Pagewalker

by C. Mahood

  “Make it look real? How so?” I asked,

  “Well, I wanted those two scum to think you were my prisoner also!” He smiled at me.

  “Sorry? Oisin, what the hell is going on?” I sat forward with my elbows on my knees, trying to position myself so I could see the wagon from my perch. Oisin simply smiled.

  “Christopher, Chris. Do you mind if I call you Chris?”

  “No, go ahead”

  “Well Chris, I believe you have been looking for me? I have most certainly been looking for you!” He said, leaning forward to match my pose. Then continued. “You see, I think you have been lead astray about me, many stories plague my name here in Northland. I have been seeking you to help me clear them.”

  “Me? What could I do to change peoples minds, your a thief, con-man and now a bloody murderer. What’s to stop me from taking you down right now?” My voice rose to a growl but Oisin did not look worried, he simply looked both ways while lowering his hands in front of him, like pushing down an invisible box.

  “no no no, you’ve got it wrong” he replied

  “Well, not all wrong?” came the other voice,

  “Ok, some of its true”

  ,He was about to spiral into another argument with himself until I stopped him quickly. “Oisin, I have had just about enough bloody mystery and questions. Where the hell is my God damn WIFE AND FUCKING DOG?” I was standing now. I don’t know how, but, well, I was. My voice rose as the sentence progressed.

  “On their way hopefully” He said without looking up. He reached over to his plate and started eating some of the bacon cubes on top of some bread. It caught me of guard.

  “Wait, what?” I said sitting again now.

  “On their way, ye deaf bastard!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

  “Oisin you really have to help me out here. I have no idea what the fuck you are talking about. I’m getting really sick of all this.” I really was, but I was also confused about how at ease I was around Oisin. The man I had been hunting for days with the intention of choking the life out of his when I caught up. Although now I am here sitting under a tent with a fire lit eating bacon break and potato. “You are going to have to fill me in” I sarcasticly and nervously chuckled.

  “Well let me start from the beginning” he said and I could feel the start of a story coming on. The curtain was rising on the new tale and I had my snacks, which tasted great, to ease me into it.

  “My name is Oisin O’Finn. I am a descendant of the great Kain Finn of Renir. My family have been trying to set the wrong of Northland right for years. I travel alone and help those I find in need. I ask no payment but do not turn away charity or donations, obviously. I have always found the homes of others very welcoming. The people of Northland are truly the most kind and generous of all folk. For years I wondered from town to village, sharing stories, knowledge, medicine and aid to those who need it. Until I stumbled across a trio of Luchorpán one evening in the forests south of the Dirty Peaks.”

  “Let me stop you there mate, I’ve read the book, I Page-walked and saw exactly what happened. Don’t waste your breath!”

  Oisin looked dejected, “Yes you have read the book written by Garret, you have only seen HIS truth, not mine.” He raised a finger in the air and swatted that comment away from his lips. “Please entertain my story Chris, let me have my say, I have waited so long for you to cross my path again. I did not recognise you the first day you arrived on the hill. I wish I had met you to explain then but alas the fates worked against me there. As I was saying, I stumbled across A trio of Luchorpán. I saw that they were scared but one was not. I had just come from Aondor. I had travelled with a man there who wrote tales for King Dertrid of Shann. We had travelled the eastern shores of Northland together and had many adventures. I had visited the dwarf king Penla and feasted in the dwarf city. I had many riches from games of chance and bets. When I stumbled across the Trio dancing I was exhausted. I wanted nothing more than rest and sleep. I offered to pay for shelter but they all scarpered. All save one. A cocky upstart called Garret. He had greed in his eyes and saw me an an easy target. He ensnared me and wove a web of lies to the people in the village telling them tales of a monster in the forest they were to capture if they left gold for it. For days he had me locked in a cage. Each day stealing more and more of my coin. A week passed without anyone coming to the clearing In which I was imprisoned. He had alerted his father and they had paid bribed guards and officials in Renir to take me to jail under false charges. I was a simple wonderer with only my word to back me up. When I was found Garret had placed the gold by the tent I was in. I was supposedly caught red handed. The story spread like wildfire. My name was dragged through he dirt and I was an embarrassment to my ancestors. The truth haunted me until I heard whispers in the prison of the land changing. Prophecies being told by little folk of the crater, coming to Northland in the shape of a man. Travelling from a different time and space!”

  He was looking at the stars, reaching his hands outward as if trying to catch the moon in his hands like a butterfly. For a moment he stopped. He has spoken so fast that the break in the story brought me back to reality for a while. I could see a glisten of tears in his eyes. The re-telling of this story was bringing up emotions he had suppressed. Tears had begun to fall from his eyes as he continued to stare at the moon in his hands. He blinked and looked down at me slowly, as though he had forgotten what he was about to say.

  “Continue Oisin, please” I said softly and gestured for him to carry on.

  “Yes, yes, sorry. I was in my cell one evening. The clouds had all cleared and the stars shone so bright. The moon was just like it is now. Full of beauty and spender. I imagined a different world where I could be free, where I could be someone else. No one would know me. I could start again. I knew I could only do that if I met the creator. If I met you.”

  I fell again from the story to earth, his eyes were welling still with tears and he was starting at me. I felt uneasy but a kinship was growing in my heart for this man. How could this be?

  “You are so much more special Christopher, The night I saw the moon full is the night I broke free. Through the prison I weaved from shadow to shadow, over the wall and through the streets, seen by no one and heard none too. I needed to find you. I was so distracted. The other half of my head kept me strong when I was weak. He kept me pushing forward when I was tired. Even when I met you that first time. My heart had been filled with finding the creator I could not see you when you were in front of me. Revenge blinded me. My purpose was a for vengeance not for redemption then. This is how I was until I saw a maiden so fair. The same as the prophecies. The fair haired Valkyrie with words of power on her back. Prophecy tells she is the one that sets all wrongs to right. I was convinced then that I must find her.”

  “Was it Sarah?” I asked

  “The very same.” He smiled back at me. “The words of power clear on her back, I watched her from the tree lines and the shadows.”

  “Words of power?” I asked “What do you mean”

  “She is prophesied to give a new life to the worthy and force all to remember death.” He replied.

  “the words on her back, a tattoo you mean?” I asked

  “Yes, two words, ‘Momento mori’ Remember death.”

  My breath was stolen from me then. How could this all be so. I couldn’t wait to hear more. His story was captivating. I began to eat from the plate beside me. In true Mahood Fashion It was gone in a matter of seconds. All of it.

  Oisin continued,

  “I followed them for days, after they left Renir. They seemed to be going in circles however. Garret was with her and was deliberately walking her in zig-zags paths through the forest. Giving the impression they were travelling in one direction but in fact travelling in circles. He must have heard tale of you leaving Renir because one morning his path took them vary north east. Into the clutches of the Dark Circus. A place no man wishes to visit, even as a guest.”

&n
bsp; “I know, I have seen the remains” I said to him.

  “Remains?” he asked,

  “Yes, when we went to it there were bodies everywhere, a great battle had taken place only days before.” I told him.

  “Ah, the potion worked then.” He said to himself.

  “potion? What do you mean it worked Oisin?” I snapped.

  “Well I arrived on the eve of a great commotion. A long term performer had tried to escape and cause quite a scene, killing many of his captors. Sarah and Garret got caught up in it all at the wrong time. They were to be thrown into the great pit of the Big tent as sport. Forced to kill each other. The winner would be set free, the looser, well, you know.” He held his hands up and shrugged his shoulders.

  “Yea, I Get it.” I said.

  “Well I had heard of this place, a vile evil stain on the face of Northland. I could not simply let it stand so I used the coin I had buried and collected on my escape, to buy Sarah and Garret as slaves. I went into the private tent of the Queen, gave her the coin and poisoned the wine while she was turned. The potion was a rage potion, causing all who drank from the bottle to fight to the death. The circus must have torn it’s self apart after we left. I did not stop to look. The most important thing to me was the safe release of Sarah.” Oisin smiled at this part “I saved her Chris, surely that will buy me a place in your world?”

  I was still confused and struggling to take everything in.

  “Uh, well” I couldn’t find the words. This was too much for my head to take at once. I felt dizzy, queezy and full of vertigo. I fell from my seat. I must have fainted because when I came too I was propped up against the sticks holding the tarp.

  “Sorry” I said rubbing my eyes and cleaning my glasses, “Its all a bit much” I said.

  “I understand Chris. I am sorry to bombard you with so much so quickly.” Oisin sounded apologetic and embarrassed. “Should I continue or not?” He asked

  “No, I mean, yes, please, carry on.” I waved him closer with a roll of my hand to help me to my feet. He did so and walked me back to my stool. I could see Abe and Garret still working on the lock of the kart. Oisin had not noticed.

  “Well after we left the circus Garret had taken a few blows to the head and was out cold. I tried to explain the situation to Sarah, but she, well, she didn’t not want to hear.” He said nervously. I laughed, knowing Sarah, she does not like to be wronged and is fiercely loyal to those that do right by her. As far as she was concerned Oisin had kidnapped her and was planning to kill them.

  “I’m sure it took a while for her to come round eh?” I asked

  “Yes sir, for hours I tried until finally she listened. I told her all that I had told you and she feared for you. She knew you would fall victim to charm. She said you always saw the best in people, so much so that you would not see the truth underneath.”

  I laughed, embarrassed. “Yes, she knows me too well” I said.

  “Well, after a while of planning we agreed that it is best if she played along with Garrets plan. For her to escape and return to Renir to find Abe. His father. There they could hold her hostage until Abe had time to convince you to kill me.”

  I stood up then. “So your telling me she is on her way back to Renir? We need to get her. There is too much danger on these roads. I cannot have her on her own!” Oisin stood also. Not looking at me however. He looked passed me. I spun on my heels to See Abe and Garret both standing side by side. Abe held chains wrapped round his hands and dragging on the ground. Garret had picked the whip and a spear from the front of the wagon. They had picked the lock and moved so silently they were upon us before we had any time to react.

  “Abe, please tell me this is all bull, this cant be true, I know you, you have watched over me for years?” Abe’s Expression was unchanging, his eyes on Oisin. Garret’s too.

  They both took a step forward at the same time, swinging the chains now and cracking the whip. The emeralds in their eyes had gone. Only darkness resided there now. I stepped in front of Oisin and pushed him back.

  “Both of you chill the fuck out, you hear me? I don’t know what the hell is going on but your pissing me off and scaring the hell out of me.” Garret laughed and said softly in his fathers ear “He’s mine.”

  “NO” Abe shouted back at him, “You have the tramp, I started this, Chris is mine.” He took another step “The creator” he said in a whiny mocking tone.

  “Abe what the hell? This cant be true?” I pleaded

  “Oh shut up you naive prick. Of course it is. You created a new land for my people, for that I thank ye lad, but you are too much of a risk to keep about.” His voice low and growling. His skin had changed green The hair gone from a cartoon ginger to dark blood stained red. His complexion faded from smooth to scars and rotten teeth took place of the white ones. They both looked similar now, ears pointed and faces narrow, like goblins with rotting skin, long bony hands with claws were now holding the weapons. They looked stranger now too. Muscles bulged from the clothing they wore. A long almost forked tongue licked lips cracked and dry on their faces. They moved forward slowly. I held my hands up in defence and was about to speak but Garret had sprinted past me, jumped placing both feet on my chest and kicking me backwards. He was on top of Oisin now. Flailing the chains around his wrists and arms tying him to the tent frame. I rolled into my front but was greeted with a gut-busting kick to the ribs forcing me back down again. Pain was raining down on my like heavy hail now. Abe laying into me with hatred and un-imaginable force. I could feel my ribs crack with each kick, I could hardly get breath. I swung my arms around me like a drunk octopus out of water. I could not see as my glasses had been knocked from my face, I simply hoped that on of my hands would find him and I could grab tight. Giving me some baring of where he was. This did not happen though. I screamed and yelled but all I could hear were the cries of Oisin and the laugh, if you could call them that, from the luchorpán. More a cackle, high pitched fast cackle is how I best describe it. A blow came to the back of my head and I felt something tight around my neck. The whip had cut off all air to my lungs. I fell back to the ground. Abe’s face close to mine, watching the life fade away from my eyes. His long bonelike fingers wrapped over my face, he turned my head over to Oisin. Garret was lifting Oisin’s blade to his throat. Both his hands rested firmly on the hilt. He was about to push down, driving the blade through his neck to the wood behind him, but just as the pressure was about to be applied a growl and bark stopped him. A black and white blur landed on Garret’s back, forcing him to the ground. He twisted and writhed. The cackles had long gone instead a blood curdling cream was heard then a choking sound. The black and white fur pulled back with a snap. A squirt of red erupted like a massive ripe tomato being crushed under a fork. The creature turned with a face covered with red to stare at us. A wolf, It had ripped the throat from Garret and was facing us now. I had never seen such a look in any thing’s eyes before. It scared me to the core. What had happened? Was it going to turn on both of us next? Everything was blurry, my glasses were somewhere far from me, Before either of us had any time to think Abe had lifted the sharpened floorboard from the kart, that he had fastioned into a pointed weapon, in his other hand and held it high above his head the sharp end aimed at my torso.

  “No!” I tried to scream but my throat was still held tight with the whip. I took my hands from the leather chocking me, and reached out to try and stop whatever was to plunge into my chest. I could not reach and simply closed my eyes in anticipation. The tension loosened slightly and my mouth was full of blood. The strong metallic, iron taste filled my taste buds, I spat and coughed. My face was wet with warm blood. It was in my eyes. I felt no pain but the worry that this was only shock and I would die soon filled my head. The tension was gone now from my neck and I took a deep breath, I coughed from the blood that went in with the air and then lunged forward. My hands reaching the throat of Abe. My famous temper took over. I pulverised his face until there was nothing but bone an
d mush. I have no idea how much time passed as I slammed my fists into Abe’s skull until I hit the ground. I screamed and guldered as I did. I was only stopped by someone pushing me off. I scrambled for my glasses. Finding them I gave them a quick clean before fixing them to my face. My vision had become clear again. Oisin had pulled me off and was standing beside me now.

  “Shit Oisin! What the hell?” I suddenly remembered the wolf that had ripped the throat from Garret. It must still be near. I grabbed the spear that protruded from Abe’s back. It hadn’t dawned on me then how it got there in the first place. I just needed it to protect me from the rabid wolf that was seemingly stalking us now from the shadows, past the firelight.

  “Where did it go?” I shouted to Oisin.

  “It’s close.” He said, much calmer than he should be. He walked beside me and put his hand on the end of the spear. Pushing it down towards the dirt.

  “What are you doing?” I shouted as I pulled back from his grasp and continued to point towards to darkness. “It’s still there!”

  “Do not worry, they won’t hurt us!” He relied.

  “Who?” I said worried and confused. A voice came from behind me. A voice I had almost forgotten. Calm, sweet, kind, funny, soft yet firm. A voice I had waited to hear for days.

  “Us.”

  Eleven

  Not quite a return

  You know when you watch movies?

  The kind of fantasy movie in which someone ascends to heaven?

  White lights, doves, golden clouds, wind blowing like a 1980s hair metal band music video?

  Then the slow motion run, as the hero runs to the one true love and they embrace? Yea?

  Well let me tell you, that has nothing on the sight of seeing the person you long after, face to face, after so long. Trust me.

  When I turned to see Sarah, standing with Tessa at her side, I could have died there and then. I may as well rip my eyes from my head. They would be useless now. How could I ever gaze on anything more beautiful and amazing than I was at that time? To say I was filled with joy would be a lie. It was so much more than that. I felt liked the tin man getting his heart, the lion getting its courage. The half finding the other half. Like a last piece of a jigsaw coming together. Stepping back to see a message you did not know was there.