She smiled at him with love in her eyes and a white glow surrounded her as she hovered in the air. ‘Mirrortac of mine,’ she said. ‘Did I not promise you I would be with you? Dry your eyes now and take care of our children. I am allowed little time to come here in this way. From now on you must see me only with your heart.’ And with great seriousness she said: ‘The vastness of the worlds are so much greater than I could have ever dreamt. And the darkness is moving in swiftly. You shall have little time here before you must continue on north as Ni-Do has said. Take care nought to be deceived, and keep Moongleam at your side, at the ready! I love you, erfin of my heart!’
Yenic drifted farther up into the sky and Mirrortac could feel himself sinking back towards the blackness. ‘Do not leave me. Come back! Come back!’ he cried, but Yenic drew away from him swiftly.
‘Farewell, look for me in your heart,’ she shouted, and was gone.
Mirrortac awoke to the diminishing cry of a bird somewhere in the sky above the bower. He clambered up and out with a rush and searched the sky above. A white bird wheeled high, its wings aglow with the golden light of dawn. It seemed to take pleasure in the lift and dip of the air as it flowed in motions about the expanse of sky. The dream had left a vivid impression that was strangely reassuring. Gone was the bitterness but many more were the questions that vexed his mind.
Mirrortac made his way back down the branch, stopping occasionally to gather courage to tackle the awkward descent. When he was almost down, he stopped one last time and looked up into the sky again. The bird was gone but in the light breeze, a feather swirled in lazy circles towards him. A small branch swayed out and captured the feather a moment then allowed it to fall in front of the erfin. He grabbed it at an impulse and examined it closely. Flecks of golden iridescence reflected from the white web of its structure. ‘Yenic?’ he whispered. The feather seemed to glow in response. He tucked it into his belt for safekeeping and stepped down to the platform.
The erfin made his way to the hall and through to the Sacred Chamber where Prince Chen was entertaining the child-fins. Chen was holding Mitac by his feet and swinging him in circles around himself. Mitac grunted and giggled with obvious glee while the other younglings crawled around happily on the huge floor. Mirrortac bounced up to Treetam and swung her up into his arms, holding her close to him.
Looking up, and smiling the prince said: ‘You have returned, Princeling Mirrortac.’
‘Yea, Chen. I have my task to do. These child-fins are in need of their father. I shall need to be both father and mother now there is no Yenic,’ Mirrortac said.
The prince shook his head. ‘Nay, Mirrortac. You need to be no more than what you are to them. All of Greenfaug is at their bidding.’
‘Then father I shall be. There is nought else for me here,’ Mirrortac sighed.
Prince Chen was wise enough to let the matter rest. He handed over the children to their father who carried them away and began to speak to them in both tongues.
It was the way of erfins to start teaching their children speech only days from their birth - a custom that despite yielding no response for many phases of the moon of Mogog, succeeded in spectacular fashion after about the ninth moon. Thus it was that the erfin spent much of his time in the teaching of his children while Misha attended to their toiletry and other physical needs, and his older girls and many of the adult faugs played games with them.
While the daily contests continued, Mirrortac attended to the single task of teaching language to Mitac, Ezof and Treetam. He persisted despite their fickle moods for he took joy in their keeping. And when others played with them, he accompanied them in their play, talking to them all the time.
When the ninth moon waxed to its height, he listened for their words but it was nearly the tenth moon when each began to speak. Soon they could speak both in the faug and erfin tongues and were learning fast. Mirrortac started to tell them about the two worlds of their heritage and they absorbed what he told them with as much hunger as they attacked their food. The adult faugs rewarded them with flights on their backs, bringing delight to the children. Mirrortac had become quite contented in his special task but as they learned, there was less for him to teach and a restlessness began to nag his searching mind. Meanwhile, in the grey-green world of the forest below Greenfaug, faugs were in fear again as all the lesser snerks moved in from the deep forest where they had been since early times.
It was the fifth day of the 21st moon since Mirrortac had arrived at Greenfaug and an uncommon mood of disquiet had filled the halls. All were called to the Sacred Chamber for an urgent meeting. Mirrortac sat on his throne alongside the prince and of Emeritta. All the faugs of Greenfaug Bowers were assembled and among them were numbered many who had come up from the forest. Prince Chen wore an expression of grim and bitter tidings, which had been brought to him in private just a short time before. One of the he-faugs of the forest stood before him, his face ashen.
The prince raised up his hand for silence as he prepared to address the assembly. A sea of eyes turned up expectedly, disturbed by the graveness of their leader.
‘There is a great and terrible darkness in our beloved forest, fellow faugs of Greenfaug and erfin guests. If you are wondering why there are our fellows of the forest in our presence this day, then it is not a tale I tell with ease. Our fellow Grikfo has brought me news of a host of many snerks that have come upon us from out of the dark forests bordering our domain. Eastfaug Bowers and Merfaug are in ruin and the snerks have crossed the Bludstream. Westfaug has been lost to the darkness and Grassfaug is abandoned. All those who were not eaten have fled and are now safe among us.’
An anxious murmur passed through the crowd. ‘They are yet trembling with fear of this terror,’ the prince continued. ‘All around us the forest is filled with the horrible rattling of snerks. It is clear now that in the death of She, Mother Snerk, that all her dark children are aroused to anger. Such an encounter had escaped our thoughts. Grikfo tells that their march is towards Greenfaug but Yu shall protect us while we seek to destroy them all.’ The prince turned aside to Mirrortac. ‘What say you, Princeling warrior? What do you advise?’
All attention was upon the erfin now as a weighty yet challenging task was set upon him. He did not speak straight away but pondered the matter for some time.
‘This be no easy task, Chen,’ he said. ‘It is one I cannot accept on my own. I shall need the aid of those with many slish-axes and sharp arrows to pierce the eyes of these serpents. Blind serpents will be more the match for armed faugs and erfins. We shall need attendants bearing Merma-mead and essence to tend to us, and fruit close at hand.’ And addressing Grikfo, he said: ‘How near are the snerks?’
Grikfo hastened to answer. ‘When we left the stream, the snerks were gathering in sight of the Sacred Tree of Yu where her feet meets the earth. They are very angry, Princeling Mirrortac. I am trembling yet with their terrible rattling!’
Prince Chen rose from his throne. ‘We shall gather our slish-axes and the best of our archers. This we must do this moment,’ he commanded. ‘Misha, select ten attendants to bring us what we need. Mirrortac, you must come with me. We shall need you to devise the battle. You are too precious to yield close company with the snerks.’
All the faugs in Greenfaug were immediately in haste. All thought of games was lost in the grim activity of preparation. A company of 60 faugs, including attendants, armed themselves with axes and arrows. Mirrortac put on his belt sheathed with Moongleam then headed for the outer platform, a new purpose charging his being.
As he strutted onto the rough timber of the platform, Mirrortac could hear the storm gathering fury beneath the decking. The whorls of churning cloud appeared to foam up at him with spite while Luma took flight across the sky. When all was in readiness, a great company of faugs and erfins stood upon the platform before him; the prince at their head. Chen wore a hastily secured battle garb, complete with a makeshift sling to hold his slish-axe in place. The rumble of the fierce storm echoed up
from below and small wisps of cloud scuttled past with ominous haste. The prince looked clearly troubled.
‘The darkness is close,’ he said, nervously surveying the storm below. ‘My heart shakes within me, Princeling Mirrortac.’
Mirrortac gazed kindly on him and was surprised to see tears in his eyes. Misha was still in the halls with the child-faugs and Mirrortac’s children.
‘What do you fear?’ he asked the prince. ‘Are we nought safe upon the branches of Yu?’
Prince Chen tried to hide his anguish. ‘Yea, it has always being so. But this is truly a time for tears as many have been lost to the terrible snerks and I fear that we are about to be tested. Only within Yu can we be certain of safety.’
A sudden tremor hit the platform, shaking loose a shower of Yu-leaves over the faug and erfin warriors. Below, the storm was the fiercest of all and the sound of the thunder crackled up at them. Misha appeared with a small group of attendants carrying urns of Merma-mead and of essence. Mirrortac saw the alarm in her eyes and realised as he searched the faces of the faugs gathered about him that they had never experienced such a terrible threat. A conflict began to build in his mind. He knew that by his actions in killing the Snerk Mother that he had brought this upon them. Yet who would have known this? They had praised him - now, they had cause to hate him. The weight of an almighty responsibility burdened his furry frame. He rubbed at his head with the worry of it, loosening his grey fur that came out in tufts in his hand. Glancing down, he noticed that all his fur was falling away, littering the platform with hair. He shrugged, too absorbed in the problem of the snerks to worry about this sudden moulting phenomenon.
‘We are prepared, Princeling. May Yu be with us,’ the prince said.
Mirrortac’s brow furrowed at the sight of the strengthening storm. ‘Is there a way down within this tree?’ he said.
‘There is the Passage of the Princes. It will lead us out below the cloud. From there, we must take to the air.’
‘Then we shall go that way. Prepare to leave!’ Mirrortac commanded.
The assemblage prepared their weapons and attendants gathered supplies and food. Mirrortac withdrew his sword and waved it above his head. ‘Hail to Yu! Death to all snerks!’ he shouted.
The crowd shouted their defiance with a loud roar. ‘Hail to Yu! Death to all snerks!’
Suddenly there was a noise within the whole sky and the cloud below flew up in turmoil. Fear gripped them as the wind shrieked up at them across the open platform. The spreading branches of the giant tree swayed violently and leaves were flung off in whirling masses of green. Long grey wisps of cloud spurted up to the height of the platform as the storm boiled with menace. Like a cauldron, the storm edged up the trunk of the Sacred Tree at an alarming pace.
Rising scuds of mist blanketed the sun. Faugs and erfins huddled together, their eyes and faces masks of horror. Several screams issued up from among the attendants as some of them were struck by leaves, that with the force of the wind, knocked them over. Panic overtook them, dispersing the crowd in a mad rush for the entrance to the hall.
Prince Chen shouted above the wind. ‘Fear nought. It is just the storm. Do not rush!’ But the faugs were tripping over each other to get through the doorway. A violent gust of wind flicked up one of the he-faugs and flung him into the air. The faug opened his wings as the gust took him off the platform; he tried to glide back down but he was flung up in an updraft then as suddenly flung down in a gush into the storm. Faugs looked on in horror, waiting for the he-faug to reappear but the storm had swallowed him up. The crowd pushed towards the doorway, trampling and crushing their fellows in the mad panic. Mirrortac raced forward and drew his sword. His face was stern and his eyes sparked with the wild passion of a warrior.
‘Any faug who tries to rush the entrance shall have to deal with the blade of Moongleam!’ he yelled, his voice carrying above the turmoil of the storm.
Faces turned as one towards the figure of the erfin and the rush halted. All were numbed into obedience as they beheld the warrior stance and the aura of commanding power that emanated from the Princeling Mirrortac; his sword gleaming silver against the grey sky. Even the storm seemed to hold its breath against him.
Mirrortac lowered his sword and issued command. ‘You will be warriors for our Spirit of Yu and Mateote, and not like silly children. Now, march behind me and let us slay the snerks!’
The crowd fell in behind the erfin as he led the way into the halls; his manner in every way demanding obeisance. Prince Chen made his way to the front and marched alongside Mirrortac as they paced up the hall. The prince glanced sideways, amazed at how the erfin had taken charge and averted more tragedy. Mirrortac seemed to be transformed into a powerful warrior. All his being now was fully concentrated into the task of ridding them of the snerks.
Outside, the storm enveloped all of Greenfaug, pounding the outer platform and the bowers with a stinging wet mist. Gusts of wind stripped the branches of all their leaves and tore apart the bowers, flushing them into the sky. Mirrortac and the assemblage made their way to the Passage of the Princes, moving toward the lower gateway. Many stumbled as the great tree swayed in the storm. Their cheeks were moist with tears and their expressions were those of frightened children.
The passage descended past the tombs of princes and princesses who had died long ago. They moved onwards down into an unlit sector of the passage where it was only due to the grace of Mirrortac’s night sight that they were guided farther downwards. The storm raged on relentless, causing the erfin to wonder whether the gateway would escape the fury. That question would soon be answered as they moved into a large chamber equal in size to the Sacred Chamber. The chamber air was musty and stale – a clear indication that the gateway had not been opened in some time. Mirrortac waited near where he thought the gateway would be while the faugs stumbled into the chamber, their eyes unused to such darkness. A tiny glow marked where an attendant held a flame-beetle, its light weaving slowly through the crowd, creating pale glimpses of green faces. As the light moved nearer to the erfin, his eyes were reflected like two oval moons. ‘You, with the beetle!’ he cried out. ‘There is a lantern upon this wall. Light it.’ he ordered.
The attendant approached and lifted the beetle to the wall. ‘I cannot see the lantern,’ the female voice said.
Mirrortac took the beetle from the attendant. ‘You have served well to bring the beetle with you. I will light the lantern,’ he said.
The attendant bowed as Mirrortac lifted the beetle to the lantern and lit the tree-wax wick. The wick sparked as it struggled to burn then burst into flame, illuminating a wide circle of the chamber. The two carved doors of the gateway could now be seen, bolted firmly shut with a large log. Prince Chen looked to the erfin who nodded to him for the doors to be opened. The prince picked out four he-faugs. ‘Stand to the Gateway of Yu!’ he commanded.
The he-faugs immediately took their places at either side of the log bolt. ‘Clear the lock!’ the prince ordered. The faugs put their weight under the log and lifted it clear of the doors. The prince stepped forward and lifted an arm. ‘Let Yu be opened!’ he cried.
The faugs pulled at the two sides of the timber doors, heaving until they yielded with a loud creak. Grey light streamed in through the gap, accompanied by an inrush of cool air and water. The doors were opened wide, revealing a torrent of rain that drove past in gusty curtains. A spray of fine mist blew back into the opening and inside the chamber. The erfin shivered and stepped up to the edge of the opening. He looked down at the forest below and saw only a green smudge through the blinding rain. A curtain of water dribbled over the lip of the opening, splashing at his feet and running in small streams along the floor. Mirrortac allowed his gaze to fall onto the trunk of the tree of Yu and his eyes halted with a jolt. ‘Great Mateote!’ he cried, and leapt back. ‘The snerks! They are beneath us!’
‘How near?’ the prince asked.
‘Perhaps twenty of my length from here. Withdraw your
axes! Ready your arrows!’ Mirrortac commanded.
The he-faug warriors withdrew their weapons but their demeanour lacked courage. Prince Chen inspected the opening. ‘I can send some of our archers along that bough beyond the opening. We may be able to blind some of them before they reach us,’ he said. Mirrortac nodded his approval.
The prince immediately selected some of his archers and hurried them to the opening. They moved with hesitation and as the first of them stepped out onto the bough, there was a sudden roar issued from the side, out of sight. The archer swung around and cried out in alarm. The wedge-shaped head of a snerk shot out of the gloom, striking the branch with a sharp blow. The he-faug lost his balance and fell over backwards. His bow slipped from his hands; his wings flapping up vainly, propelling him down into the waiting jaws of another snerk positioned beneath him. The faug’s squeal was cut short with a terrible crunch of bone. There was a quick retreat as the archers rushed for shelter. The topmost snerk curled its neck around and hissed at them through the opening.
‘Shut the gateway!’ shouted the prince.
The door-faugs fumbled at the timber in their haste to push it shut. The snerk roared its defiance, its glassy eyes searching out the erfin, its tongue lapping at the timber of the doors. The door-faugs pushed the doors towards each other, closing the gap. The snerk charged the entrance, ramming into the doors with its huge head. The faugs were thrust back and scuttled with the impact. Mirrortac stared up at the snerk’s nostrils and the fork of its leathery tongue as it flipped through the opening.
Chen motioned to more of his he-faugs to assist. ‘Quick! Help them. Shut the gateway!’
More faugs stepped up to the doors and pushed them back into the looming head of the snerk. The serpent forced the gap. More faugs joined in the effort but the snerk was too powerful. The Yu-wood buckled under the pressure and faugs slid across the floor as the monster pushed its way in. The snerk’s cold gaze rested upon Mirrortac and it issued a long slow hiss. The prince looked at the erfin with agitation, waiting for him to act.
The Wizard's Sword (Nine Worlds of Mirrortac Book 1) Page 12