Clan Green Bear: Wizards of White Haven

by Frances Howitt

  ‘I know, but it’s not safe to go out into the forest to quarry more stone, or chop more trees at the moment,’ Drako said sourly knowing both activities made a great deal of noise and required lots of people to be working unprotected with heavy wagons and teams of horses. They had no idea whether the catchers had backup nearby, who might be on guard after the loss of a team. ‘What are you suggesting?’

  ‘We build with what we have to hand. We have masses of brush type timber, clay and straw. We could build wattle and daub houses quickly and easily. Then your people could all be together. I suggest we use that big corner area we were in last night for a separate and secret second settlement. It’s out of sight of the school with the trees down there and that would reduce the obvious size of the populace here. We could put in a hedge to block the view from one village to the other so any visitors will think we only have a single small village. I’m also thinking we’d all prefer it if Darius was in a separate village to you. People being down in that corner will also mean you have eyes and ears to anyone attempting to sneak in unnoticed again. I’ll just work my idea through,’ she added sketching in her ideas quickly on the paper.

  While she worked, Drako popped out to instruct Freddie on the disposal of last night’s enemies. It was a gruesome task, but the wolves would handle it discreetly. They would also know how to avoid anyone lurking close by.

  He watched her frowning in concentration as she worked. She was his betrothed! His happiness was overflowing. She glanced up at him and he couldn’t resist leaning over to kiss her, aware she shared his joy.

  ‘You’re not helping me concentrate on these plans,’ she chided lightly, but had to kiss him back. Then she waved him off out of the way.

  She got up at one point to stare out the window, reminding herself of the positioning of the existing village’s buildings. There was a large low barn at the end of the main street. A narrow track turned right along the front of the barn to serve two newly added houses. She drew a new path off that track between the side of the barn and the nearest house, which would appear to go around the back of the barn to the fields. The new track would then lead away, in line with the main village street and parallel to the perimeter wall. The path would be just wide enough for a cart and be paved in a twin ribbon of stone designed to stop wagon wheels sinking in mud. That agricultural style track would be less obviously a main thoroughfare whilst the paving would minimise the signs of traffic.

  She drew in an orchard of assorted fruit trees and shrubs that the lane would appear to serve, together with a large fenced field for horses or cows on the other side of the track. Anyone going that way, or appearing from this area could be explained away better than if the area looked wild and unused. Trees dropped their leaves however; they would not be a year around screen. She sat and pondered before inspiration came to her. Just beyond the orchard, she designed a substantial turf covered earth bank with a tunnel entry through it. This could serve firstly to hide the additional village buildings properly in the winter months. Secondly, it could appear to be a natural feature from a distance. Thirdly, it would dull any sounds from the new settlement and fourthly, it could become a superb defensive structure to shelter behind in the event of an attack.

  Next, she moved on to her initial thoughts for designing the secret village. She sketched in a central pond and then mirrored the style of the existing village, but mainly concentrating on homes rather than large workshops. She designed in open areas for small animals, or growing vegetables; whatever they wished. None of the houses was close to the boundary wall. With the defensive spell now in place greedy for magical contact and the possibility enemies might try to breach the wall, she felt it prudent to keep as much of a distance as possible between it and people’s homes. That open strip of land beside the wall was however, ideal for crops or animal paddocks.

  ‘I would never have thought of that bank,’ Drako commented staring at her design thoughtfully. ‘It strikes me it would be useful to be able to get inside it. Perhaps we could build a couple of chambers inside too that could be used as storerooms or serve to get people hidden. Some curves would also make it look more natural.’

  ‘How about placing a low barn against the bank? That could disguise a hidden entrance to your secret chambers,’ she suggested. ‘I can’t do any more until I go back over there and see it again,’ Cassy told him, looking out the window again. She could only remember so much detail about the topography of the area, and they were now looking at specific positioning of key things.

  ‘Eat first love,’ he said placing a plate of buttered bread before her.

  ‘This is good,’ she said in surprise biting into the crusty bread with the soft fresh interior.

  ‘Our baker does a nice loaf,’ Drako agreed tucking in to his own breakfast. ‘We’re still reliant on the school’s flour but at least he can now make the school’s bread for them. I’ll have to get some more, this was meant for lunch!’

  ‘We can go up to the school for lunch instead. Oh, Vako will probably have a go at me for missing this morning’s lesson,’ she added anxiously. ‘I hope Jim remembered to tell him I wasn’t coming today.’

  ‘I thought you weren’t doing much now you’ve just finished your exams?’

  ‘Most people aren’t; those that live locally have gone home for the end of term’s break, which is a full week. But I decided to stay and have already started on next year’s classes.’

  ‘What? Why?’ Drako asked in concern.

  ‘Jim and Vako came to me and suggested it. They said they thought I could cope with doing extra lessons over each of the holidays. It’ll mean I could potentially finish school a year early,’ she explained.

  ‘But why put yourself through this? You’ll be exhausted.’ He did not mention his fear that she would not have time for him again.

  ‘I’m scared,’ she told him.

  ‘Scared of what exactly?’

  ‘Of so many things,’ she said. ‘I’m scared the wizard inquisitors will attack us in force and I won’t know enough to help defend us. I’m scared you’ll get arrested and taken away. I’m scared they’ll close the school and force us all to leave. I’m scared I’ll be left with very incomplete training and thus fail to make my way in the world. My parents might also decide all this learning to be an active independent wizard is too dangerous and make me go home. I need to know more. I want to be ready in case anyone decides to part us,’ she added. ‘I couldn’t bear it if I failed you just when you needed a wizard most.’

  ‘Cassy, I don’t like you thinking like that. There is no sense in worrying over things that are unlikely to happen. I have the utmost respect for your abilities, your courage and strength of will, just as you are now. As I hope, you also trust I am not entirely without defences. No one can part us,’ he told her.

  ‘I know, but seeing you hurt so quickly last night brought it home to me that life can be short and brutal. I know you’ve lived with such a harsh experience of life but I haven’t; it’s shocking.’ She now had a better understanding of what drove him to go for what he wanted with such single-minded focus; he never knew how long he would have to achieve his goal before it was snatched out of reach.

  Drako wrapped his arms about her silently, feeling her clutch at him. ‘Things always seem rather harsh and depressing after an attack,’ he told her gently. ‘We’re together and no-one was killed; that’s all that matters to me,’ he said and kissed her forehead gently.

  ‘You’re right and we beat them,’ she said seeing the love in his eyes and straightening up to clear the table. She rolled up the plan with a fresh sheet of paper and then they walked down to the corner area near the wall hand in hand.

  Together they spent the morning mapping out the area, noting its size and main features, and drawing it out on the sheet. There was a nice large clear area on a line with the other village and by the perimeter wall. The land then sloped upwards with a quite densely wooded belt of trees, before petering out into the square
mile of open parkland surrounding the school. Thus, this corner was visually hidden and relatively inaccessible from the school buildings. Creating a discrete defensive barrier would be easy amongst the trees.

  Cassy revised her earlier sketch, drawing sufficiently accurately to make a rough estimate of the space required to accommodate the required amount of housing in this second village. She based the design on the other village’s spacing requirements and determined that there would be ample space in this area for the purpose. She used the position of existing trees to help determine layouts too, drawing many of the buildings in the shade of or hidden amongst mature trees. In that way, the settlement would benefit from some natural screening from view.

  With a rough plan drawn up, Drako pinned it to his office wall and called a village meeting. Agreement for the creation of a new and secret settlement was quickly reached. The longer the rest of their people were scattered, the more dangerous it was for everyone. Building the earth bank was a priority and work would immediately begin collecting materials and preparing the site. Everyone recognised that hiding the area from outsiders was necessary before building anything else could even start. Of course, agreement on the design of something as personal as someone’s home, particularly when said people were not here yet, was difficult. Everyone had an opinion.

  ‘I have a suggestion.’ Cassy spoke up and the loud chattering stilled. ‘I think once we have the bank we should concentrate on the barn first. It would make one large shelter, so most of your people can come here immediately to safety. That will help the others avoid detection. They can then be here to design and build their own homes,’ Cassy suggested. Drako’s meeting room was full of his people, most worried about their kin still having to live on the run and defend themselves. ‘Lord Trent ought to come with them. He’s not a young man anymore and we could use his experience. Darius could look after the remainder.’

  Drako glanced around the room; many were nodding agreement to Cassy’s suggestion, much to his relief. ‘Good idea, we’ll send word to them to come in another week’s time. That will give us a chance to build the bank and put up the barn. We do have many useful materials already assembled. Cassy do you think Jim would give us a hand? It’d speed things up greatly.’

  ‘He’s always busy, but if I ask for his help in Amelie’s hearing, he’s more likely to agree. He likes to be at the centre of things and know what is going on. He’ll be curious,’ Cassy added with a small smile.

  Drako shared her grin then turned to everyone else. ‘Ok, at first light bring down whatever materials you have ready.’ He turned to the masons particularly, ‘I’ll send you some extra hands.’

  The room emptied leaving Cassy collecting up the plans and Drako escorting everyone out. She sat down now the house was quiet, and contacted Jim, striking while the iron was hot.

  ‘He’s going to come down straight after breakfast tomorrow,’ Cassy grinned at her love.

  ‘But that’s when everyone will be really busy,’ Drako said then his grin widened. ‘You suggested that because he’ll be unable to resist helping?’

  ‘Of course,’ she said with an overly innocent expression that had him laughing. She knew what brought out the useful side of this powerful wizard. ‘Now, I’m going to have a good dinner and we’ll need an early night. If my plan works Jim will be reaching for the nearest magic available to help shoulder the load and unless I can get any other wizards down here, it’ll just be me he leans on.’

  ‘I suppose that’ll serve you right for manipulating him,’ Drako suggested, knowing that was how Jim would view it, assuming he realised that’s what she was doing deliberately.

  She shrugged, knowing getting help was not just sensible but necessary. Those living on the run all knew a safe haven was being prepared for them. Whilst it gave them hope and something to fight for, it did also mean their enemies could find out where the rest of the clan had disappeared to if anyone was caught and forced to tell.

  ‘I’ll go up to the school for breakfast tomorrow,’ Cassy told him. ‘I’ll see who else I can get to come down who would be discreet. Meantime, you make sure we have enough materials to hand for the kind of work Jim could accomplish.’

  ‘Yes my lady, anything you say,’ Drako told her with a cheeky grin for her orders, but she was right. He had the rest of the afternoon to help prepare said materials. She meanwhile had to return to her afternoon lessons so would be unable to assist him.

  The following morning Drako noticed a crowd walking down from the school to the village. ‘Looks like we’re getting reinforcements,’ he announced. Cassy was amazing.

  ‘Your lady never fails to find a way to help just when we need it most,’ Freddie commented, dusting off his hands and pushing back his hair from his hot sweaty face.

  ‘I know,’ Drako agreed his pride apparent.

  ‘You could have told me we’d have so many pretty girls visiting,’ Freddie murmured, embarrassed by his sweat darkened shirt encrusted with mud and stone dust. Not that anyone else was any drier or cleaner. They had been working flat out since first light. Now he knew why Drako had been so insistent on getting all the materials they could get their hands on or assembled so far, over to this new village site.

  Drako chuckled at his still single friend, but then carried right on working prompting everyone else to do so too, ignoring the wizards. He left it to Cassy to do the explanations of what was going on. He hid his smile as she produced her plan from her coat pocket and unfolded it for Jim. He knew Jim was looking around at what they were doing and watching Drako in particular too, probably trying to discern if this was a setup. Nevertheless, Cassy had Jim eating out of her hand, diverting his attention to where exactly they planned to have each feature.

  ‘I suppose you’d like a hand?’ Jim said drily.

  ‘Well, that’d be useful,’ Cassy conceded casually. ‘As you can see, we’ve got a lot to do and you could speed things up greatly.’

  Jim laughed knowing he had been set up artfully and there were five of Cassy’s classmates with her too to enable a proper meld. They would certainly help spread the load of any major building.

  ‘Very well, give me that plan and tell everyone to stand clear,’ Jim ordered decisively. ‘Ladies let us create a meld if you wouldn’t mind?’

  In practiced short order, a wide trench dug itself under Jim’s direction, and then filled with sandy gravel. It shivered and settled into a nicely firm foundation even while Jim started work building the walls with the blocks and cement already prepared in readiness. Three large oval chambers formed, one against the perimeter wall, one the other end where the land sloped up into the band of trees, and a smaller one in the centre. A pair of parallel walls built themselves, wide enough apart for two people to walk abreast in comfort to access the chambers. An hour later, the walls were chest high all the way along the length of the structure.

  Tea and cookies were handed out to the wizards flopped in the grass. Many of Drako’s people went to have a look at what had been achieved, wide eyed at work that would have taken weeks to build manually. Another hour saw the stone tunnel roofed, the gateway arched over and chambers gracefully domed. Gravel heaped itself thickly against the outer sidewalls all the way along.

  ‘This is quite obvious. Do I read the plan correctly that it’s meant to be grassed over?’ Jim asked Drako sitting in the grass nearby.

  ‘Yes. We thought grass would help it blend in to the background and look a natural feature. It will also serve to block sound from this corner as well as sight. Turf is a good insulator too. Those chambers will become excellent storerooms,’ Drako told him.

  ‘Ah. Where were you planning to get the soil and turf? This bank will take some covering,’ Jim asked surveying it critically.

  ‘Well, we wanted to dig a small lake over there for water and to stock with fish. We thought that would give us most of the soil and turf. Equally, the thirty houses we are planning on building will need foundations digging and the turf removing.
I think we’ll easily have enough soil and turf for the outer side. The inner side is less important to cover. We’ll do it if we can but it doesn’t have to be pretty.’

  ‘I agree it doesn’t have to be pretty, but soil heaped up on only one side will eventually push it over or make it cave in. It should be banked evenly on both sides to be strong,’ Jim advised. ‘We can’t do much more today,’ he said glancing at his helpers’ wan faces. ‘I’ll see if I can come down tomorrow morning if you’d like?’

  ‘That’d be very useful, thank you,’ Drako said sincerely and watched Jim depart with the other visitors.

  ‘That mountain of stone is almost gone,’ Freddie remarked coming to Drako’s side. ‘It’s taken us weeks to quarry and cut that stone. Yet in a few hours, they’ve used almost all of it up. It’s certainly tidied the site ready for more stuff to be brought over,’ he added with a grin.

  ‘If we can get him to help dig the lake so we’ve the soil to cover the bank then we can start on the barn shelter in just a few days time. Wizards are very useful. It’s a shame they run out of puff so quickly. See what they achieved in only a morning. Imagine what they could do if they could work all day.’

  ‘True, that would be astonishing, but it would be scary if they could,’ Freddie commented. ‘But my understanding is that their magic works by condensing what would normally take hours, into minutes. But they are using the same physical strength as if they’d worked all day.’

  ‘You’re probably right. It still feels strange though,’ Drako admitted. ‘Come on; let’s get the barn and lake marked out with string so if he does come tomorrow he can carve turf off in the right places.’

  When Jim appeared at the building site the following morning, he had two classes of students with him including Amelie and Daisy.

  ‘I have a suggestion,’ Jim said to Drako and clambered up onto the top of the new tunnel’s bare stone roof. He waited for Drako to join him. From this vantage point, they could see over the wall of the grounds towards the area the wizards had died.