The Power of Seven

by Peter R. Ellis

  “I’m sure the power of the metals can protect us,” Hedydd said to September, “but the Arsyllfa’s defences have never been tested like this.”

  September gripped the Maengolauseren in her right hand and stretched out her arm.

  “The starstone knows what to do. It’s destroyed comets before, but I haven’t dealt with four at once.” Its violet glow was weak compared to the brilliance of the dome over the observatory. September still felt neither fear nor anger. This was merely a spectacle to watch. The other guests however were beginning to have second thoughts about confronting the approaching fire dragons. They edged towards the wall on the south side of the tower and the doors to the staircase. The four metal wielders stood resolutely gripping the spars and Hedydd remained by September’s side.

  All four comets had grown to the size of the full Moon, their discs a roiling mass of flame, and their tails curled across the sky. Now September could sense their movement. The four fireballs were coming to her. She was the target, not the Arsyllfa itself. What if the protection of the metals should fail? What if the starstone did not respond? A tickle of apprehension crept up her spine. Her birthmark was burning too. She stretched her arm higher still.

  The discs of fire and the streamers of light that trailed behind them grew until their combined intensities banished the stars from view. Their heat stirred up a wind which, blowing from all four directions, created a vortex that swirled around them catching at September’s dress. Hedydd staggered, the whirlwind threatening to blow her off her feet.

  “Go,” September told her, “get inside.” The woman dropped to her knees and crawled to the doorway, her hair blown upwards. The four Prif-cludydd clung to the metal bars with both hands, screaming unintelligible incantations at the heavens. The skeletal dome shone but now the globes of fire were brighter than anything in the sky and filled the view.

  September was scared. She wanted to follow Hedydd, to hide away from the Malevolence but was frozen to the spot. What if Aurddolen or one of the others lost their grip and were blown from the top of the tower? Could the magic of the metals withstand four of the comets? The wind swirled around her but she didn’t feel the buffeting. She gripped the stone firmly and shouted,

  “Stop!”

  The violet light of the stone grew in intensity and expanded from her raised fist. It filled the dome of the observatory; and stopped. The Draig tân stopped in their paths, suspended in the sky.

  September was surrounded by a translucent white haze which obscured her view. She was looking straight up and saw, descending towards her, a figure. The white hair and black dress identified her immediately as her twin even before she could make out her features. The figure got closer until she floated down to stand in front of September.

  “You did this, didn’t you?” September said.

  Her twin looked around at the four indistinct glowing globes hanging motionless in the foggy sky.

  “These? Yes they’re mine. I thought it would be an interesting test of your skill with the starstone.”

  “Aurddolen thought he and the others could defend the observatory alone.”

  “Perhaps they can. But the stone and metals of this puny tower are not my target. I don’t think they can protect you. Only that pebble that you carry may have the power to do that. As you can see you have the power to stop time.”

  September realised that the fireballs were hanging in the sky unmoving and their flames were frozen.

  “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why do you attack me?”

  “You are my enemy. Throughout the history of this universe the Maengolauseren and its bearer have opposed the Malevolence.”

  “But that history is not yours. You and I grew together in Mother’s womb. We are, or rather I am, just sixteen years of age.”

  “In your world perhaps. Time is different here. Above the stars there is no time, the past, the now and what is yet to come do not exist. I have no experience of life in your world. My knowledge, my experience, my memory is of the cosmos of the Malevolence, and its eternal fight with the powers of Daear and its guardians.”

  “I don’t understand. What are these powers? It’s different in our world. The Malevolence doesn’t exist there.”

  “What do you mean ‘our world’? Have you forgotten? I never lived there. I died before I became me and my soul was flung beyond the stars. The Malevolence gave me succour, gave me knowledge, and I shall repay it by ensuring its victory at last over you and these insignificant people.”

  September was confused but knew that she could not, would not let her twin succeed.

  “I won’t let you.”

  “You will. Give me the stone.”

  Her twin leapt for the Maengolauseren which September had kept raised above her head. The girl’s hand closed around her own and tried to pull it down. September shook her hand trying to loosen her twin’s grip but without success. She lashed out with her right foot striking her sister in the stomach. Her twin winced and let her grip slip but then flung herself at September, her hands groping for her neck. September ducked and twisted, evading the clutching hands. The stone now was wrapped in her hand and she swung her arm. Her fist struck the side of her twin’s head. A blast of violet light sent the young woman sprawling away from her.

  Her sister slowly picked herself up and stood facing her again. She rubbed the side of her head.

  “You have some power over the stone, but it is uncontrolled. You don’t know what you are doing.” She raised a hand towards one of the Draig tân fixed in the sky. Her hand seemed to grasp it and fling it at September. Instinctively September raised the stone to ward off the fiery ball. The violet beam shot out and met the globe in its flight. It exploded in a blast of blue light.

  “You’re right,” September said, “I don’t know how to use it properly, but I will and I will be ready to fight the Malevolence and everything it can do. But we are sisters; we don’t have to be enemies.”

  “Don’t we? It’s the law of the universe, this universe,” her sister said, flinging another comet at her, “We were born together. It was luck which of us was the seventh.” September fended the comet off with another blast of violet light.

  “It could have been, should have been, me that is the bearer,” the twin continued sending the third comet blazing towards September, “It’s you who should have died.”

  September held the stone firmly and again the blue beam stopped the missile in a shower of violet.

  “But I didn’t” she said, “Things happened as they happened.”

  Her twin reached for the final comet somehow holding it in her outstretched hand.

  “But they may not have done. We are bound by that possibility, and so I, who never lived, and you, who inherited the powers of the Maengolauseren, are forever destined to struggle for victory.” She threw the final comet towards September with all her force. It sped towards September. Calmly she held the stone in front of her and waited for the blue beam to shoot out. The ball of fire came closer and closer and still nothing happened. The comet was almost upon her when September felt a stab of fear. Immediately blue fire exploded from the stone, blasting the comet from the sky.

  “You see,” her twin cackled, “the stone only reacts to your emotions. Only when you are threatened does it protect you. That’s why so many of your companions perished. You are only concerned for your own safety.”

  “It’s not true,” September cried, “I didn’t want Tudfwlch or Cynddylig to die, or the others.”

  “But you let them.”

  “No, you’re wrong,” September was angry. She raised the stone towards her twin, about to will the blue light to destroy her sister. She wanted to see her sister blasted into oblivion. Her sister.

  She lowered her arm.

  “I don’t want to fight you,” she said.

  “You will. When I bring destruction on all who inhabit the Land, you will wish me dead all over again. It is a race between us. As
you learn the powers of the stone you wield so the strength of the Malevolence will grow as the Conjunction approaches. Before my coming the Malevolence had no guiding intelligence to overcome the Maengolauseren but now it has me to direct its energy. This time we will win.”

  Her twin started to walk away, retreating into the mist.

  “Wait,” September called, “What do you call yourself? Do you know the name Mother gave you?”

  “The Malevolence is my mother now and I am called Malice.”

  Her voice faded into the enveloping clouds.

  September called after her, “No, your name is Mairwen.”

  September was back on the dark floor of the observatory, the white glow gone, her hand still raised up, but the Draig tân had disappeared and the sky was filled merely with stars. The wind had calmed.

  Aurddolen and the other three Prif-cludyddau stared at the sky with bewilderment.

  “What happened there?” Cynhaearn said.

  “I don’t know,” Betrys replied, “The Draig tân were almost upon us and then they weren’t.”

  Aurddolen faced September.

  “Do you know what happened, Cludydd?”

  September lowered the starstone, its light gone out and the fire in her hip just a memory.

  “I don’t know. I shouted ‘stop’ and everything did. My twin appeared, we argued and fought and then she went away.”

  “Your twin sister summoned the Draig tân?”

  “That’s what she said. She is directing the Malevolence. She tried to kill me to get the stone.”

  Aurddolen released his grip on the dome and the others did the same. The illumination died. He came to September and folded his arms around her.

  “This is not good news. It is a development that we have not planned for. We will need to discuss what it means.”

  “And I need some answers. Although I’m not sure what the questions are. I’m confused.” There were tears in September’s eyes.

  “Let’s get back downstairs. I think you need a good rest and then we can try to find answers to those questions whatever they might be.” He guided September to the stairwell, with Cynhaearn, Cynwal and Betrys close behind.

  2

  September stirred in bed. She felt so comfortable that she didn’t want to wake up. Just a bit longer of snug warmth before getting up to say good morning to Mother, Father, her sisters and perhaps even Gus, and then her day would begin. Her first day of being sixteen. She half-opened her eyes and had a shock. The bed may have been comfortable but it wasn’t her bunk; it was a wide divan. The room wasn’t her small bedroom, but a huge suite. The light that illuminated the room wasn’t from the sun she was familiar with; it came from the minute bright lamps in the ceiling. It all came back to her. Her birthday had been weeks ago and she had travelled hundreds of kilometres across the Land, seen amazing sights, fought fierce monsters, lost good friends. She was overwhelmed with fear and sadness and a sob made catch her breath. She was choking; the air wouldn’t enter her lungs. Her arms waved involuntarily and a hand hit the bell rope. She grabbed it and pulled.

  Instantly the door opened and Sieffre entered. He saw her gasping for breath. He ran to her, scooped her up in his arms and hugged her. The shock of the movement did something because September felt cool air rush down her throat. She took a deep breath and felt the air fill her chest. Her heartbeat began to slow. Sieffre kept hold of her but loosened his grip.

  “What is the matter, Cludydd? Were you attacked?” He looked around the room.

  September found that she had the breath to speak.

  “No, it was just the shock. I’m alright now, thank you.”

  Sieffre released her but stood beside the bed.

  “The shock?”

  “I woke up thinking I was at home and then everything came back to me in a rush.”

  “Ah, I see. The sleep of the night banishes memories but the light of day brings them back.”

  “Something like that. Actually I think it was the bed.”

  “The bed?”

  “It’s the first time I’ve had a comfortable night since I got here.”

  Sieffre grinned.

  “I understand. You slept well.”

  “Well, no, not really, not for a long time. I was restless because I could not get things out of my head. But then I suppose, I was just too tired, and the bed so soft I eventually fell asleep but when I woke up it felt like I was at home.”

  “I don’t suppose any of us realise what you have been through, thrust into our world from a place we have no knowledge of, and given a task that not one of us could take on.”

  “So you people say, but thank you for calming me down.”

  “My pleasure, my lady.”

  “I’ve told you before. I’m not your lady. I’m September.” Something flashed into September’s mind prompting her to ask, “How did you come in so quickly? You were outside in the corridor, weren’t you?”

  “Yes, September.”

  “On guard?”

  “Yes, September.”

  “Not all night?”

  “No. Nisien took the first watch.”

  “Why?”

  “To protect you and in case you had need of something.”

  “I’m not used to being waited on, or needing protection.” No, she was just stupid September, the snow-haired fatty; loved by her parents but hardly noticed by anybody else.

  “Aurddolen thought you needed both.”

  Another tremor of fear and trepidation gripped September. She shivered.

  “Are you alright, Cludydd?” Sieffre asked.

  The moment passed. September smiled.

  “September, please. And yes, I’m okay. I suppose I had better get up and meet everyone again. Is it late?”

  “I imagine everyone will have breakfasted by now; the morning is well on, but everyone understands that you need rest, September.”

  “I wish Mother was so understanding.” An image of her mother shaking her awake gave her another brief pang of homesickness. “Right, I’ll move.” She swung her legs off the bed and Sieffre stepped back hurriedly.

  “I’ll wait outside until you need me again,” he said, backing away to the door.

  September couldn’t resist making use of the marvellous plumbing again. She soaked in the bath then wrapped herself in the soft towels. Rummaging through the huge wardrobe she looked for something to wear. There were dresses of all colours, fabrics and styles, all long, but nothing like a pair of jeans or cut-offs for knocking around in. She sighed and finally pulled out a pale blue cotton dress that only came down to her calf. At least she could move without tripping up. She pulled it on, ran her hands through her frizzy white hair and pulled the door to the corridor open.

  Sieffre was there, relaxed but alert. He escorted her down to the dining room which was empty but food and drink was awaiting her; far more than she could eat herself, although she was hungry. Sieffre left her to eat alone.

  As she was biting into a pear, Aurddolen came in.

  “Good morning, Cludydd. Sieffre said you were breakfasting.”

  “‘Morning. This fruit is so good.”

  “Do you feel well? Sieffre said you awoke in something of a panic.”

  “I’m fine,” September said jauntily. It was her nature to be bright and cheerful. It was the only way to be in a large family. Then she realised that actually she wasn’t alright, that the events of the past weeks were pressing on her, that the thought of what lay ahead was daunting, and the plans of her twin terrified her.

  “Well, actually I’m not. I’m scared silly and I’ve got no idea how I’m supposed to do whatever I have to do.”

  “I understand,” Aurddolen said, as he sat down beside her, “You have seen and done so much since you arrived amongst us, with so little help or explanation. Defeating the Malevolence was always going to be a tremendous quest and now with your twin directing the evil I am not sure how that affects the plans we have set in motion. But it is tim
e that we talked. When you have finished we will go to my room and I will try to answer your questions.”

  September looked at the remains of the pear in her hand. She laid it down on her plate.

  “I’m ready.”

  They climbed the stairs to the Mordeyrn’s small study. He sat her down in the most comfortable chair and pulled up the lighter, wooden chair to be close to her.

  “I thought you would be busy preparing for the journey,” September said. The Mordeyrn smiled.

  “Preparations are indeed being made for our departure, but there is much to be done before we set off.”

  “Last night people seemed to think there was a long way to travel in the time left.”

  “There is indeed,” Aurddolen sighed, “I do wish that Eryl had been able to calculate the exact time sooner, but we have no control on when the Conjunction occurs and we had to await your arrival.”

  “Can we get to the place in time?”

  “It is a long distance and travelling, particularly over the ice, will be difficult, but I am confident that it can be done.”

  “Shouldn’t we get started as soon as possible?”

  Aurddolen gave September an expression that hinted of unspoken thoughts.

  “There are things to be done before we leave the safety of the Arsyllfa. The most important being helping you.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes. You are the one who must face the Malevolence at the Conjunction.”

  “But, I don’t know what I have to do.” September felt her task weighing on her like a heavy burden.

  “Exactly,” he said, “now where shall we start?”

  September’s mind was blank. So much had happened to her, so many people had spoken of their hope in her, but she was confused.

  “I don’t know. Everything is so different here compared to my home, my world. It’s all a mystery. I’m not even sure whether this is Earth, although you talk about the Sun and the Moon and the planets – well, as far as Saturn.”

  “Yes, I understand. Well, I think I do.” Aurddolen stood up and went to his bookcase. He lifted down a large, heavy book. “You heard the story of the last descent of the Malevolence and how your mother, Breuddwyd, the Cludydd, defeated it.”