by M S C Barnes
“Nicole,” a rustling voice suddenly broke into what had become a tense silence and Nicole’s eyes darted across to the ice window behind which Riven hovered with Dierne and The Caretaker. “It is enough,” the Dryad said sadly.
“Riven!” she called, looking stunned.
“Nicole,” he implored her, “Please see reason.”
Now she regarded him with suspicion. “Why didn’t you warn me about their approach?” she said, slowly, as if realising she had missed something. “Why?” she demanded.
Riven looked embarrassed. “You are wrong,” he said, and bowed his head. “You cannot continue on this path — and I cannot help you if you do.”
“So you deliberately didn’t warn me? You betrayed me!” Nicole was aghast. “My twin. Betrayal, Riven!” She actually sounded close to tears and Seb wondered if she would suddenly come to her senses.
“Not betrayal,” Riven said quietly. “I am trying to save you, Nicole. Heath has corrupted your mind; and the things you have done in pursuit of something that can — and should — never be …” He paused, shaking his head as though he couldn’t understand. “Surely you can see that they are against all that you, as a Custodian, stand for?”
Nicole put up a hand. “Shut up!” she shouted.
“I cannot stand by you, Nicole. This is wrong,” Riven said, lowering his head. “If you would just stop —”
She cut him off, “You do not judge, question or command me. I am the Custodian, not you. Remember your place!”
As Riven flinched, Dierne looked outraged.
“His place is on the side of what is right,” Aelfric said, as Dierne moved forward, hovering in front of Riven as though protecting him. “A Custodian is not above their Dryad twin, or anyone else in the group, Nicole. Riven is not judging you, he is judging your actions. He is right to do so. He has chosen not to act in support of those actions but follow his own conscience and to uphold his own role. And he is right to do that also. Do not dare to insult him.” There was a touch of cold anger in Aelfric’s voice and Nicole rounded on him.
“You are the cause of all this! You were the one who damned Heath’s twin to the darkest of places, breaking his heart. You are the one who, when he tried to rescue his forsaken twin, assisted that juvenile murderer,” she pointed at Seb, looking disgusted, “in killing him and banishing the noblest of souls ever to come into existence to an eternity of torment. And now you are responsible for my twin betraying me! My actions are not wrong; they are carried out in order to right all your wrongs!”
In a movement as quick as it was unexpected Nicole flicked her hand. There was a flash of silver and the small Sælen Sword flew across the room so fast it made a whistling sound. As though in slow motion, Seb watched its flight. In the corner of his eye he saw Aelfric stagger left and he was aware that all three wolves had leapt at Nicole. But he was transfixed by the trajectory of the sword, its tiny, sharp blade glinting in the firefly light. As the wolves charged forward, the sword passed straight through them. Then, just as it was about to find its target, Aelfric pushed Seb sideways, out of its path and cried out with pain as the sword penetrated his rib-cage.
Seb stared in horror; as Aelfric fell to the floor, there was a small explosion and shards of silver erupted from his side. Instantly, the shards turned into threads and crept across his torso, growing and intertwining like spreading vines. The Caretaker hammered a fist onto the ice window and Dierne called out Aelfric’s name but the pair were unable to help.
The wolves, having reached Nicole suddenly stopped and sat in front of her, snarling, as if unable to attack her. She had raised her left hand and now laughed at Aelfric, watching the silver threads weave themselves into a constricting net which covered the whole of his body except his head.
“You see? They know Aelfric. They know what will happen if they attack me,” she snapped, her hand still in the air.
“What’s happening?” Seb shouted, kneeling beside Aelfric who was groaning in pain.
“Always the hero, Aelfric,” Nicole yelled, ignoring Seb. “Well now you will suffer for interfering.” Rounding on Seb, she shouted at him. “Sælen Swords seal; that is their job, Seb. And your precious mentor has been sealed in a linked net. Watch and learn what that means!” She strode past the growling wolves and stood over Aelfric who was now totally swamped by the silver netting. “Let’s see if Seb will now tell me where his piece of the Shield Knot is shall we Aelfric? You see, it doesn’t matter what you do to try to thwart my plans; there is always another way.” She turned back to Seb and with a cruel smile explained. “I can release or constrict this net with just one thought and one movement. Watch.” She pinched her fingers and thumb together and Aelfric gasped as the net sparkled and tightened around him. She released her fingers and he breathed out hoarsely.
“Seb,” he groaned, “This doesn’t matter, but your soul and theirs,” he nodded his head towards Dierne and The Caretaker who looked on helplessly, “do. Say noth —” he gasped again as Nicole pinched her fingers together.
“Be quiet, Aelfric,” she said and grinned at Seb. “You, however, are free to speak, Seb.”
“What is the matter with you?” he yelled at her, standing, anger surging through him. In response, she clenched her hand into a fist and Aelfric stifled a cry of pain. Glancing back at him Seb could see a patch of blood smearing the white marble beneath him. The wolves were now howling at Nicole but still didn’t move. “Stop it!” Seb shouted at her. “Or I will stop you!” He began to lift his hand.
“Seb, no,” Aelfric groaned, struggling to breathe. “Do—not —strike.”
“Oh, please do, Seb,” Nicole laughed, relaxing her hand slightly, allowing Aelfric just enough room to breathe. “That would just be the icing on the cake.” Confused, Seb looked at the wolves, who still hadn’t moved, then at Dierne and The Caretaker. “Would anyone care to explain to the poor lad?” Nicole said. “He looks quite lost.”
Angrily, The Caretaker pointed to Nicole’s hand. And now Seb could see the finest of threads running from it to the net around Aelfric.
“Sælen Swords deployed as linked nets remain connected to the wielder,” The Caretaker said. “If you attack the wielder then the net will ensnare you too. It prevents anyone interfering while a Custodian deals with what they have sealed in the net.”
“There is more though Caretaker, isn’t there?” Nicole grinned and The Caretaker, frowning, continued.
“If you harm or kill the wielder, the net will instantly contract back into its original shape — as the Sælen Sword. Whatever the net contains at the time will, as it compresses, either be crushed or — if ethereal — be trapped by being encapsulated within that small object. That is why the wolves will not attack; Aelfric will be killed.”
Instinct
“Thank you for that succinct but quite comprehensive explanation Caretaker,” Nicole said, looking down at Aelfric who now lay unmoving on the floor. The net around him sparkled and the pool of blood beneath him was spreading slowly across the marble. “Not many choices left to you really I would say, Seb.” She transferred her gaze to him. “Or any, in fact? This net was actually meant for you, but Aelfric, playing the hero, has decided to wear it for you. I don’t know why everyone is making this so complicated when really it is so simple. Speak to me; persuade your friends to speak to me and then I will leave you all in peace.”
“What do I do?” Seb muttered, turning to Dierne and The Caretaker. “WHAT DO I DO?” he shouted at them. But he could tell by the looks on their faces they didn’t have an answer. He stared back down at Aelfric, whose eyes were closed, looking for signs that he was still breathing. Thankfully his chest still rose and fell.
That is why the wolves will not attack. Aelfric will be killed. He followed the thread from the sparkling net back to Nicole. She stood, waiting expectantly, but then flinched as another wolf leapt into the room from thin air.
“Moe, if I don’t ask, you don’t call them,” she mumbled and M
oe, sitting beside Cue and Pace, whined in response as the new wolf joined them.
Aelfric’s eyes flickered open. “No more, Nicole,” he croaked.
“Hurts does it Aelfric?” she gloated. “Well, your boy has the power to help you —” She jumped as another wolf, appearing from nowhere, landed on the floor and padded over to Moe. Tutting at it, she looked back at Seb.
“No wolves,” Aelfric mumbled, but Nicole ignored him.
“Come on Seb; see how he is suffering. End this.” Yet another wolf appeared and now she stamped a foot and spoke sternly to Moe. “I have not asked for them to unveil. Make them wait for my call,” she said, raising a hand to strike at the large beast.
The fine thread glinted, … linked nets remain connected to the wielder… If you harm or kill the wielder, the net will contract …
Seb watched the wolves; none made a move towards Nicole, but they had started to form a semi-circle around Aelfric and him. Another appeared and Nicole shouted at Moe.
“That is enough you disobedient creature!” She struck him on the nose. He whimpered then stood, walked around behind Cue and Pace and sat back down again. All the wolves were whining. “And stop that ridiculous noise,” Nicole kicked out at the nearest animal. As she did, she clenched her fist and the net around Aelfric tightened. He cried out and Seb dropped to the floor beside him again. Putting his head close to Aelfric’s he whispered to him.
“I don’t know what to do. What do I do?”
Aelfric looked so pale if it hadn’t been for his shallow breathing Seb would have thought he was dead, and he managed just one word before he lost consciousness.
“Isgebind.”
Looking along his battered body, Seb once more followed the fine thread to Nicole’s hand. She was staring haughtily at him.
“You have something to say, Seb?” she asked. “Before it is too late for Aelfric?” She unclenched her fist and the sparkling net relaxed slightly. Seb bowed his head as if in defeat.
“I do,” he said.
“Finally,” Nicole grinned.
Standing, Seb raised his head and looked Nicole in the eye. With a discrete movement he opened the fingers of his left hand, exposing the palm, and then suddenly brought his hand up and shone firefly light onto the net which held Aelfric.
“Isgebind,” he muttered and instantly a bolt of white light shot from his hand, striking the net. There was a crackling sound and the net froze. The freezing effect travelled rapidly along the thread — so rapidly there was only enough time for Nicole’s eyes to register horrified realisation before she too froze.
“Good Seb, now smash it!” a voice from behind called out and Seb turned to see Henri emerge from the water wall. He ran across, past Seb and Aelfric, and stood over Nicole, raising his hand and training the palm on her. “The net, smash it,” he said again, glancing back at Seb, “and then stand back.”
Seb , kneeling, yanked at the frozen threads but all that did was cut his fingers. And then he remembered Aiden’s tin. Pulling it out of his pocket he turned it end on in his hand and slammed it down onto the netting. Sparks erupted, burning his hand and he jerked it away as the net disintegrated into millions of glittering, shattered particles which rose up into the air, swirled around above Aelfric, then snapped together, reforming into the tiny Sælen Sword, which dropped to the floor beside him.
Nicole, free herself, was in motion instantly, lunging at Henri who was still looking over his shoulder. With a rugby tackle low to his body, she barged into him and brought him to the ground then leaping backwards trained her hand on him.
Moe stood, growling and snarling at her.
“Oh don’t pretend you will do anything you daft beast; I am a Custodian and you cannot attack.” Then she looked stunned as the wolf leapt at her. She lifted her hand and shot a bolt of white light at the animal which struck it at the centre of its chest, sending it flying backwards and through the water wall. As the rest of Moe’s pack growled at her, she backed away towards the large chair.
Henri, standing, dusted himself off. “Nicole,” he said, “You have nowhere to go. This is beyond madness. I have no desire to battle with you, but if you will not turn from this devastating path I will have no choice.”
She didn’t reply, just smirked at him as Moe padded back through the water wall and came and stood beside him. There was something in Nicole’s smirk that made Henri pause and regard her with suspicion.
Aelfric was groaning and his eyes opened. Seb crouched beside him.
“Lie still,” he said, beckoning to Cue and Pace. “The wolves will help.”
“They must not,” Aelfric said, hoarsely. “Help me up, Seb.”
“What? No! You are really badly hurt; look at all that blood,” he pointed at the floor and Aelfric’s body. “Use the wolves.”
Nicole was chuckling. Seb looked across to her thinking she must have gone mad. Henri still regarded her warily.
“What have you done?” he asked, as Aelfric, with Seb’s help, sat up. Instantly Cue and Pace came to his side but he waved them away.
“Henri,” he said, wincing as he used Seb again to help him stand, “they will not heal, they will transfer; she is in danger.”
Seb stared at the blood oozing from his side. So did Nicole, and she chuckled.
“I said, what have you done?” Henri said to her.
“That sword tip may have just carried something a little extra special,” she said, and Moe growled.
“You need to sit down,” Seb whispered to Aelfric, looking at the blood. Placing a heavy arm around Seb’s shoulders Aelfric shook his head and tried to walk towards Henri but stumbled. Seb could feel his whole body shaking.
“You see Henri, that sword blade was coated with willow resin. Do you know what that does?” Nicole shouted at him.
Several more wolves leapt into the room and, joining the others, surrounded Aelfric as Henri dashed over to help Seb support him. He slumped in their arms unable to stand.
“You are wicked, Nicole; there is no other expression for it,” Henri shouted at her.
“What does willow do?” Seb mumbled to him. “Is it poison?”
Henri, lifting Aelfric’s shirt and the bandages, gasped. The gaping wound on his side looked as fresh as if it had just been inflicted and blood poured freely from it. “It might as well be,” Henri snarled angrily. “Willow thins the blood; prevents clotting. Aelfric,” he whispered to him, “you will bleed to death soon if we don’t deal with this.” As he spoke, blood dripped from Aelfric’s side onto the floor. He was panting and now his chin fell onto his chest and he closed his eyes. Seb glanced over to Dierne and The Caretaker; both looked devastated and helpless and Riven stared at the floor. Cue moved forward.
“How do we stop the bleeding?” Seb mumbled to Henri and then he staggered as Henri suddenly let go of Aelfric, leaving him to support him alone. Glancing up, Seb saw why; Nicole had raised her hand. Hiding behind the large chair she was capturing light from the fireflies above her and now she fired a bolt of light at Seb. Instantly Cue, Pace and Moe leapt at her and, ducking back to escape them, she missed. The bolt, instead of striking Seb, shot off to the side and hit Henri, who was running towards her. It caught him on his raised left arm and he yelled in pain, falling to the floor. Black smoke spiralled up from his coat sleeve. The wolves by now had reached Nicole and Moe pounced on her, pinning her to the ground, while Cue and Pace stood either side growling down at her.
“Get off me! You cannot attack, I am a Custodian. GET OFF!” The white glow of her aura intensified as her anger and frustration grew.
Seb, unable to support Aelfric, lowered him to the ground. The remaining wolves had fully encircled them, providing a protective barrier from Nicole. Four more wolves suddenly leapt into the room and Seb recognised two of them from Cue’s pack. They joined the circle.
Blood was still pouring from Aelfric’s side but with a surprising amount of strength, he grabbed Seb’s shirt and pulled him towards him, mumbling ur
gently, but almost incoherently into his ear.
“Stop them, Seb. Stop the wolves; she is not,” he muttered, panting, “not —”
“I said, get off, you brute!” Nicole screamed at Moe, drowning Aelfric’s words out. She wriggled and squirmed underneath the wolf’s bulk and then, managing to work her hand free, captured light from the fireflies and shot a bolt of white light at him. He was thrown off her and she jumped to her feet, backing away from Cue and Pace who closed in, growling. She raised her hand and pointed at them. “Move away!” she ordered and, strangely, instantly, they turned their backs and walked over to join the circle around Seb and Aelfric.
There was no chance of Nicole striking at Seb or Aelfric while they were within the protective ring of these huge beasts and Seb peered between the animals’ backs, looking for Henri, worried that the wolves had left him vulnerable. He managed to catch a glimpse of him, sitting on the floor, clasping his arm, his head bowed. He was obviously in pain and, with relief, Seb saw that Moe, who had recovered from the vicious bolt Nicole had fired at him, was standing in front of him, flanked by two more wolves, blocking Nicole’s access to him too.
She stamped a foot.
“I don’t care!” she shouted. “Let the beasts try and protect you! Aelfric, you will bleed to death before their energy can heal you and Seb, I have just one more trick up my sleeve.” She said the words gleefully but Seb wasn’t listening. Aelfric had collapsed onto the floor and appeared to be unconscious. The pool of blood beneath him was spreading so rapidly it looked more like an arterial bleed. The wolves were whining, unable to help. Seb remembered Greg’s mournful statement on the boat: I was so wrong. These are not normal injuries; it seems he needed to draw the power of the wolf-stags into himself in order to heal them. To do that, he needed to be conscious …” So if Aelfric was unconscious now, he couldn’t use Cue, or any of the wolves, to help him get better.