Pale Peak Burning

by Paula Harrison

  Tyler folded his arms. “I can always get rid of him for you. He only has water magic after all.”

  “Thanks!” Laney smiled.

  “Laney, I’d like you to come home with us,” added her uncle. “There’s something I want to say to you. Claudia, I’ll show you where your mum will meet you to take you home.”

  Laney felt an uneasy wriggling in her stomach as she and Tyler followed Mr Embers back to Tinder Street. Did her uncle want to talk about what Frogley had said?

  Mr Embers let them into the house and closed the red front door firmly behind them. “Come and sit by the fire a minute,” he said. “Tyler, put the kettle on and tell your mother we’re back. She always worries.”

  For once Tyler didn’t argue.

  Laney sat in the armchair by the fire. Her heart sank as she looked at her uncle, who was now searching through a cupboard. “Is this about the red moon prophecy?” She hesitated. Did her uncle know about her real birthday?

  Mr Embers took out a pile of papers and sat opposite her. “I know your dad changed the date on your birth certificate,” he told her. “But he only told his closest relatives. Lots of people are superstitious about those that are born on the night of a red moon but no one knows if that prophecy really means anything. That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “Oh.” Laney’s heart stopped thudding so fast.

  “Don’t worry about Frogley either,” he added gruffly. “None of us trust him. We can all see he’s a slippery kind of man. He’s a Mist and – well, your father was the only dependable Mist I’ve ever met. Each tribe has their faults, I suppose. Anyway I wanted to give you these.” He held out the papers he’d taken from the cupboard. “I looked them out a few days ago. I know your father left nearly everything behind that night you came here, so The Wind in the Willows book is probably the only thing that you have of Cordelia’s. These were hers too – they’re things she did as a child.”

  Tyler came through from the kitchen and set three mugs of tea down on the table.

  “Oh, thank you!” Laney took the papers eagerly and began looking through them. They were a collection of childish pictures drawn with a wobbly hand and coloured in with crayons, and a story written in an old exercise book. Laney paused over a drawing of a river with purple and white flowers along the edge. There were ducks on the water.

  “When we were growing up the other kids would say she wasn’t normal,” said Mr Embers. “The things she liked and the things she said – they were different from everyone else. I fought all the boys that picked on her until she told me to stop. Don’t bother, Connor, she said. Their names can never hurt me. They just trickle away like water. She seemed to love the things most Blazes don’t like at all.”

  “Like rivers?” Laney looked from her uncle to the picture.

  Mr Embers smiled. “She loved that brook. It’s a couple of miles out of the village on the Kirkfield road. One summer she spent a whole week paddling up and down it catching little fish. She brought some of them home once but our parents wouldn’t let her keep them.”

  Laney put the papers down on her lap. “I guess they weren’t pleased about her marrying a Mist either.” Her uncle didn’t reply. Laney decided she had to ask him now, while she felt brave enough. “The night my mum died and my dad brought me here … he always told me she got ill. But that’s not true, is it? Someone killed her.”

  Mr Embers sighed deeply and rubbed his beard. “It shouldn’t really be me that tells you … but with Robert in hospital…” He stared at the fire for a while and then at last he spoke. “I only know the bare facts as your father told them to me. Your parents left Little Shackle because they knew their marriage would not be accepted here. We heard little from them for more than two years. It was an awful time, under the threat of the Great Shadow. People turned on each other, suspecting anyone who showed any sign of being different. Your mother and father were right to run away – I just wish leaving here had saved her.”

  The fire crackled in the grate as he continued. “Cordelia died in a lightning strike. Robert said he didn’t know how they’d been discovered. He never saw the face of the faerie who threw the bolt that killed her.”

  Laney’s throat tightened painfully. “I remember a little bit of that night. I can picture standing at your door and my dad was holding something – like a purse.”

  Her uncle nodded. “It was her dust. That was all he managed to save – your mother’s dust. He gave it to me so that I could bury it here, where she came from. But even then, the Elders of that time wouldn’t let me bury her here in Little Shackle because she’d married a Mist, so I had to put her to rest up in Beggar’s Chasm near the faerie ring.”

  “My mum’s buried up there?”

  “Yes. She loved it there. She said she liked the peace and quiet, with the noise of the stream and the birds flying over the chasm. When this hunt for the Myrical is over I’ll take you up there and show you the exact spot.” The firelight shone over her uncle’s face.

  “At least your dad saved her dust,” Tyler said. “It would’ve been horrible if he hadn’t.”

  Laney knew what he meant. She hadn’t forgotten the day that Mr Willowby died and the Shadow stole his body to use in dark magic. “I think I understand now why my dad never wanted me to Awaken,” she said. “I used to think he didn’t want me to be free.” Her eyes stung.

  “This new Shadow will regret the day he came to Little Shackle,” Mr Embers said grimly. “Too often we’ve hidden from these monsters that use faerie’s dust for their spells. But no more. This time we fight back. The moment he struck at my Sarah, he guaranteed his downfall.”

  Looking from Tyler to her uncle, Laney saw the same grim determined expression. Her fingers curled around the crayon picture of ducks on a river, drawn so many years ago by a strange Blaze girl who loved water. “I’ll do anything I can to help,” she told them. “It’s time I started fighting back too.”

  After learning how to make a frost flame, Laney’s Blaze skills grew stronger day by day. Soon she could make rings of fire that burned for several minutes, and hit a target on the other side of the field with her fireballs. As she lobbed the balls of flame, she pictured the Shadow on the day he’d hurt her dad.

  Next time she’d be ready to fight him.

  The day of the Kindling wasn’t far away. Preparations began, away from the eyes of the humans. Logs were gathered and hidden in the hills. Branches were chopped from hawthorn hedges and the stems woven into arches. Covered with new leaves and white blossom, the arches reminded Laney of something out of an old-fashioned country wedding rather than a ceremony of fire. When she helped take the hawthorn arches up to Groaning Tor, she saw Briana doing the same. The other girl ignored her as they passed. It was obvious she didn’t think Laney should be included.

  There was a lot of talk about the Bale Fire and Laney asked Tyler what it was but he was annoyingly mysterious. “You’ll see. Just make sure you’ve told your stepmum a good excuse – the Kindling lasts all night.”

  So Laney told Kim she’d be staying with Claudia in Kirkfield that night.

  “Are you all right, Laney?” Kim came into Laney’s room just as she was getting ready to leave for the Kindling.

  “I’m fine.” Laney couldn’t admit she felt nervous.

  “It’s just that you’ve been so quiet lately.” Kim’s forehead creased. “I know everything’s been difficult but if there’s anything you want to talk about…”

  “Honestly, I’m fine.” Guilt tightened Laney’s stomach. She hated not being honest with Kim about where she was going. “I mean, it’s been hard with Dad ill but I’m glad we came to Little Shackle. You were right – it would’ve been horrible to be far away from him.”

  Kim hugged her. “We’ll get through this like we always do! Have a lovely time tonight.”

  Laney sighed after Kim shut the door. She’d got used to hiding the faerie world from her stepmum but she needed to tell her about finding her unc
le and aunt. Kim had been good to her for so long. She promised herself she’d do it once this Kindling was over.

  As darkness fell, Laney took out her mum’s writing and drawings. She’d read the story written in the old exercise book every day since her uncle had given it to her. It was about a rabbit who found a cave behind a waterfall. The story ended with the rabbit learning to swim, which made Laney smile. It was strange to think of her mum as a little girl making up her rabbit story, but Laney also felt it helped her know her mum a little better. She put the papers back in their hiding place and went out to meet Tyler.

  They left the village and took the path to Groaning Tor, passing Blazes who were guarding the hillside, there to stop anyone outside the tribe from stumbling upon the celebrations. The peak – so pale in the daytime – flickered with orange sparks as if fire was bubbling up inside. Laney suddenly wondered if there were flames down there. “Tyler, what’s underneath Groaning Tor?” she asked. “And don’t tell me it’s a giant.”

  Tyler grinned. “Wait and see!”

  As they scrambled to the top, a shining white circle sailed out from behind a bank of clouds. It cast ghostly moonlight across the boulders and the rolling hills.

  “It’s good that there’s a full moon this year,” Tyler said. “It’ll make the Blaze magic stronger.”

  A large crowd had gathered on the plateau beyond the peak. Violins and flutes were playing a jig and lots of people were dancing. The drums beat a rhythm that pulsed through Laney’s head. There was a wildness in the music beyond happiness or sadness. It reminded Laney of how she’d felt when she’d used her wings for the first time. A feeling so bright it could burn you.

  Mr Embers clasped Laney on the shoulder. “Welcome to your first Kindling!” he smiled broadly. “The Blaze Elder will light the Bale Fire and then you and the other Learners will have a chance to show what you can do.”

  Laney’s stomach dropped. Had she really done enough practice? What if she couldn’t even light a flame?

  Tyler grinned and yelled into her ear. “Stop looking so worried! Your frost flames are just as good as mine. You are ready!”

  “Quiet!” The shout from the Blaze Elder pierced through the noise and the music came to a halt. “At midnight, the first of May will dawn – the beginning of the Blaze year. We have much to be thankful for and also much we need to do.” His gaze swept the crowd. “Bring forward the May tree arches and I will light the Bale Fire.”

  People came forward with the arches of blossom and hawthorn. They made a circle around Hillburn, lining up their arches to make a leafy tunnel. The Elder took one branch up to the peak. He tapped three times on the rock and the ground shook beneath their feet. Then a jet of golden flame surged out of the hole in the rock and burned like a torch.

  “The giant’s awake!” yelled some of the Blazes.

  Hillburn lit the branch in the golden flame and carried it back to the circle. Then he used it to light the May tree arches and each one burned with a luminous silver flame. A buzz went round the crowd.

  Laney jumped as Tyler spoke into her ear, more quietly this time. “The silver flame’s a good sign. If the Kindling goes well then we’ll have good luck this year.”

  “But the branches aren’t burning,” Laney whispered back. “I mean – they’re not burning into nothing.”

  “Bale Fire doesn’t destroy things,” Tyler grinned. “It’s like magic!”

  It was pretty amazing seeing the arches alight while the leaves and blossoms stayed untouched, and the silvery Bale Fire was beautiful. Laney felt her courage rise. Maybe she would be able to show them all her Blaze skills. On a night like this anything seemed possible.

  The music began to play again and people went through the arches. Mrs Embers was one of the first to walk through, helped by her husband. Laney knew her aunt had struggled since the Shadow had struck her car. After passing through the arch she seemed to walk a little straighter.

  “Come on!” Tyler grabbed her arm and they raced in and out of the arches.

  Laney felt weightless. The drum beat echoed through her body and she changed to faerie form without really noticing. The music swirled around the hill and the people whirled with it. Laney felt her feet lift off the ground. Many of the Blazes were now flying over the Tor and swooping down to dip through the arches. The shining white-faced moon watched over the celebrations. The melody grew faster and faster until it finished on a great crescendo that left everyone floating back to earth, laughing.

  “Well now!” Hillburn gazed round with a great beaming smile. “Excellent playing!” The musicians gave a bow. “Now let’s have our younger ones show us their skills.”

  Laney knew this was her moment. She went to the centre of the circle with three younger children. One of the others went first, giving Laney a chance to steady her nerves. She tried to remember all the things she and Tyler had practised in the field behind her cottage.

  “When you’re ready, Elaine.” Hillburn nodded to her.

  Laney’s stomach turned over. This was it. Fire burst out of her so easily when it shouldn’t, so why was it so hard to produce the rest of the time? She lifted her hands and Tyler’s words flashed through her mind. The flame doesn’t come from your hand – not really. It comes from inside you.

  She thought of the fire inside and a small flame sprang up in her palm. She held it steady. It was working! She was really doing it!

  She pushed her excitement down and kept her eyes fixed on the flame. The next step was to use it to make a ring of fire. She needed to take her other hand and draw the circle. Her arms felt heavy as if she’d forgotten how to move them. She mustn’t panic – she knew what to do.

  A dark breeze swept across the hilltop and the moonlight dimmed. Laney’s skin prickled but she ignored it. Raising her hand, she dipped her fingers in the flame and drew the circle of fire above her head. The first part was wobbly but she carried on, keeping her hand as steady as she could. When the ring was complete she stood back to check it. Then she looked over at her uncle, expecting a smile. But he wasn’t looking at her at all.

  Every face was turned to the sky and the crowd buzzed with alarm. Laney looked up, wondering what the matter was. Had someone from a different tribe invaded the ceremony? What if it were Frogley?

  But there was no one there. The sky was empty except for the moon. That great white-faced moon.

  Except it didn’t have a white face any more. It was slowly changing colour – darkening into something else…

  It was turning red.

  “The Wolf Moon!” The shout went up from the crowd.

  The moon gradually changed to a dark-red disc. The colour of blood.

  Laney’s heart turned cold. It was happening again. That awful night when she’d Awakened. Even before she’d found out about the prophecy and the fears of the tribes, she’d known there was something horribly wrong about a moon like this. Something evil.

  “Everyone stay exactly where you are,” said the Blaze Elder.

  “Look at the Bale Fire,” screamed Briana.

  A new cry of horror burst from the people on the hill. The arches of Bale Fire no longer burned a beautiful silver. The flames were darkening to red, echoing the colour of the moon.

  “It’s her!” Briana pointed at Laney. “She was making a spell when it started. She’s bad luck!”

  “I didn’t do anything,” Laney cried.

  Briana met her gaze and Laney could see the other girl didn’t believe her.

  “Quiet, everyone!” the Blaze Elder commanded. “This is our place and our Kindling. We will not forget ourselves.” Once everyone was silent, he returned to the golden flame burning from the crevice in the Tor. Lighting another branch, he took it to each of the arches in turn.

  The hillside held its breath.

  Laney tried to ignore the hollow feeling inside. Why had the moon turned red right at the moment she’d tried to prove her Blaze magic? It couldn’t have been her. She didn’t have that kind of p
ower.

  Hillburn tried over and over but the golden flame didn’t change the blood-stained fire on the arches. Rain started to fall, whipped into the faces of the crowd by a spiteful wind.

  Laney’s circle of fire had vanished from the air. “Do you want me to try the circle again?” she faltered. The faces around her looked grim.

  Tyler broke through the front of the crowd. “This was nothing to do with her. I’ve watched her practise – I’ve been helping her – and her spells were totally fine.”

  “She must’ve been faking it,” Zac called out. Next to him, Callum was nodding.

  “Don’t be an idiot! I’d have known if she was faking it.” Tyler clenched his fists. “Or are you saying I’m not enough of a Blaze to work it out?”

  “Tyler, wait!” Laney turned to the Elder. “I really didn’t do this. You believe me, don’t you?” She could already see the answer in his eyes.

  “Maybe the red moon isn’t your fault, but either way I think you should leave,” Hillburn said heavily. “I don’t believe in persecuting someone because of who their mother married – the cruel ways of the past are behind us – but there’s something wrong here. We must protect our Bale Fire and the essence of our magic above all things.”

  “You need to make sure the tribe doesn’t get tainted, right? That’s what the name means – that I could infect you all – like I’m a germ or something.” Laney choked back a sob. “This wasn’t me.” She gestured at the red moon. “And you’re right; there is something wrong here because none of you can bring yourselves to trust someone who’s different from you.”

  Laney ran into the darkness. She heard some of the Blazes calling for her to be stopped and Hillburn telling them to let her go. She walked for a while before realising she was going further into the hills instead of back to Little Shackle. She didn’t even know where she was. The whole place was flooded with red moonlight, like a nightmare turned real.

  Scanning the hillside, Laney searched for a path to take her downhill. She went along a rough track, emerging from between two boulders to find a strange red fog creeping down the slope. Tendrils of orange-red mist curled round her ankles. There was something familiar about it… That was it – she’d seen the same kind of reddish fog on the night she’d Awakened. There’d been a red moon that night too.