Ferryl Shayde - Book 3 - A Very Different Game

by Vance Huxley

  At the Bonny’s Tavern meeting after tea, Jenny thought buying the shop and the flat above it might be worth considering for Kelis and her mum if they wanted to stay in Brinsford. Kelis wasn’t so sure. She doubted her mum would have enough for a deposit, and neither of them knew the first thing about running a shop. If Abel would have received his full legacy he might have bought it as a Tavern headquarters, but none of them thought he should tie up the income to pay a mortgage.

  Before getting down to what Abel had found, Jenny presented the rewritten Bonny’s Tavern paperwork. On the new box lid, a small shack near the Tavern sported a sign proclaiming that Woods and Green, solicitors, were in residence. “All magical contracts negotiated” had them all laughing. The regular payment for the advert would persuade Jenny’s dad to alter the artwork, while the gameplay now included the adventurers signing a contract to split the proceeds according to their skills and strengths. According to Woods, those with any magical knowledge would recognise the glyph on the sign as belonging to a real magical solicitor and it might even bring them business. Until then Abel paid for the advert out of his legacy, to help get the business started.

  Abel finally got to the part they’d all been waiting for, and with Zephyr occasionally interrupting, he explained what happened. Nobody could be sure why Fraggon turned away, though Rob wondered if it had got lonely so it didn’t mind bending the rules. A hundred years staring at the inside of a door didn’t sound like much fun. None of them had known what happened after that, because the door closed. Kelis admitted they’d spent the time discussing ways to break in, just in case the door didn’t open again.

  Despite going around and around what Abel had seen, there wasn’t an alternative. Ferryl, and then Kelis would try to follow Abel inside the entrance, just in case something had altered. If not, he’d have to go through the double doors on his own. This time there’d be a time limit. Abel had to come out in thirty minutes, or his friends would be testing doors and windows with serious intent.

  Kelis remembered Creepio’s remarks to Ferryl, or Fay as he knew her, about being magically proficient. Ferryl admitted she’d activated two very potent glyphs just in case the ogre kept coming. One had been similar to Creepio’s ice, adapted specifically hurt an ogre, the other was a mixture of shattering and fire for a mist or frost giant. She really needed her wits, to provide better memory of other creatures and ways to deal with them. The fraggon might be in her missing wits under its real name, though at least it hadn’t been offended by Jenny’s choice.

  The five of them rehashed Fay’s story so they’d all got it straight the next time Creepio met them. Her knowledge of advanced glyphs would explain her using a magical solicitor, while the Accord and magical privacy laws would stop Creepio from prying too much. Where to meet Creepio might be a problem, because the deserted church wasn’t really very hospitable if the meeting dragged on for too long. Unfortunately, if he came to one of their houses the mothers would want to join the discussion. They were the directors and should be involved if the bishop really might let Stourton Refuge lease the church.

  An attempt to play Bonny’s Tavern ended up in a fiasco as Zephyr kept throwing bonuses for herself, and probably Abel though nobody could catch her. She was in a terrific mood, probably reaction after being in that box. Ferryl might have been able to spot the cheating, but she kept throwing exactly what she needed as well. As Kelis became more and more frustrated, Jenny, Abel and Rob collapsed in laughter, which probably did all of them more good than a serious game would have. Even Kelis saw the funny side in the end and started using wind glyphs to control her own dice throws. When Jenny went home, the rest made arrangements to meet at Rob’s in the morning, to look for trolls.

  ∼∼

  An inspection of the grounds behind Rob’s house didn’t reveal any signs of a troll, possibly because Rob and his Dad had trampled everything flat while searching. Melanie sulked, both because she couldn’t play Bonny’s Tavern and because nobody believed she’d seen a real troll. If so it had been another baby, because Melanie would have mentioned the size if it had been as big as a truck and there’d have been definite gouges in the earth. Between Melanie’s mood and tramping around in the rain, none of them wanted to hang about at Rob’s, so the four of them headed for Kelis’s house and Bonny’s Tavern. This time Rob and Abel brought drinks to help out, because Kelis had heard her mum on the phone talking to the solicitor. She wasn’t broke, but the days of a fridge full of free drinks were definitely over.

  A phone call from Creepio, suggesting they all met in an empty chapel in Stourton, might be his way of avoiding the weather. Since he didn’t want to see them until after Christmas, that set the timetable for Abel’s foray into Castle House. He wanted it over with before Christmas anyway, preferably this afternoon so he could relax a bit. Una had offered to drive them all into Stourton on Christmas Eve, to finish their shopping, so he only had two days anyway.

  At least the rain stopped after lunch, so the group in Castle House garden only needed small wind and heat glyphs to stay comfortable. Somehow today seemed more solemn. First Ferryl, then Jenny, then Rob and even Kelis gave Abel a quick hug, which made him even more nervous. This time when Abel showed the coin to Fraggon it didn’t move. He looked back over his shoulder and put his hands on the door handles, and the outer door closed. Celtchar had definitely been shy.

  When the double doors swung open, the picture of a fraggon looked upwards and the octopus opened its eyes. Abel waited, but nothing else happened. He put a foot over the threshold, then the other, then finally leant forward to look up the corridors and sighed. Four metres away in each direction wooden doors with carved fraggons on the panels blocked his view, though neither had a keyhole. Halfway to one door a small table held a stone or plaster toad. Its eyes opened. Abel could take a hint.

  He wasn’t sure what the hint was when he walked up to it and the toad opened its mouth a little. It wasn’t a slot, though the coin would fit. “Any ideas, Zephyr?”

  “I am testing the air. It feels tingly, but not dangerous, so I will come out if you need me. The toad is a seeming over something else. There is a concentration of magic, and a very strong link to the wooden plaque on the wall behind it.”

  Abel inspected the plaque, a smooth square of polished wood with a carved border, then a plain strip and a carved outer edge. There were two glyphs carved into the outer plain strip. “Zephyr, what about those two glyphs? They look odd, just two of them at one end of the top like that.”

  “They seem dormant, though each holds a little magic. Most things in this house do.”

  “I’m going to hold the coin to the toad’s mouth. I’ll keep firm hold. Warn me if nasty things start to build up.”

  “Always.” Abel extended the coin, very slowly, until the edge went into the mouth. “Stop. Magic is flowing over the coin and extending over your fingers. It is not aggressive. Now it is withdrawing.” Abel slowly removed the coin.

  “A generous gift. Thy finger would suffice, master.” The toad shimmered and became… a three-legged toad. A furry toad with three straight horns on its head, so Abel took a careful step back. The last time he saw one of those it attacked his school friends. “I am a wealth toad, also known as a luck toad. In this instance it means I will protect thy wealth, and will be bad luck should thine enemies invade.”

  “Good, I think. Some creatures looking like you attacked my friends at school for no reason so forgive me if I’m suspicious.” Abel inspected the creature but it made no move towards him. “Have you been sat there a hundred years?”

  “I would not know, master. Most of the house closes down if the master locks the door, unless a guest remains. Did the last master die?” The creature didn’t seem the slightest bit bothered about skipping a century, or a dead master.

  “We think so.” One part of the toad’s answer snagged Abel’s attention. “How did he bring guests inside? The guards won’t let my friends into the entrance, let alone past these doo
rs.” Abel looked back and upwards. “I’m guessing that won’t like visitors either.”

  “The board behind me shows which entities are welcome. Their glyph glows if they are inside the house. Only two are still welcome, but neither has been able to enter since the master locked the door.” The toad turned, so it wasn’t a talking statue. “To remove their invitation, cut a line across the glyph.”

  “Who were they?”

  “One was an apprentice, the other a young woman who had no magical knowledge. She lived here for some time before the master left, in the guest rooms because he never gave her permission to pass the next portal.”

  “Which is a door with a fancy magical lock, no doubt. Guest rooms?” Abel reined in his curiosity. “Though first, how do I get a friend onto that board up there?”

  “Now you have taken possession of this section of the house, keep physical contact while escorting your friend through the doors to the plaque. If they place the back of a hand, paw, or other limb on the square in the centre, they will be marked and a glyph will be added to the border. Not the part of the limb used to cast glyphs as the mark may interfere, which can be very dangerous.” The toad turned back and fixed Abel with a stare. “Tis best to keep the numbers low, new master, or they may try to pillage your wealth. Stopping them might damage your goods.”

  “These friends are welcome to pillage, if they find any wealth. Do I offer the coin or my finger every time I come in?” Abel looked up to see if a glyph had appeared for him. “Do I put my hand up there?”

  “There is no need for either, because now the house knows you. You are the master.”

  “No, I’m Abel.”

  “I will address you as Abel if you wish, but unless another claims that coin you are the master. I can keep it safe if you wish, though it should be placed in the chest with the letter, on the table just outside this door.” The toad looked towards the entrance. “So that if a mishap befalls you, the next in line can claim their inheritance.”

  “I’ll put the chest back later, but first I’ll get my friends.” Abel looked at the two tempting doors and hesitated, but he’d already beaten this part to death with his friends. If he could get them inside then that became the top priority. As expected, when Abel retraced his steps he didn’t have to close the double doors. They closed themselves when he went to open the outer door. This place would drive Creepio crackers because he’d never be able to peek.

  ∼∼

  Abel explained to everyone and as expected they all wanted to come inside right now, immediately. When Abel asked who wanted to come first, the three girls warned Rob that if he waited until last Abel might not want the competition. Worse, they might not let Abel leave because warmth and wealth could have an odd effect on young women. Jenny had them all laughing again by pointing out they didn’t know the effect wealth and warmth would have on Rob.

  Ferryl waited until last. As she pointed out, the house might still object to her. Three times Abel took a friend inside, and three times they pressed the back of a hand to the flat wood. Each time the panel lit up briefly, then a glyph appeared as if carved into the border and began to glow. Even though there were similarities, each one looked different to the others. To everyone’s relief, whatever mark they received didn’t show. The only fright Abel got came when Jenny reached out to pat Fraggon on the way past. According to her she’d been dying to do that since seeing him. Once again Abel couldn’t be absolutely certain it smiled.

  “Ready?” Abel held out his hand.

  Ferryl looked at it and laughed. “A hand. Traditionally, sorcerers carry young women into their houses over their shoulders, often kicking and screaming.”

  “What about sorceresses? Kelis will want to know.” Abel went along with it because Ferryl’s smile looked too bright, too forced.

  “Hah. Sorceresses simply crook a finger.” Ferryl did so. “The sucker follows that anywhere, or maybe it’s the glyph.”

  “So, do I carry you in, or learn the glyph?” Abel paused, then held her eyes. “Or will you tell me why you’re so worried? The rest went in without any trouble, even if Jenny patted Fraggon.”

  “She wants to adopt it.” Ferryl heaved a big sigh, glancing nervously towards the door. “I’m worried the house will let me in, then kill me. I am inside this body, remember, two in one.”

  “Zephyr has been in and out several times.”

  “But Zephyr is inside her tattoo, accepted as a part of you. I wish I could get back in there.” Ferryl looked at the jacket covering Abel’s bicep and tattoo, then reached for his hand.

  “I can make room, if you wish?” Zephyr shimmered into view, then flew back inside.

  Ferryl stopped midstride, her hand almost touching Abel. “Truly? Yes truly, or you would not offer. That is very kind, and generous.” She patted Abel’s jacket over the tattoo, very gently. “If the hunters ever close in and I need a safe haven, I will remember that.”

  “So now you know. The Ffod is keeping guard, I’ve got the coin, and I’m sure the fraggon is smiling. Let’s go for it.” Abel took her hand and set off for the door, quickly opening it before Ferryl could object again. “There, see, no prob…. Oops. Calm down, Fraggon.” Abel cringed inside, because up to now nobody had actually called it that.

  Fraggon didn’t seem to care, or notice. It stared fixedly at Ferryl. “I’ll leave. It knows I’m in here.” Ferryl tried to back out but Abel hung on.

  “No, it just needs to understand. Fraggon, I know there is something else inside the human. Someone else, a friend, Ferryl Shayde. I don’t care what other names you have for her, I know them back to the very first.” That got Fraggon’s attention. It shifted its eyes to Abel. “Yes, her true-name as well. She will not harm me.” The eyes moved back to Ferryl and somehow, without any real movement, Fraggon told her she’d better not try.

  “He speaks truth. I can touch you to tell you, so you can read the truth?” Fraggon extended its head about ten centimetres, not exactly welcoming, especially when it bared its teeth. Abel hadn’t seen them before, and could probably live without seeing them again. The smaller teeth looked like small daggers, the largest might be baby swords and Fraggon had a very wide mouth. Abel and Ferryl approached cautiously, hand in hand, and she carefully placed a hand flat on Fraggon’s head. “I am now known as Ferryl Shayde. See my true-self. I have promised to guide and guard Abel Bernard Conroy for ninety years.”

  “I watch over him as well.” Zephyr popped into view as her spooky-phone connected to Fraggon as well as Ferryl. “Though if you want to help?” Abel and Ferryl froze, but Fraggon shut its mouth, hiding those teeth. After a moment it moved its head back to the usual position.

  “That’s a pass then. Come on.” Abel hustled Ferryl through the double doors and down the corridor. This time he explained everything to the luck toad before Ferryl came close, but the luck toad only had one proviso: Ferryl had to let her true-self touch the wood as well as the back of her hand, so the house recognised both. After that Zephyr flew out to touch the panel so she could fly free in here if necessary. The board gave Ferryl two glyphs, overlapping, while Zephyr had a single, normal sized one.

  “Now can we open the door? Please?” Jenny had her hand on the doorknob, ready.

  Kelis shook her head. “Not until Abel gets rid of those two original glyphs. The woman has probably died, but a sorcerer’s apprentice might still be alive. As far as I can make out from what Abel said, that glyph allows the apprentice to come in again now the house is open.” When Abel checked, the toad agreed, so he scored through each glyph with his penknife. The glyphs faded straight away afterwards, leaving smooth wood.

  “Now?”

  “Yes, but be care…. Never mind, too late.” Abel walked through with Kelis, behind Jenny, Rob, Ferryl, and Zephyr.

  ∼∼

  The door opened onto a shorter stretch of corridor with a door halfway down one wall and another door at the end. The end door led to a large corner room with a view of the gardens at
one side and Castle Lane out the front. Within seconds Jenny and Ferryl were off back along the passage, opening the door in the wall to check the room behind it. By the time Abel had glanced at a room with sinks and worktops, they’d moved back past the toad to check out the other side of the house. Abel caught up as the pair reached the top of the stairs, intent on checking out every room as fast as possible. “Whoa, hold up everyone. I wanted a proper look at that library. I barely saw the shelves before you shut the door again.”

  Jenny kept going, opening the first door she reached. “You could go and look at that, while I investigate this dressing room?”

  “Good idea, just like every horror movie. The idiots split up and die horribly.” Despite her light tone, Kelis jerked them back to reality. A quick discussion agreed that the safest way was for Jenny and Ferryl to stay with the rest until they’d checked every room. Once they were sure there were no nasty surprises waiting anywhere, the group could split up.

  Half an hour later everyone returned to the first room, a sort of sitting room at least eight metres square. Rob flopped into a well-padded easy chair, but shot to his feet as a footstool carved and stuffed to look like a tortoise waddled towards him. While the rest laughed at him, Ferryl dropped to her knees next to the animated furniture, inspecting it. “A bound shade, a small one.”

  “You said walking furniture was difficult,” Kelis nervously inspected the rest of the furniture. “When Abel teased me about animating my bedroom door by accident.”

  “None of you seem to get it.” Ferryl spread her arms and turned to include the room, gardens and house. “You have seen how my old name frightens leeches and worries Creepio, yet Celtchar kept me like a caged rat to use in his experiments. The man who owned this house, and created these things, would have brushed away Creepio and the ogre as minor nuisances. He was hundreds of years old, all of them spent learning to manipulate glyphs and magic. He probably made the walking footstool to amuse himself on a wet afternoon.” Ferryl stopped, sighed and flopped into a chair, raising her feet for a footstool to position itself. “But he’s dead. Now you’ve got the benefit of Celtchar’s defences while you try to learn enough to survive in the wider world.”