“A Spell, then?”
“No. Nothing has affected these people.” I turned to the oldest of the group that clustered about us. “Are all the people in the village accounted for? Are they all here?” The answer was negative: some were in the fields, some tending the animals, some fishing. I ordered that everyone should be assembled immediately. There was some confusion and rumblings at the inconvenience. The heavy atmosphere had sucked away their normal openness and friendliness.
“This is the King’s business,” Godwin said loudly, “and you will do as you are told. No harm will come to you.” But he moved to his sword. I put my hand across to stay the threat.
“We’re in pursuit of a dangerous outlaw and we want to be sure he hasn’t taken anyone. Get everyone here, as soon as possible. Children too. I promise and give my word that no harm will come to you. My life on it.” The eldorman looked carefully at me and I looked straight back, holding his gaze. He nodded and told the villagers to do as they were told.
After an eternal fifteen minutes, it appeared that all who were coming were there. A small enough crowd, maybe three dozen. Three names were called out, two of which were answered and, in response to the third, confirmation from two others that he was on his way.
“Is everyone here? Everyone from the village?” The eldorman nodded and I felt relieved. I was about to thank them for their trouble and depart when a voice called out.
“Elfric! Where are you! Elfric, where’s my Elfric?” The voice belonged to a woman with a baby on her hip and a toddler hanging from her arm. She was looking around, curious rather than concerned. The crowd looked around themselves, under themselves, then to the further reaches of the settlement and finally to the fields beyond. There were no stragglers.
“Who is Elfric?” I asked urgently.
“Her son. Her third-born. A fine lad. Strong. He’ll be all right, probably hiding.”
“We must find him,” I said and dismounted. Godwin and Ethelred did so too and the crowd moved back. “We must look for him. Everyone must be accounted for.” Elfric’s mother was looking this way and that, becoming agitated.
“Elfric! Where are you? Come out here! No-one’ll hurt you! Come out from where you’re hiding! Come on now, Elfric!”
“He’s a wilful lad. He’ll have wandered off someplace,” the eldorman said.
“That’s what worries me,” I returned.
“Oh but, surely, no-one, not even an outlaw, not a lad? What are we worth? What can anyone hope for from him?”
“More than you could possibly imagine. We must find him, and quickly. Organise a search. We’ll help you.” I went over to the woman and calmed her. “We will find him. Where does he like to go?” She told me he liked to go to the pool just upriver from the village, and searchers were dispatched there, and the other two or three places she mentioned. “And where have you told him not to go?” She was calmer - with my gentle assistance - but concern was bubbling up again and it was with a shaking arm that she indicated the woods to the south of the village, on the hills above the fields. We headed there immediately after giving the eldorman and the remaining villagers instructions to search all houses and shelters - even the pig sties - and then fan out across the fields and nearby countryside.
We reined the horses in at the edge of the trees. I walked mine up and down the thick undergrowth that edged the fields and dismounted by a small, narrow track, no more than a dent in the surface, perhaps the run of a small animal.
“The boy’s been up here before.” I pushed in under the lowlying branches and stood again as they thinned in the gloom. Godwin and I walked into the woods no more than ten yards.
“Horse-tracks,” Godwin pointed to the soft ground.
“And droppings. He waited here a while.”
“Has he got him?” I closed my eyes and got a whiff of a numbing and consciousness-sapping drug. I felt the echo of the briefest of struggles and staggered into Godwin, almost overcome by my empathy with the recent events. I opened my eyes again sharply, shaking my head to clear it.
“Unless he left him lying here, drugged and unconscious, yes he has.” A quick search confirmed that there was no sleeping child there.
“How long ago?”
“Not long. Less than an hour. Not long before we got here.” Godwin’s breath hissed and he thumped his gloved fist against his chest. “No use crying over it. We must get on after him.”
“Which way?”
“He went off to the west, but I’ll wager he swung around to the north and headed for the Wall. The village fields are more up the valley than downriver.”
“Rough country downriver. Hard to cross.”
“Which may give us an advantage if we go the direct route.”
“Will you risk it? What if he went way east?”
“He would have to find a bridge to cross downriver. Or a busy ford. He’ll want to keep out of sight. I’ll risk it. You with me?” Godwin nodded. We returned to the horses and cantered back down the slope to the boy’s mother and a small crowd, steadily growing as the searchers returned. I dismounted and spoke to the eldorman and the child’s mother.
“The boy has been taken, but not long ago. We believe we know which way the outlaw is heading and we’ll pursue him.” Angry villagers wanted to join the hunt but they were refused. The father of the child was most insistent but we turned him down, as well. “We’ll be faster on horseback. We know what we’re doing and, with the greatest respect, you will just get in the way. We want him back as soon as possible.” I spoke quietly to Elfric’s mother. “You will have your son back by nightfall. Depend on it.” She reached and grabbed my robe as I mounted my horse. I held it for a moment as she looked tearfully into my face. Her cry was silent, but deeply distressed. I looked deeply into her eyes and said, calmingly, “He will be back before nightfall. Depend on it.” Then I let her go and the three of us rode off out of the village to the north.
We cantered along the track for half an hour, heedless of the mist, until I called a halt. I jumped down off my horse and took a deep breath. Godwin and Ethelred, the men of action, were impatient to be moving.
“What are you doing?” Godwin demanded. “We must catch him as fast as we can. We can’t afford delay.”
“We’ll catch him quicker if we know where he is. I’ll find out now,” I replied as I sat against a tree and closed my eyes. I would risk direct contact: no point in trying to be circumspect any more.
In the warm velvet darkness all sparks pointed me to one place, a place I knew. The wall was huge and impenetrable. There was no way round, no way over, no way under. I looked for the door and found it as fast as thought. It was huge, thick, oak, locked, bossed, bound with iron and barred. I touched it and it fell to dust at my feet. Ieuan was inside the room, sitting, waiting, the child on his knee. All around were the bodies of bloody children.
I don’t think we need the distractions he said, and cupboards closed shut on the heaps of bodies. Doors appeared across the shelves. Lids came down over the worktops and more space appeared for the dead children on the floor to be swept into.
You may cover them but they are still there I said, you will carry them with you everywhere. They will never leave you. Nonetheless I left the doors closed. Ieuan looked at the child on his knee.
And there is this one.
Let the child go.
But if I do that my Power fades. It needs to be fed.
We will catch up with you before dark. He is no use to you. Let the child go.
He is everything to me. He is my Power. The heart of the child pulsed red within his chest.
You have nothing. You have been led astray. You have been enslaved by this Power, there is no Gift. Look at the price you have paid, and I opened the doors, raised the lids, opened the cupboards and brought all the dead children into view. You have betrayed God and yourself.
Ieuan shut the doors, lids and cupboards and put the children away. It is the price that must be paid.
&nbs
p; You have been led astray. You have been deceived. You have nothing.
I have seen the future. I have seen what will come to pass. More and more invaders. Only by blood can our victory be bought. We need the strength to repel them. This child will give me the strength.
You have seen the picture you were shown and you gave up all hope. I have seen otherwise. The people will come together and be one and be stronger for their differences. There is real hope. I showed him many peoples, melding together, gaining strength from each and making more of what was there.
Hope of what? A pretty picture? You believe your dead God, who is so bloodthirsty he wouldn’t even spare his own Son? Even his Son he was prepared to see die.
The one sacrifice - willingly given - so that we could throw off the chains of the old demons. You would enslave us again.
Ieuan licked his lips hungrily as he considered the child. Cromm Cruaich - the earth boomed at the name - will like this one. He will give me the Power to defeat you and all who challenge me.
Your demon will not have him. We will be on you before darkness falls. Let the child go. It will be better for you.
Ieuan smiled a hopeless smile and looked at the dead children, then he closed the doors, cupboards and lids again. It could not be any worse.
It will be worse. One more will make it worse. Even now, so late, so late, turn away. You can hope for better. Give the child up to us.
What will you give me? What is this child worth to you?
He is worth everything.
He is nothing. No more than a plaything, a tool, a step to strength and Power. He is nothing, but he can give me so much. He looked at me with eyes lidded with skin thinner than paper. You will let me go if I let you have one worthless child?
No. I will pursue you to the ends of the earth, and I will always find you. I know where you are.
And I know where you are.
I don’t need a dead child and a demon’s deceit to find you. There will be no more dead children. You have sown the seeds of Strathclyde’s end, you will destroy no more.
Ieuan looked up sharply and his eyes flashed black and red. Strathclyde flourishes because of me.
Strathclyde withers as we speak. I showed him my Vision of the blood, pouring out of Strathclyde, which shrivelled and shrunk to nothing, less than a memory.
No! Strathclyde will be strong! We will send the invaders back into the sea!
It is already destroyed. It will wither. It will take time but it is finished. You have destroyed it. You have been deceived. The truth of the image I showed you is indisputable. You had ignored it, you know it is true.
Ieuan considered the child. What will you give me for this child?
Nothing.
Nothing? When he is worth so much to you?
We will find you before you can kill him.
What if I sacrifice him now?
I will still give you nothing. Spite is all you have left and I don’t want that.
Nothing. Not even six hours?
I considered. Half an hour.
Four hours.
I am not here to bargain.
Two hours. Give me two hours.
Give the child up. Turn away from this path, even now, so late.
Will your God forgive me?
I don’t speak for God.
You don’t forgive?
I don’t have the power.
You don’t bind on Earth as in Heaven?
The power is not mine, I don’t seek it.
Is there hope of forgiveness by your God, even for me?
I do not speak for God. Nor will I force you to do anything. The choice is yours. You must make it, freely.
There was silence for eternity.
You can have the child.
You can have your two hours, though they will gain you little. Two hours, then I will come for you.
I will leave him here.
Send him to us. I will guide him. We will come to meet him.
As you wish. He is on his way now.
I will see you soon.
I will destroy you.
As God wishes.
I checked that the boy was on his way and then took a draught of my medicine.
“He has released the boy. He’s coming down the valley now.” Godwin stood and looked out for the child. “We can go and pick him up. We’ll meet him in less than half an hour.”
“Then we go after that monster.”
“No, then you take the boy back to his parents. I go after Ieuan alone.” Godwin protested but I would have none of it. “You wouldn’t be able to get anywhere near him. He would fill your mind with confusion before you were within half a mile. The images themselves – just the images – may kill you. Leave it to me.”
We mounted up and picked our way forward, going carefully across the narrow ground. Sooner than expected we came across a little boy, tearful, frightened, scratched and picking his way through the bushes and over the rocks. I dismounted and walked slowly towards him. The boy looked up and gave a cry of fear. He wanted to turn and run but his eyes had met mine and he stayed where he was, although everything inside him told him to run from this man, who was dressed like the other and had the same head. I held up my hand and spoke.
“Elfric?” the boy nodded, uncertainly. “We’ve come to take you home. These men will take you back to your mother. She’s worried about you and she wants to see you. Would you like to see her?” the boy nodded again. “These men will take you to her. They are friends. They’re the King’s soldiers, and they have come here especially to help you. Would you like a ride on their horses?” The boy nodded enthusiastically and made no resistance when I swept him up in my arms. There was no smell and no sleepiness this time, and he relaxed. I passed him up to Godwin and then went and mounted my own horse. I got into the saddle in time to see Godwin passing the child to Ethelred.
“Take him back to the village.” Ethelred turned off to do as ordered. I sighed.
“Godwin, go back. This is a battle between me and the Druid. I know what I’m doing and you will only get in the way.”
“It seems I’ve heard those words before, but it was my voice then. It was shortly before you saved my life. I haven’t repaid the favour yet. I’m coming with you.”
“Please Godwin, you have no idea what is involved. You know now that I was a fighting man. I know you’ve never been a Druid and have no Gift as I and Ieuan have. Please leave it to me.” Godwin urged his horse closer.
“There’s no point in trying to dissuade me, Magister. I have orders to escort you to the frontier, and to apprehend any wrongdoers I may come across. This man has done great wrong and I am going to help you to apprehend him. Now stop arguing and let’s get on with it.” I hesitated then breathed out, long and slow. I could stay here arguing with Godwin all day and I still wouldn’t get rid of him.
“Very well,” I said finally. “Ethelred, take Elfric back to the village and then wait for Godwin there. Thanks for your help, and God speed.” The English warrior settled the boy on the saddle in front of him and then set off at a trot, back they way they’d come. “Godwin, you can accompany me part of the way, you stubborn great bear. But let me tell you this: the first time you come across something that really frightens you, you are to return to the village and then go on to Bamburgh. If I have you to distract me, I will be handicapped. So the very first time, agreed?” The old veteran, who feared nothing other than his King’s disfavour, agreed confidently. He was certain he would be in at the death.
“Now, I have something to tell you. I made a deal with the Druid to give him two hours start.” Godwin bristled but I continued before he could interrupt. “Either that or risk the boy’s life. Don’t worry, we’ll catch him. Probably before sunset. So let’s sit down and have an early lunch. We have an hour and a half to kill.”
We dismounted and I lit a candle, which I placed in the lee of a tree for shelter. When it burned down, we would move. Meantime we ate, drank, and talked of in
consequential matters such as marriage, children, battles and travels. As we spoke and joked I could feel Godwin’s estimation of me rise a few notches, and my affection for the Englishman deepened, in its turn. He was a brave and knowledgeable man. When the candle burned out we were as close as we would ever be. We mounted up and set off north, through clearer but still dull weather, in renewed pursuit of the Druid.
After three hours I held up my hand and we stopped. The watery light was fading.
“What is it?” Godwin asked, but got no answer.
There was the one I sought, moving much slower than expected. Not far away at all. There was animal pain. All the power in the world would not make it able to bear a man’s weight.
“His horse is lame. He’s not far ahead, about a mile or so, off to the left. Let’s get down and leave the horses here. You never know what’ll happen.” We dismounted and, as we did so, I caught a sound of running water nearby. I handed my reins to Godwin and walked off to the right. In a few minutes I came across a pool in the river, shallow at the edge but ice cold with the water from the hills. The rags and totems about told me this was a sacred place, even had I not felt the peace that lifted my spirits. I was refreshed and strengthened by my visit and I filed the pool’s location in my mind for future reference. Perhaps when this was over I would return and give thanks.
“We’ll go on foot now,” We walked off towards Ieuan’s last hiding place. Godwin drew his sword, at which I raised an eyebrow but offered no comment.
31
The Last Battle
A few moments further on I felt a whooshing roar and I was tied into a tangled thicket of thorns. The plants were alive and wrapped themselves about me, tugging and tearing at my clothes and scratching my legs, my arms and my face as they grew and writhed all around. I breathed slowly and closed my eyes and I was in the clear again.
Godwin was writhing and striking out with his sword in all directions, hacking this way and that, shielding his eyes from an unseen attack. He roared and cursed in his distress.
“Godwin!” I called. No response. “Godwin! Godwin! Stand still! It is Anselm! Magister Anselm! I will come to you! Be calm and I will rescue you! Stop waving your sword about or I can’t get near you!” I got through to him and he stopped, reluctantly, and stood shaking like a frightened colt. His face showed clearly that he was revolted and terrified by the attack. I took a couple of steps across to him, took his sword hand and looked into his eyes.
The Monk (Prince Ciaran th Damned Book 3) Page 37