn’t just chance across Lily, we might lose an opportunity of finding out whoever tipped them off and that information could be vital for all of us. You heard what Ilia said. Whoever goes to Aldrovanda must know that it’s purely to give Lily reassurance and to help her to resist any temptation until we’re able to deliver the Seleni with instructions from the Magisterie. No macho stuff.’ Hari looked directly at Valens.
‘Well I still don’t think Valens should go alone,’ sniffed Charlie.
Hari sighed with frustration as he looked at Charlie and then back to the young Protector.
‘I’m not being funny Valens, but I think Charlie may have a point,’ said James. ‘Even you would have trouble defending yourself against three full grown, experienced female vampires should they decide to turn nasty, and Ziggy isn’t really fighting material, is he?’
They all looked over to the spindly, flaxen-haired alchemist who sat at the table in the corner, his quill scribbling away on his parchment, seemingly oblivious to their discussions.
‘Maybe Charlie should go with Valens?’ suggested Hari.
Valens smirked. ‘How’s your swimming technique?’
Charlie glared at the Protector.
‘Well then, because of the distance under water, perhaps we should go with what Valens suggests,’ said Hari tactfully. ‘I mean we can all swim, but not that far and not that deep. So that leaves me, Charlie, James and Silky to travel to Serenisa and Valens in Aldrovanda with very little support. Would you be okay taking Ziggy or is he too much of a handicap?’
Valens shrugged his shoulders unenthusiastically.
‘Personally,’ said Ziggy, without raising his head, his quill flying across the parchment without missing a stroke, ‘I’d have thought my talents were better utilised on the diplomatic front. I can speak most languages in the known worlds and possess a wealth of legal knowledge.’
Valens looked at Hari and nodded.
‘Alright, you come with us,’ Hari conceded. ‘Valens you’re on your own, but this is strictly a non-combat mission. You understand?’
‘I still don’t think he should be alone there with Lily. What if they need back up?’ said Charlie moodily and started pacing the room.
‘Charlie,’ sighed James. ‘We don’t even know that she’s there and you can’t swim that deep or for that long. Ziggy’s the only other one of us that could, and even he’ll freely admit he’s useless if it gets messy. Valens has trained to be a Protector, which sounds like the equivalent of training with the Special Forces. He’ll be fine. Be honest with yourself; we’ve taken down a few deer and the odd big cat on the moors if we’re lucky, but it’s hardly strategic training for a fight against three female, shape-shifting vampires, who need to be kept alive for intelligence and who, because of their diet alone, are probably going to be infinitely stronger than us. Valens is the one to go to Aldrovanda. He can get there quickest, find Lily and the two of them can either sit it out, or if matters escalate, they can escape and hide out until we arrive. If we get there and find that the Seleni are difficult, then at least we fight with a small, but definite, advantage in numbers. If she’s not there, no harm done.’
‘I suppose!’ replied Charlie sullenly, ‘but if anything happens to her…’
‘Right, I’ll go and get sorted. I’ll see you there,’ replied Valens cheerfully.
‘How will we know where to find you?’ asked Hari.
‘Not a problem, I’ll have the place under surveillance. I’ll find you and don’t worry about Lily, if she’s there I’ll find her and I promise that
I’ll take very good care of her,’ he said, smiling at Charlie as he headed for the door. Charlie growled under his breath.
‘Valens,’ James called him back, ‘hang on a minute. I’ve been thinking about what happened to Hari at Dodona. Ilia’s a wise old bird, wiser than she lets on and she obviously values her privacy. Do yourself a favour and rub yourself down with a decayed carcass before you hit Aldrovanda. The more rotten the better, perhaps even put a dead rat or two in your pockets!’ Valens looked uncertainly at James. ‘I know, it sounds really disgusting,’ he added, ignoring Charlie’s sniggers, ‘but believe me I think it’ll help keep you safe. At least if you do what I say, you’ll only have to worry about dodging the Seleni’s other four senses!’
Valens understood and smiled. ‘Thanks!’ he replied. Out of the three sanguins, he liked James the best; he liked his thoughtfulness and his measured, sensible approach.
‘Actually Valens, you might as well take these,’ Ziggy removed a little packet from inside his long cloak and held it out in front of him. ‘Chicory leaves,’ he explained, ‘either chew them or make an infusion. Its effects should last for about five hours before you need to top up with more.’
‘It’s effects?’ asked Valens looking across at Silky as he took hold of the little packet and held it up level with his eyes, shaking its contents.
‘Zigadenus Frementi, I am impressed!’ said Silky, beaming at the alchemist. ‘You’ve been studying the old ways.’ She turned to Valens. ‘Do as he says and you’ll see what he means, or maybe you won’t!’ she chuckled as, once again Valens understood.
‘Chicory…Invisibility, of course! Now I really am impressed. Thanks,’ he added, smiling. ‘So, I guess I’ll see you all in Aldrovanda in a few of days. Once you arrive, go straight to the Seleni. I’ll find you and don’t worry, Lily will be fine.’
‘Actually, I think we’ll probably smell you first!’ said Charlie, cackling at the thought of Valens’ pockets filled with decomposing rats.
Valens shook his head, rolled his eyes and in a blink was gone from the room.
‘And that just leaves our transport. Ah, thank you Galdo!’ said Silky, looking up as the valetti placed five glasses on the table, together with a plate of what looked like steaming Cornish pasties. ‘Are they ready for us yet?’ she asked the tall, lanky servant who watched distractedly as the teenagers lunged forward, each grabbing a meat-filled parcel, and started cramming the crumbling pastry into their mouths. ‘We need to get these signed and sealed as quickly as possible,’ she added, tapping the scrolls as she pulled the plate away.
‘What? We’re growing boys!’ objected Charlie, grabbing back the plate of pasties.
‘They’re aware that you are waiting, my lady,’ replied Galdo bowing low and deferentially, mesmerised by the feasting boys as he forced himself to leave the room.
‘Good. Now, I’ve put out a call to the epona,’ explained Silky. ‘They’re the fastest way to travel and they’ll make the port for Serenisa in good time. With a bit of luck, they’ll be here soon.’ She lifted one of the glasses to her mouth and delicately sipped the sweet warm liquid. ‘Hosta wine – a great favourite!’ she said, carefully dabbing her lips with a small lace handkerchief.
‘No way!’ stormed Charlie. ‘There’s absolutely no way that I’m getting on the back of one of those things again!’ He folded his arms defiantly before thinking better of it and reaching over to stuff the remains of yet another pasty into his mouth.
‘Me neither. Sorry Silky,’ added James, ‘but I’d much rather trust my own two feet. Hari might be fine on four legs, but I feel much better on two!’
‘That’s all well and good,’ Silky replied, ‘but there’s no way you’ll keep up on foot. Even with your speed, the epona still have the edge. I’m sorry but you have no option, you must travel with the rest of us using the epona. It is not negotiable and that is final.’
‘They’re ready for you now my lady,’ said Galdo who had discreetly entered the room.
‘In the Chamber of Justice. Just you alone, my lady.’
‘Listen Silky I have an idea – we’ll make our own way and meet you in Serenisa… At the Magisterie…’
‘No Charlie, you won’t… Nor you James,’ she said firmly, glaring at the two teenagers. ‘You will wait here for me and the papers and then we’ll all go together to the port, on the epona. We cannot risk being separated. This whole thing is already turning into a nightmare,’ she sighed, rubbing her temples with her two forefingers. ‘I’ll be back shortly with everything we need. Just wait here,’ she repeated.
She smoothed back her hair, ran her hands down her skirts and calmly left the room, moving with her usual ceremonial stiffness and showing no evidence that she was upset by their latest argument. The teenagers listened to the fading sound of her familiar rustle as she followed the corridor down towards the Hall of Justice and the waiting Laudis. Charlie and James turned to each other, grinning as they heard the distant clunk of closing doors.
‘Listen Galdo, you know this castle, all the service passageways and all the gateways, will you do us a favour?’ asked Charlie sliding up to the young valetti. Galdo instinctively shrank back but he was already hooked. ‘Come on, mate,’ Charlie pressed, harnessing all his powers of persuasion as he placed his arm around the valetti’s shoulders and squeezed. ‘Please.’
‘What is it that you need?’ asked Galdo hesitantly, but he was already caught and was basking in the attention.
‘We need you to show us the gateway that will take us back to Hari’s place, Pemberton.’
Ziggy looked up from his parchment and raised an eyebrow, as the quill paused momentarily before it recommenced scribbling. ‘I can tell you now, that she won’t like you going back,’ he said. ‘It’s not worth it, Charlie. Just take the epona and have done with it. If you leave like this, she’ll be furious. And what about Lily? I thought she was your friend?’
‘We’re not leaving anybody,’ replied Charlie, ‘especially Lily and anyway Silky won’t be that mad, not when she sees that we’re just arranging our own transport. We’ll get the bikes from Hari’s and meet you in Serenisa.’
‘Don’t be so pig-headed Charlie, just use the epona. They’re not that bad!’ said Hari looking up from reading a huge leather-bound book.
‘Maybe not for you, you’re used to riding thoroughbred stallions, but James and me, we’re just regular guys, from regular families. We’re not millionaires with global empires, Swiss bank accounts and stables full of Derby winners. Horses or epona or anything else with four legs doesn’t really do it for us. You know that.’
‘Come on Galdo, you’ll take us to the nearest gateway, won’t you?’ pressed James, his clear blue eyes holding the valetti’s in an inescapable vice.
Hari closed the book. ‘You don’t even know if you’ll get back,’ he warned. ‘We’ve only ever gone through the gateway one way and look what happened that time, we got stuck in some mad Rubik cube of a dimension, you don’t even know…’ but his words were falling on deaf ears.
‘Listen Hari, we’ll be fine,’ interrupted Charlie. ‘We’ll take Galdo and we’ll be back before you know it. Don’t wait for us. Get started for Serenisa and we’ll catch you up; sanguin’s promise!’ called Charlie as he headed for the door.
‘But you don’t even know where you’re going!’ Ziggy shouted after them, but it was too late. They’d already pulled Galdo with them and were now out of the door and half way down the corridor.
‘Great!’ groaned Hari as the door slammed behind them. ‘Silky’s going to go ballistic. That nymph is worse than Gran any day of the week. What are we going to tell her?’ he asked but Ziggy was shaking his head and chuckling to himself as he tried to concentrate on the parchment in front of him.
‘I have no idea, my friend,’ he replied, ‘but I can honestly say, with my hand on my heart, that life has never been so interesting since you four decided to show up!’
*
Galdo caught his b
reath as the two teenagers dragged him down into the bowels of the castle.
‘It’s this way,’ he stammered, trying to fight against his desire to please the two sanguins and his terror of displeasing the Laudis. ‘This one is never used. I don’t know how they work exactly. I’ve never been allowed to use them.’
‘Come on Galdo, you must know something. Just tell us everything you do know about the gateways,’ replied James soothingly as Galdo looked around to make sure they weren’t being watched.
‘All I know is that the gateways were created when the Earth was young, long before the four worlds as we know them existed,’ whispered the young valetti. ‘Usually they’re cut into bedrock, deep underground. The ancient people used them to travel between your world and ours but I promise you, I have no idea how to use them. We’ve never been permitted to travel to your world. Not many from Farisia ever would.’
‘What about the gatekeepers? Can they stop us travelling through?’ asked James.
‘I don’t know,’ said Galdo, shivering as he shook his head. ‘Maybe not, I mean if you’ve already passed through once, why would they choose to stop you? They’ll probably recognise you and give you access back and forth provided that the Laudis don’t put a stop to your travel.’
‘So Silky could ask the Laudis to put a stop to our gateway access?’ asked Charlie.
‘I think so. I don’t really know,’ replied Galdo unhelpfully as Charlie caught hold of his arm and hurried him down another flight of steps cut deep into the ancient granite. He swiped the masses of dust-filled cobwebs out of the way as they went. Eventually the three boys stopped in the darkness of a dead-end chamber where one wall was filled with the familiar cup and ring-shaped markings.
‘We need to move quickly! Galdo, exactly how do we make sure we end up at Pemberton and then get back here?’ asked Charlie, pushing Galdo towards the nearest set of circular patterns on the wall in front of them.