by C. Mahood
“I know, Sarah will survive there with ease, she is the strongest person I know,” I laughed, tears that had formed had already fallen. I was begging to sob the way you do when you are feeling hopeful after the depression, the laughter and smile that comes after the cry.
“You see, nothing to worry about. All is well and you will be reunited soon. Before we go however. You need to understand something very important. When we arrive you must not let anyone know who you are. We must be as travellers from another land. “His voice turning deep and serious now.
“No one can know you created Northland. Can you imagine the panic and confusion? Look at what happened to the God on the cross? He returned and spoke as the son of the creator, it didn’t end to well for him did it? I’m not sure how the people of Northland would react to you, a man in his early 30’s, claiming to be the architect of Northland!” Abe laughed and patted me several times on the face as he pulled a chair up beside me. He was holding a black, folder. “Shall we?” he said gesturing to the folder.
“Late 20’s” I said under my voice.
“Sorry son?”
“I’m in my late 20’s Abe, not early 30’s.” I said without meeting his eyes.
“Well I don’t really think that was the point Christopher.” He snapped back. “Any way. Shall we go?”
“Wait a minute, I honestly don’t know how this works! The last time was an absolute accident. I didn’t mean to go. You said it yourself it was the magic in my blood that sent me there. Besides I tried at the house. I concentrated so hard and nothing happened. Even though I knew it could” I said.
“You see, this is what we said before, there is a definite difference between wanting to believe something and knowing something. Belief and hope is where the magic is, Putting faith in something that you cannot see. There is no magic in the kettle that you know is over there but the magic is with its contents because you can believe there is something magic inside. If you open the lid, you may see tea bags and know what it is, it may taste like good tea, but still only tea. If I poured it for you and you drank it believing it was something special then maybe it could be. Do you understand what I am saying?”
“Yea, yea I think I do. I need to find Sarah and by entering Northland there is a chance I could. That belief could take me there?”
“Exactly!” Abe grinned from ear to ear with a smile so radiant it almost lit the small dank room. I could tell he was relieved that I understood and he was impressed with his skills of explanation. He opened the folder on the ground. The old familiar words stared at me. I was immediately nervous, like standing on the edge of a zip line, ready to jump with no fear but excitement and exhilaration. I stood up, readied myself and went to place my foot on the page and just as I was about to lift my second step Abe said in a flippant way, “Don’t forget the pup!” I reached out and grabbed Tessa by the scruff of the neck, lifted her up into my arms and stepped forward with my other foot into blinding white light and the smell of the sea.
Six
The road to Renir
The light faded from my eyes. The blinding white had been replaced with the blinding sunlight as I opened my eyelids again. I felt a falling sensation, I say sensation, but It was more like blind, uncontrollable, sudden falling terror. With the only outcome I believed to be death. At least, that’s what I felt for or a short moment before my head submerged under water. I kicked my feet down and as my shoes touched the sand on the bottom, I bent my knees and pushed. I shot up, piercing the surface, then crashed down after a large gasp of air to be greeted by a fresh wave from behind me. My mouth filled with salt water and my nose blocked with the impact. I flailed around for a moment, coughing and spluttering the water out of my lungs. My mind was still floating away from me but beginning to settle. My senses returned and I was standing shoulder deep in the sea. I heard a bark and my eyes focused to see Tessa standing on the beach not venturing any farther than a few inches into the water.
I began to wade my way farther into shore. I took off my glasses and held them tight. The last few waves that crashed behind me almost knocked them from my face. My clothes clung to me. Heavy, cold and dragging. My shoes were filled with water and slipped off my feet with every step. I had to lift them and hold them too. By the time I had made it out of the water and to the sand, Tessa was jumping about me and had already collected several sticks, of many sizes, for me to throw. I lay back on the dry and soft sand, exhausted. I felt as though I had been travelling for days but it was only moments ago that I was sitting in Abe’s little house, preparing my visit to Northland. Only then had it dawned on me. Where was Abe? I stood up and removed my coat, hoodie, socks and rolled my jeans up to just below the knee. I was wearing a black Soundgarden t-shirt, a bootleg one I bought at a gig in Dublin for a fiver. It had a ram’s skull on the front and the band’s logo on the back. I didn’t know how well that would work in Northland. They may think I’m a travelling necromancer or part of an evil cult. I needed to blend in, to avoid suspicion. I needed to find somewhere to change my clothes.
I looked around to see where I was. Behind me lay the ocean with several visible islands, too far to swim to. In front of me were cliffs almost as high as I could see. On closer inspection however I noticed old stone stairs carved into the cliff face. I knew this place. This is where I had come the last time I was here! I had created everything I could see, the steps, the height of the cliffs, the islands and everything I could see. I made my way up the steps, climbing up and up. I tried to imagine railings but the power I once had was no longer there. The land had already been established and grown from when I had left.
Once I arrived at the top of the cliff, I could see for miles. The world had changed. More than I could have dreamt. More beautiful and fascinating. Trees had grown tall and strong. Rivers had burst and formed anew. The wind blew behind me and I was moved to tears. I felt as though I had finally arrived home. Despite it being somewhere I had only visited once. Following the once trodden path, that now resembled an old walkway at an abandoned country park, I was led to an opening up hill where there were some standing stones. I walked towards them with Tessa at my side, she had found a stick far too large to throw but perfect for walking with. My inner adventurer was coming out. Walking with a large staff and ragged clothes thrown over my shoulder. The grass felt soft and comforting under my bare feet. No weeds or thistles underfoot just thick, healthy emerald grass. I left my things at the edge of the circle of standing stones and wondered around them. I felt the cold stone and ran my fingers over the indents carved into them. Circular designs with a form of writing I did not know. It looked like a collection of runes. They were beautiful. The stones felt so ancient. Like the dolmens in Ulster or Newgrange in County Meath. I lay down with my back to one of the giant stones, standing almost 10 feet tall. Tessa had come over and curled down beside me, as I slipped into an exhaustion induced slumber.
“Well, well, well, what have we found here?” comes the voice of an old man.
He must have been talking to someone beside him, although I was certain he was alone as my eyes slid open. “Looks like you two are in a spot of bother! Raggedy wet clothes like those, covered in sand, smelling and sleeping outside?” he seemed to reply to his own question. I took longer than usual for my senses to return to normal. I could not see the man. He was a black silhouette as he stood with the sun to his back. I put my glasses back on my face and squinted in the sunlight covering my forehead with my hand to try to make him out. He continued having a conversation with himself. The muttering got louder until he seemed to be arguing with himself making all kind of hand gestures and pacing back and forward.
“Um, yes sorry. I have just arrived, I had some trouble with my boat and I seem to have washed up here!” I said, it was the first thing to come to mind, telling him I stepped into a book to arrive here was not the best option I thought. “Where am I?” I continued to ask.
“This my friend is Northland!” he answered, stopping his argument a
nd turning to face me again. ”Yes, yes Northland” he continued. It seemed very obvious now that I was talking to two people. Or two separate personalities. Just my luck really, the first person I meet here is either incredibly drunk or just full on crazy. The man continued “Indeed it is, I am guessing that you are from far far away, not from these shores anyway?”
“Well of course he isn’t, he just said he was shipwrecked!”
“Oh yes true, ok well let me be the first person to welcome you to Nor.”
“No I want to be the first, you can be the second.”
“Too late I have already started, Welcome to nor….”.
“Aw for the name of Paddy Reilly, would you just shut your mouth!”
“Who’s mouth?”
“Our mouth you prick. Let me speak for both of us”.
“Ok, on ye go”.
“Let US welcome you to Northland!” The man bowed. He had moved to my side now. I could see clearly the large woven shawl he wore. Like a poncho really. There were leaves and twigs woven into the material. Most likely used to fix rips and tears. The garment he wore covered him from head to toe. He wore a large round straw hat that drooped down at the sides from the weight of rainwater and general over use.
Tessa had got to her feet shortly before and had been standing in front of me guarding me from this stranger. Her courage plucked up a bit as he bowed. She crept closer to him slowly and close to the ground as collies do when preparing to herd sheep. She sniffed around his feet and his outstretched hand. And proceeded to lick him. I trusted Tessa’s judgement.
The man extended his hand out to me to offer me a hand to my feet. I accepted and he pulled me up. My clothes had dried slightly in the afternoon sun. He lifted and passed me my things that were drying on the stones.
“What’s your name traveller?” he asked. I brushed the dry dirt from my backside. My hands had that awful sand paper feel to them. I composed myself before mockingly, yet proudly proclaiming with one hand on my chest, tucked into my invisible waistcoat. “Christopher Garry Mahood, this is Tessa, my bodyguard” I said jokingly. “And you are?”
The man removed his hat and bowed again, “My name, young sir, is Oisin.” He was twitching his head to the left with a tick, like he had water trapped in his ear after a dive. His look on his face was one of ill temperament, like the water would not dislodge or drain from his head no matter how hard he ticked.
“Well Oisin it is very nice to meet you. Do you reside around here? Or where do you call your home?”
“No, nowhere I call home at the moment. I have just left my past dwelling place not but a few days past. I resided in those walls for many years but the sun shines on my face and I am a free man!” His face twitched as though he had a sudden bad, sour taste in his mouth. “Sorry WE are free men” he said with a sigh.
“Oh ok, Sorry to hear you lost your home Oisin” I said nervously.
“Oh not to worry, I was looking forward to escaping that place from the moment I entered it.” He had a concerned and dark look on his face for just a moment before the smile returned to his wrinkled and freshly shaven face.
“Now I am to travel, amend my ways and see the rest of Northland for the true gem that it is. I would offer you company as I walked but I have become accustomed to solitude and enjoy my own company these days. Let me at least point you in a direction to aid you!”
“Oh yes” I replied “um, but I don’t suppose you have seen a woman, long blonde hair, stands about 5, 11?! I gestured her height, “She is stunningly beautiful. You would definitely notice her. She has a piercing on her lip and eyes that could bring kingdoms to their knees?” HE shook his head disappointed he could not help.
“Well what about a little man anywhere? Goes by the name Abe. Stands only a few feet tall?” I gestured his height and wondered as to the mocking pursed lips the man had in front of me. “He is a friend of mine and we have business here together in Northland.” I said.
The man’s face turned from looking like he was awaiting the punchline of a joke to looking annoyed and disgusted with me.
“Are you toying with me boy? Is this a sick joke or a game for you? Teasing Oisin with more tales of Luchorpán?”
“With what?” I said, confused.
“Agh, to hell with you. You folk from Renir are all the same. Find yourselves so funny. Hours of laughter at the expense of Oisin and his wrong turn? Very funny. Now why don’t you turn around, follow that dirty path through that God forsaken forest and scurry back into the pit of a city once more. I….we have urgent business and scores to settle any way!” He began muttering to himself again. Looking up and down, from left to right, seeming to be conversing and arguing with himself. Every now and then he would stop in his rant and stare at me with a look of disbelief, then continue on arguing. “It’s all a test you know? All a test. In Northland it’s always a test! You find yours! This may be mine! All a bloody test!” He shouted and continued muttering once more. From among the ramblings he turned to me once more, stretched out and grabbed my shoulder. Gazing square into my eyes, pulling himself closer and me to him, our noses almost touching, he whispered, “She is ok you know, for now” then pushed me back, causing me to trip back and fall on my backside once more. At that, he turned on his heels, shooed me away from him and began to power walk in the opposite direction.
I was speechless and flabbergasted. I had no words to say. I spluttered out apologies but he was gone before I could not make any sense. Why was he so annoyed? I had only asked him if he had seen Abe. Then it hit me. Those words.
“WHAT THE HELL?” I screamed at him. He was bounding down the path at speed. “WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN YOU FUCKIN CRACKPOT?” My voice croaked as I spat the last few word out. I scrambled my things together. Put my soggy boots back on my feet and ran with a squelch towards the road he had bounded down. He was gone already. No trace. No sign. My heart sank, only for a moment. Against my leg brushed a thick black coat of fur. Tessa manoeuvred her head to under my fist. I opened my hand and stroked her between her ears.
“Come on Tessa, at least we have directions to Renir. If we follow this path we can see it! It’s so exciting isn’t it? Actually going to Renir. I can’t believe it! It’s so crazy! Maybe we can get some food on the way? There is bound to be an inn of some sort right?” Tessa looked up at me as she walked at my side. That was one of her key words.
I always believe positivity begins with an outlook. I didn’t want to let myself get worried or scared. The strange thing is however, those words, they seemed honest. Like a word from God or an angel. I cannot explain it to you. I just knew in that moment, Sarah was safe. Like how you just know something is wrong before someone even tells you what it is? Well, basically the opposite of that.
“Walk Tessa?” Just the mention of that always set her off. Her tongue hanging out to the left side of her mouth, flapping in the wind as she ran and her eyes filled with excitement we made our way downhill towards the forest in front of us. The trees were so fascinating, they were so close together, bending and weaving together as if in conversation and embracing one another, whispering quietly among themselves. The birdsong was prettier and more melodic than any I had heard before it was so clear but seemed to come from so far in the distance, the air was so thin and light, slivers of light danced down through the branches creating a musty glow.
We walked through and along the forest floor, leaves covered the path but the road was so heavy trodden, there were defined corners and a very linear path. No deviation was made from this road, why would you I thought. The walk was so enjoyable. I forgot then, and did many times since, that this was a world of my creating. I felt as though I was on a holiday somewhere I had always wanted to go. Like the first time Sarah and I walked the streets of Disney in Florida or when we crossed the bridge in London towards the Houses of Parliament. The surreal but familiar glow in my heart. We walked together for what must have been two or three hours. As the edge of the tree line was in sight, breaki
ng through the foliage, we could see buildings, walls, bell towers, a large keep in the middle and as we made it closer to the edge of the forest we could see the large gates. I knew this place. It was a city I had created while drawing the map of Northland but I had never written it into Dertrid’s Deed. This was uncharted! The excitement was too much for me to contain. I wanted to meet the people of Renir and hear the stories, visit the city, learn the history. This was a true adventure like no one has known before. My clothes had dried from my walk and I zipped my hoodie up covering my t-shirt. The city was still a long walk. Ahead of us. Closer was an inn. Named the Rebels’ Rest Inn. I could only assume it was referring to the rebellion led by Detrid, Keldon, Elissa, and Penla. Characters from my story.
The Rebel’s rest looked like a quality establishment. It was a stone building that was on the road to Renir. The front was painted green and a large mural was painted on the side of the building we were walking towards. It depicted a half open door with guards standing on either side of it and a small hand reaching out from behind the door to pickpocket one of the guards. There were tables and benches outside. People sat on barrels and drank from iron and wooden tankards. There was a real bustle outside. As we drew closer, we could hear the sounds of merriment coming from inside the inn. Songs being sung, music being played not far from the sounds heard in Belfast on a mid-week evening. Traditional music at its finest. I remember thinking this would be the perfect place to ask questions about Sarah. Surely someone would have seen her here.