by M S C Barnes
“Now you know why I’m in my pyjamas,” Aiden said, placing all the items on the sofa cushion beside him.
“How long is this going to take,” Trudy asked, becoming frustrated at all the talk and realising that they actually had to make a doll.
“Really not long.” Aiden placed his bag on the floor. “It only has to be a rough image.”
Seb, looking at the eager faces of those around him, noticed that all their auras had intensified as their thoughts became more positive. He, however, was unable to share their enthusiasm. Feeling low, he stood and wandered a few paces towards the galley, looking for a quiet place to be with his own thoughts. Pace, whimpering, went with him and Alice, noticing, zoomed over to him.
“This will work Seb,” he said quietly. Seb couldn’t raise a smile, he felt downcast. Turning away from Alice he stared out of the nearest, large window. All he could see was blackness and his own miserable reflection. He dropped his head, giving a heavy sigh. “Aiden is certain that with all —”
“Cue, to him!” Aelfric’s shout came suddenly from below deck.
The huge wolf instantly appeared at Pace’s side and both wolves leant their bodies against Seb who, as their strength poured into him, felt his mood lighten, but only slightly. “Protect yourself Seb,” Aelfric’s voice was accompanied by his footsteps as he climbed the stairs. Seb was slow to react, he felt so sad, so disinterested. He turned just as Aelfric, looking haggard, appeared at the top of the stairs.
Zach, hearing Aelfric’s words, leapt towards Seb from the other side of the room, Trudy a pace behind and Alice put a hand on Seb’s arm.
“Seb? Are you okay?” Seb wasn’t — he was desolate. “Seb?” Alice said, as Zach reached them.
Lifting his head, Seb once more looked at his reflection in the mirrored window, but now it was over-laid with another, shady figure — an image of himself superimposed on the real reflection. And this image stood, clutching its chest, blood pouring from a point just to the left of his breast plate, over his heart.
The wolves were howling.
“Seb,” Aelfric called, stumbling from the top of the stairs towards him, “protect yourself.” He was still a few yards from Seb. Zach, realising what was going on, grabbed Seb by the shoulders and span him away from the window.
“Whatever it is mate, don’t react. Greg said if you react the attacker can locate you.” He put his arm around Seb’s shoulders as he spoke.
And suddenly Seb understood. He had been so consumed by the sadness he had felt, he had not been able to see. Now, recognising the danger he was in, he braced himself for the pain of the attack he was sure would follow. Aelfric, moving with Dierne’s help, was only paces from him and reached a hand towards him, but Trudy leapt between them.
“Aelfric, no! Not again,” she shouted, barring his way.
Aelfric, however, had already stopped. He was staring in surprise at Zach who still stood with his arm around Seb. He had closed his eyes and was muttering something Seb couldn’t make out. And now Seb felt the sadness lift and a sense of calm flood through him. The two wolves stopped howling and sat down as if nothing had happened.
Feeling much calmer and actually, perfectly all right, Seb too looked at Zach. Without the howling of the wolves he was able to hear his friend’s words.
“Bubble, bubble, bubble,” Zach repeated over and over again.
Aelfric spoke quickly.
“Seb, the danger is not gone. Zach is holding it off. You have to build your own defence.”
Gazing at Zach, Seb could clearly see his friend’s aura — it spread out so far from his body that it enveloped Seb. He glanced at Aelfric, whose aura had also increased in intensity. In a vibrant arc of blue, it reached outwards, encircling Trudy and Dierne and it continued to spread until it encapsulated Zach, Seb, Alice and the wolves as well.
Noting the concentration on Zach’s face, Seb wondered what he needed to do to defend himself. He felt like someone waiting for the executioner’s axe to fall. And then, like a revelation, he understood. He had the evidence right before his eyes; he could see the effect that intent and belief, combined with a soul’s energy could produce. Aelfric’s and Zach’s auras shone with a brilliance that was almost blinding and, as if a switch had been flicked in his own mind, giving him a new-found faith in what was possible, he felt empowered. He knew, like Zach, he could block the intent of this attacker. So, smiling, he pictured his own aura as a sphere around himself — one that was solid and impenetrable and through which no-one else’s intentions could reach. And as soon as he did, he felt a surge of energy rush out from his body. Zach’s arm was thrown from his shoulders and he yelled in surprise as he opened his eyes.
“You burst my bubble Seb!” he shouted, then he gasped. “And, my mortal friend, you are glowing.”
Zach, Seb guessed, could see his aura and he smiled.
“I am sorry,” he said.
“No worries. Looks like you don’t need it now anyway.” Zach looked stunned.
Trudy was staring at Zach, open-mouthed as Greg approached them all.
“Is he safe?” Greg said to Aelfric.
“He is in control,” Aelfric answered, looking relieved. “That is good Seb.” He smiled at him. Then he turned to Zach but before he could speak Trudy stepped forward.
“Well done Zach.” She looked surprised. “That was — impressive.”
“It was, wasn’t it?” He grinned at her, then, jabbing a fist in the air, yelled, “I was amazing!”
Now she huffed. “Don’t push it.”
Greg chuckled. “He will always push it Trudy. Would someone mind explaining what happened?”
Zach puffed out his chest and cleared his throat, “Well, actually I was amazing. I used my protective bubble to block the attack on Seb. Cool huh?”
Aiden, grinning, joined them.
“That is cool,” he said. “No poppet required.”
Seb stood, still feeling the projection of his own energy charging outwards from his body. He knew, without a doubt, that, at the moment, he was safe. As he relished that feeling he glanced at Aelfric, noting that his aura was waning, shrinking away from the group. He had summoned both wolf-stags and placed a hand on each of their sides. He looked deathly pale and Seb could see fresh blood seeping through his top. Dierne, looking worried, supported him under his arm.
Seeing where Seb was looking, Greg glanced over and then, with a small squeaking sound, he rushed to Aelfric.
“Now I am going to insist. You need to let me deal with this,” he said firmly.
Barely able to stand, Aelfric nodded and allowed Dierne and Greg to help him downstairs, taking Cue and Pace with him.
A Dryad’s Fury
Zach was euphoric and gave everyone a full account of exactly what he had done, at the top of his voice.
“See? You should never doubt me Aiden,” he added finally. “I take my responsibilities very seriously and when the time comes, and when it really counts, I am there.” He laughed and flopped into the big chair, draping one leg over the arm.
Trudy shoved his leg off. “Show some respect,” she snapped. “This is Aelfric’s home.”
Zach chuckled. “Anything you say oh grumpy one?”
Trudy frowned and for about the hundredth time glanced at the stairs at the far end of the long room.
Alice, hovering beside Seb, murmured to him, “How are you feeling?”
Seb couldn’t answer. His emotions were mixed; they swung from gratitude to Zach and Aelfric, and relief that another agonising attack had been averted, to guilt, and fear of what could have been and what lay ahead. He could still feel the world around him resonating with the energy his soul was sending forth but he knew that, if it had not been for Zach and his unwavering self-confidence and willingness to have a go, he could be dead — or Aelfric could have had to suffer yet another hideous wound in order to save him. The fact that Aelfric would have willingly done that made him feel humble.
So he shrugged. �
�Not sure,” he replied honestly.
“Come and sit down Seb. It’s bad enough having one cat pacing the room, two is just unnerving,” Zach said, looking at Trudy.
As footsteps sounded on the stairs, Trudy almost ran to the other end of the boat. Instantly Greg’s head appeared, she was questioning him.
“How is he then? Is he okay?”
Greg looked unhappy and raised his hand to silence her questions, then the two of them chatted in hushed voices, and Greg began making coffee. Seb thought it strange that, considering Aelfric’s injuries, Greg’s priority was coffee making, but then he guessed, maybe Aelfric had asked for one. Several times, as they chatted, both Trudy and Greg glanced across at the group at the other end of the room. To Seb, they seemed furtive, and now he worried that Aelfric’s injuries were even worse than he had thought. Concerned, he wandered down to them.
“Is he okay?” he asked and Greg, not having seen him approach, started.
Regaining his composure he looked at Seb, then glanced down at the coffee cups.
“I’ve dressed the wounds, Seb, and with the wolves’ help — and a good rest — he’ll be fine.”
Seb was relieved. He smiled. “Can I go and see him?” he asked.
“What? Oh, no. That’s not a good idea. As I say, he needs rest.” Greg poured coffee into one of the cups on the tray as Zach joined them.
“Mm, thanks. Just what I need.” He reached for the cup but Greg lifted it away, handing the jug of coffee to Trudy.
“This one’s for Aelfric. Just how he likes it,” he said, smiling. “Trudy will pour the others while I take it to him. You go and sit down and have yours. Trudy, if you don’t mind.”
She nodded and, filling the other cups, led the boys back to the sofa, Zach moaning that no-one had brought biscuits for them to have with the coffee.
“Or milk even. Bit shabby if you ask me.” He flopped back into the chair.
“No-one did,” Trudy said, but smiled. Whatever Greg had told her had obviously cheered her up.
The storm outside hadn’t died down at all and rain beat against the glass panes around the room. Seb stared out at the black night, listening to its frenetic drumming, wondering where Nat was. He knew the yacht was sailing towards Solomon, one of the islands that made up the Isles of Scilly, and that was such a long way from the mainland and her. He had barely had time to think about her, as the discussions over the making of a poppet had gone on. Now no-one was referring to that task and Aiden played absently with the Hessian cloth and sewing kit. Everyone seemed confident Seb had this problem sorted.
Seb’s thoughts turned to the person who was seeking to harm him. If he truly had sorted the problem, if he was able to sustain his self-defence, was there any reason to continue looking for them? As he mulled this over, Greg rejoined the group. Nodding to Trudy, he sat beside Aiden.
“He’s sleeping,” he smiled.
Trudy looked satisfied and, for the first time, seemed to relax. Perching on the sofa arm she sipped her coffee then glanced at Seb. There was a strange look in her eyes he couldn’t fathom.
“Eh Seb?” Zach asked.
“What? Sorry. I wasn’t listening.” Seb turned to him.
“Aiden was saying we should still make the poppet, but I think you don’t need it now. You’re good right?”
“This is a really dangerous person Zach,” Aiden said before Seb could answer. “Knowledgeable and powerful Greg said. Just because they have been stopped one way doesn’t mean they won’t try something else.” He looked to Greg for support.
“Yes, Aiden,” Greg agreed. “It would be sensible to take precautions while we have the time to do so.”
“Seb’s got me,” Zach laughed. “He doesn’t need precautions — or a doll — Do you Seb?”
Seb opened his mouth to answer but stopped as, in a haze of green, Dierne suddenly appeared in front of Greg.
“What have you done?” his voice crackled with anger, and Seb was stunned at how bright his aura was — the green spreading far beyond his body and shining with such intensity Seb could barely look at him. Towering over Greg, he looked furious. His eyes flashed silver and thorns protruded between the leaves covering his body.
When Greg didn’t answer, he repeated, speaking each word slowly in a threatening hiss, “What — have — you — done?”
“Dierne,” Greg’s tone was placatory, pleading almost and he looked uncomfortable. “He needed to rest.”
“I asked you — what have you done?” Dierne glared at him.
Greg looked shocked and Trudy moved across to stand in front of her brother.
“What he needed!” she said, sticking her chin in the air and looking defiantly at Dierne. “And you know it is the right thing.”
“It will be for a couple of hours only. Time enough for the wolves to give him the energy to heal,” Greg said, reaching a calming hand towards Dierne.
Dierne stiffened and the thorns protruding from his body lengthened. “Do not,” he snarled and Greg withdrew his hand.
Seb watched the exchange; the palpable fury of Dierne and the awkward nervousness of Greg, and believed he knew what had happened. Greg had administered something to Aelfric, to make him sleep.
“You had no right,” Dierne said through gritted teeth.
“We had every right,” Trudy raised her voice. “You know as well as we do that he will not rest. He will not stop dealing with these souls and give himself time to recover. So we gave him some respite. We cannot allow him to go into The Restoration so exhausted and so injured.”
“Cannot allow him?” Dierne stared at her.
“We have done what is best for him. He is not the only Custodian and he needed time to recover.” Trudy was not at all contrite.
“Cannot allow him?” Dierne repeated, his voice rustling like leaves in a storm. “You have betrayed him.” Greg flinched and Trudy looked astounded. “You will leave his home.” Dierne instantly vanished and reappeared by the glass door. Without a pause he pulled it open and, as the wind rushed in, he swooped over and stood in front of Trudy. “Do not resist me. I give you this choice, come with me willingly and I will take you to Dom and The Caretaker; resist me and I will take you to where there will be no chance of your rejoining the group until he wakes.”
She looked horrified. “You wouldn’t dare!” she challenged him. “Aelfric would never forgive you.”
“Then do not put me in that position,” he glowered at her and the thorns on his body became sharper.
“Dierne, this isn’t necessary,” Greg said. “We were doing what is best for him.”
Dierne looked down at him. “You do not have the right to decide what is best for him. You have betrayed your Custodian. The choice stands: come willingly, or I will strand you on a mountain top.”
Seb and his friends were watching in awed silence. None of them dared speak or interfere. And then Seb felt a slight ache in his left palm and his stomach lurched. Instantly he knew, with Aelfric out of action, he was the only one who could deal with the soul that had triggered the sign. Now his mind was in turmoil. He dreaded leaving the yacht and locating the trespassing soul, forcing it to pass through him and reveal to him all its depraved and unsettling thoughts and deeds — but if he didn’t do it, another poor soul out there would suffer.
In his mind, he spoke to Alice, “I have to go. Aelfric can’t, so I have to — well — I need to go.” He pointed at his palm.
Alice turned to him looking worried. “Dierne is very dangerous at the moment. Pick your words carefully,” he said silently.
Greg was trying to reason with Dierne but everything he said seemed to incense him all the more.
“If he does not rest, he will not heal and he won’t be fit for The Restoration, Dierne. Your anger is understandable, but we have done what we felt was right for Aelfric.”
Dierne had risen off the floor and hung in the air, staring down at Greg, looking as though he could tear him apart.
“You have
taken away his choice. You have taken away his ability to fulfil his role and the worst of it is, he will blame himself and not you. Whatever events befall whatever souls, between now and when he awakes, he will blame himself.”
Dierne’s aura had swelled so much it encapsulated Greg and reached out to all those in the room. Seb could feel his anger as though it were a tangible thing, the air vibrated with it and it seemed the wind outside, pouring in through the still-open door, was increasing in ferocity in response to it.
He knew Dierne was right; Aelfric would never forgive himself if a single trespassing soul was not stopped, or a single rightful soul suffered because he had not been there to protect them. So that meant the only thing Seb and the others could do was make sure all souls were dealt with properly while Aelfric slept and recovered. The ache in his hand was becoming much stronger and though he really didn’t want to, he knew he needed to leave and deal with the trespassing soul.
“I need to go,” he shouted across to Dierne and all eyes turned on him. “And Aelfric does need to rest,” he said more quietly. “So we have to make sure that nothing he can blame himself for happens while he is asleep.” He pointed at his palm. “I need to go,” he said again.
Dierne’s aura shrank away. For only a moment he considered Seb’s words and that was all it took for the thorns covering his body to disappear. He glanced back at Trudy and Greg and then, as if dismissing them as insignificant, swooped over to hover beside Seb.
“I will help convey the others to a doorway, but I cannot come with you,” he said, looking anxiously across to the stairway at the end of the room, and Seb nodded understanding. “Whatever I can do to help from here though, send a message through Alice.” Now Dierne turned back to Greg. “And so you see? Your actions have also put our other Custodian at risk. It is unforgivable.” With that, he moved to the open doorway. “Zach, I will take you,” he said.
With a whoop Zach pulled his staff out and leapt over to him.
“Yay. Getting off the boat. Come on then, time to go,” he shouted, grinning at Seb.