Azrael's Twins and the Circle of Stone: Book Two of the Nearworld Tales

by Vincent Mortimer

  Niamh smiled. ‘Thanks Hector,’ she said as she stood up. ‘Come on Grady. Let’s go find Mum.’

  ‘You sure?’ said Grady, turning round from where he crouched by Iris.

  ‘Yep. You were right. The stables really help.’

  ‘Amazing,’ said Grady. ‘I was actually right about something.’

  ‘It happens,’ said Niamh. ‘But you forgot to mention the smell. Urrrgggghh! Or the dragon dung,’ she said as she stepped into a pile the gnolls had missed.

  ‘Sorry aboot that,’ said McHavering, chuckling. ‘But dinnae worry. It’ll scrape off once it dries.’

  The children smiled once more before heading out of the stable doors. Roland walked over and stood beside McHavering as he watched them disappear towards the castle proper. ‘Do you think they will work it all out?’ he said, wiping his hands with a rag.

  ‘Aye. They’re smart. But now the lass will be able tae talk to her mammie withoot fisticuffs. And that’s worth something.’

  ‘What is Brighid planning, now that we’ve found her, the witch?’

  ‘That pigeon?’ said Hector derisively. ‘Well she wouldnae tell me but ye can be sure that lake will nae be oot of their sight when the sun sets and the moon starts tae rise.’

  ‘It won’t do any good though,’ said Roland. ‘If it’s her then Brighid and the rest will get nowhere near the circle.’

  ‘If the wee ones cannae do what’s needed themselves then an army of Brighid’s wouldnae be any use.’ Hector chuckled to himself.

  ‘Something funny?’ said Roland.

  ‘Well … the wee ones were clever today. The news of the pixies in toon has caused quite a stir. I think the witch might have underestimated what the wee bairns are capable of. I dinnae think it’ll just be the two against the witch.’

  ‘I hope you’re right,’ said Roland.

  Niamh felt lighter as she walked through the castle towards their rooms.

  ‘How are we going to get out of the festival tonight?’ said Grady. ‘I’m better at making up rubbish stories than you are but even I can’t think of a good one for this.’

  ‘I don’t think we need a story,’ said Niamh. ‘I think Hector was trying to tell us something. I think he wants us to tell Mum and Dad where we need to go tonight.’

  Grady whistled as he sucked in a breath. ‘That’s a big call. You expect Mum to let us head off to the lake while everyone else goes to the festival?’

  ‘Think, Grady!’ said Niamh urgently. ‘We need Mum too. Whatever is happening, she’s part of this. Remember what Azrael said.’

  ‘If it was Azrael. Hector wasn’t so sure. Do you really think Aoife could be the Morrigan?’

  ‘I don’t know anymore. But I’m sure we need to tell Mum what we need to do tonight.’

  ‘And what’s that?’ said a voice from behind them.

  Niamh and Grady spun round to see their mother standing serenely behind them in the corridor. Neither had heard her approach.

  ‘Mum!’ said Niamh surprised. ‘Where did you come from?’

  ‘Where I came from doesn’t matter, but here I am. What’s up?’

  Niamh and Grady exchanged glances. Niamh gulped and began to talk but was cut off by her mother.

  ‘Maybe we should go somewhere. The corridor isn’t the most private place.’

  As if in answer a clanking sound behind her revealed the grogoch, muttering silently as it stalked towards them carrying two pots which appeared to be getting more rusty the longer he held onto them. The creature gave a toothy grin – though it was hard to tell beneath the matted hair which covered him – and stepped behind a statue, the bust of a witch with a particularly nasty looking nose and a chin upon which you could crack walnuts. The sounds stopped immediately and Grady was amazed to see that when he looked behind the statue, the grogoch had vanished.

  ‘How?’ he said.

  Grace laughed. ‘They have peculiar powers, Grady. Don’t underestimate them. Come. Let’s talk.’

  They followed their mother to a room off the end of the corridor. Bright light flooded the chamber, reflecting off large mirrors on one wall. ‘What’s up?’ said their mother brightly.

  Niamh was smart enough to hear the tension below the surface of her mother’s serenity. She took a deep breath and was about to start her story when Grady cut in.

  ‘We can’t go to the festival tonight,’ he said brusquely. ‘And neither can you. We need you to take us to the stone circle at Morrigan’s Daughter. And we have to go by sundown.’

  Niamh stared wide-eyed at her brother and his interruption.

  ‘Why?’ said Grace.

  Grady felt himself wilting a little under the steely glare of his mother. It wasn’t often he got that look these days. ‘Well. I can’t tell you. But you have to come. It’s important.’

  ‘But you won’t tell me why?’

  Grady shook his head.

  ‘And that’s all, is it?’ said Grace.

  ‘Yep,’ said Grady after a moment.

  ‘You want me to allow you and your sister – a prince and princess of the kingdom no less – to stay away from one of the most important festivals of the year. And you want me – the princess charged with showing respect to the people of the lands around here – to insult those people by also staying away from that festival?’

  Niamh rolled her eyes. ‘But it’s not like that …’ she started to say before she was cut off.

  ‘I once had a phoenix named Belimawr warn me about you two. He told me there would be things you would ask that would never make sense. I used to think he was giving me advice to a mother about her children. But I always knew sooner or later there would be something important that would seem senseless, and I think that might be what you’re asking tonight.’

  Grady’s eyes went wide. ‘You mean you’ll come?’

  Grace sighed. ‘I think I will. I’m presuming there can’t be anyone else?’

  ‘Probably not,’ said Niamh. ‘Though he didn’t say we couldn’t take anyone else.’

  ‘Who said?’ Grace quickly replied.

  Niamh rolled her eyes again. ‘I can’t tell you. But if you come tonight you might meet him. He’s a friend. At least we think he is.’

  ‘That’s comforting,’ said Grace. ‘And I take it we can’t tell anyone else either? Like your father?’

  ‘Dad will probably try and overthink things again, like he always does.’

  ‘And what I can take from that is that I don’t think enough? Don’t answer that,’ said Grace, smiling. ‘Let me talk to your father. He won’t be happy but I think we can find a way around it. I’m not sure how we will get out of the castle without being seen, though.’

  ‘I think we can help there,’ said Grady, giving an embarrassed stare.

  ‘Grady!’ said Niamh, hitting her brother on the shoulder.

  ‘Remember what Hector said,’ Grady replied, rubbing his shoulder.

  ‘Is there something I should know?’ said Grace, looking shiftily at the children.

  ‘We’ll see you outside later. Can you get someone to bring up the broomsticks to the breakfast balcony? It’ll all become … well I was going to say it will become clear then, but I think “invisible” might be a better word,’ said Niamh..

  Grace gently cupped Niamh’s cheek. ‘Where did my little girl from Avalon’s End go?’

  ‘I’m still here Mum. But I’m not sure I was ever just your little girl. We need to talk about some things.’ Niamh took her mother’s hand in hers and held it gently. ‘But not right now. We have … we have things to do,’ she said, releasing her mother’s hand.

  ‘Another time, then,’ said Grace. ‘Let me arrange some things and I’ll see you on the balcony in thirty minutes. Sundown is not far away.’

  ‘Mum – you can’t tell anyone,’ said Grady earnestly. ‘It has to be just you and us tonight.’

  ‘You can trust me,’ said Grace, turning to the door. ‘I need to settle things with your father though.’
r />   ‘Alright,’ said Niamh, nodding. ‘In an hour then.’

  The children scuttled through the door as Grace opened it. They peered into the corridor before disappearing towards their rooms.

  ‘I’ll have the broomsticks brought up,’ said a voice from a corner of the room.

  Grace walked wearily to one of the chairs and collapsed into it. ‘I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone. How many more times do I have to lie to them?’

  The corner from where the voice came slowly blurred and resolved itself into the shape of the phoenix. Brighid did not take on her full glory in the enclosed space but her coat still rippled and shimmered with the flames that eternally surrounded her. ‘You know how much is at stake. I find it interesting that it’s taken her this long to show herself.’

  ‘She hasn’t shown herself yet,’ said Grace. ‘You know you won’t be able to get to her. The spells she’s woven around that lake will prevent anyone but the children and me getting to her. Who do you think the “friend” is they referred to?’

  ‘If someone has asked them to meet him by the lake then there is only one person it can be. Only he could pass through her spells like that.’

  Grace smiled resignedly. ‘I wasn’t sure we would ever see him again. No one in this kingdom knows he is still alive except a handful, and now he shows himself to the children. How do we protect them if we can’t get to the lake edge?’

  ‘How much do you trust the children?’

  Grace laughed. ‘Well I can’t trust Grady to put his clothes away or even empty his school bag, so I’m not sure that’s the best question!’

  ‘Those are small things,’ said Brighid. ‘Think. You and Merritt chose to walk a path that would lead you to this place. You trust him without a thought. Can you do the same for your children?’

  Grace hugged herself tightly as the question bit home. ‘They are still so young.’

  ‘They are older than you think,’ said Brighid. ‘And they are not alone. Trust them to do what is needed.’

  Grace fell silent and stared at Brighid. She seemed to be searching the phoenix’s eyes for an answer. But there was none. ‘I do trust them but I want some insurance in place. Get the brooms up here and I’ll sort out Merritt.’

  ‘Insurance?’ said Brighid.

  ‘Yes. We’re so close to stopping her. This is the best chance we have to end this right now, right here. So, here’s what I want.’

  Outside the sun began to sink towards the mountains in the distance, as Grace laid out her plans

  Niamh stalked her way back to their rooms with Grady tagging behind. Faerie servants on the wing took one look at her face and turned tail, leaving a sparkling trail as they vanished down the corridor.

  ‘Why are you so angry?’ said Grady, confused. ‘Mum’s going to be there, Azrael will get what he wants, and …’

  ‘And we get used as bait again? Is that what you were going to say?’

  ‘Well not exactly,’ said Grady, taking a step back from his sister. He was, even now, still amazed at how her fiery temper could explode.

  Niamh turned another look on Grady but then relaxed and smiled. ‘I’m not angry at you. I’m angry at feeling like we’re always being used. Mum knows something she won’t tell us. Murdock wouldn’t say a thing as he’s thick as thieves with Dad and Mum, and there’s no point trying to talk to Brighid. That … that…

  ‘“Pigeon” I think is the word you’re after,’ said Grady.

  Niamh laughed. ‘Yes, that’s the word. But we need some extra help tonight.’

  ‘You mean help beyond the most powerful wizard Avalon’s ever seen and one of the most powerful witches, being our mum, that is?’

  Niamh pushed open the door to her room and stomped through. ‘Azrael doesn’t think he has enough strength left to take on the Morrigan and I don’t know that Mum by herself will be strong enough. I know for sure we aren’t strong enough by ourselves.’

  ‘You’re not by yourself though, are you,’ said a voice inside her head.

  ‘And you can shut up,’ said Niamh to thin air.

  Grady laughed. ‘Hep spoke to me too. It’s not as scary as it used to be.’

  ‘That’s what worries me,’ said Niamh, frowning.

  ‘Look in the mirror,’ said Hep.

  ‘Why?’ said Grady.

  ‘There’s something you should see.’

  Niamh glanced at Grady. ‘The mirror?’ Clearly she had heard the words too.

  Grady nodded and walked across the finely woven rugs to the gold-trimmed mirror that graced one wall. His reflection stared back but behind his shoulder stood another figure – insubstantial and ghostlike but unmistakably that of Hephaestus. Beside Grady, Niamh stood staring grimly at the serenely smiling face of Persephone. The spectral figure that stared back reached gently forward and put a hand on Niamh’s shoulder. Niamh flinched as she felt an icy touch.

  ‘How did you do that?’ she said, backing away from the mirror and looking around the room. There was no one there but her and her brother.

  ‘We are becoming stronger,’ said Hephaestus. ‘Our time is coming.’

  ‘And we owe you our thanks for that,’ said Persephone. This time Niamh imagined the whispering voice was not in her head but on the edge of hearing. ‘We can give you an edge tonight that neither your mother nor Azrael can provide. An edge you will need against the witch.’

  ‘And what do we have to give you in return?’ said Grady suspiciously. ‘Nothing ever comes free around here.’

  ‘Join with us. Give us the chance to show you what you could become!’ The voices of the Twins echoed as one.

  Niamh laughed. ‘You don’t give up, do you? We told you before we wouldn’t do that and we’re not about to start tonight.’

  ‘But you must!’ moaned Hephaestus. ‘You must!’

  ‘We must do nothing!’ said Niamh, angrily waving her hand towards the mirror. The air flashed brightly as a shaft of light flew from her fingers. The glass fractured and the vision of the Twins disappeared.

  Grady stared at Niamh as he backed away from the mirror. A shard tinkled from the frame and crashed onto the stone floor. Of the Twins there was no sign. ‘Can you hear them?’ he said.

  Niamh shook her head as she looked with wonder at her hand, as if seeing it for the first time. ‘How did I do that?’ she said breathlessly as she turned towards Grady.

  ‘I don’t know, but keep that hand away from me, thanks,’ he said as he manoeuvred a chair between himself and Niamh.

  The door to their room burst open. ‘What’s going on in here!’ said Quinn, bounding in.

  Niamh turned and pointed at him. ‘You! Exactly the person I want to see.’

  ‘Watch out,’ said Grady. ‘She’s got a loaded hand.’

  ‘What?’ said Quinn, looking confused.

  ‘Never mind him,’ said Niamh. ‘We need your pixies again. Call them up.’

  Quinn folded his arms and frowned. ‘You don’t really understand that using your “I’m a princess so do what I tell you” face isn’t going to work on them. Or me, for that matter.’

  ‘Look, just do what …’ Niamh hesitated. ‘Do I really use that … that princess look thing?’

  Grady snorted. ‘No, of course not,’ he said, sounding completely unconvincing.

  ‘Well … if more people switched their brains on I wouldn’t have to use it, is all I can say.’ Niamh defensively crossed her arms and turned what she hoped was a haughty stare on Quinn. It didn’t seem to work.

  ‘As you command, my Princess,’ he said, bowing low. ‘How may your loyal subject help?’

  Grady faked being sick behind Niamh but stood up again quickly as Niamh’s head snapped round with another vicious stare.

  ‘Seriously though, Niamh. You don’t understand. They’re not my pixies. You can’t keep asking them to perform on demand for you.’

  ‘This is important, Quinn,’ said Niamh, dropping the haughty tone. ‘I think we are going to need some help tonight
. And the only ones I think can give that help we need are the pixies. You said they were honourable, didn’t you?’

  ‘I’ve never met creatures more honourable,’ he said quietly.

  ‘Then what if we could right a wrong that was done a long time ago? Would they help?’

  ‘Depends. What would they be up against?’

  ‘Not much,’ said Grady. ‘Just the most dangerous mythical witch of all time.’

  ‘Quinn’s eyes widened with astonishment. ‘You want to take on the Morrigan? Here? Tonight?’

  ‘I don’t want to take on anyone,’ said Niamh. ‘But Azrael asked us to help. And I don’t think we can say no. I think this is why we’re here. One of the reasons why we’re here, anyway.’

  ‘Then I’m coming too,’ said Quinn. ‘You’ll need every wand you can get tonight.’

  Niamh shook her head. ‘It won’t matter how many wands we have. Azrael could probably gather an army if he thought it would work. You can’t join us tonight. But there’s a reason he wants us. And Mum.’

  ‘Your mother? Why would he want your mother? And anyway, try and stop me.’

  ‘Why do you have to ask so many questions?’ said Niamh angrily. ‘And I don’t know why he wants us. But it must be important. Will you call Fingal or not?’

  Quinn looked from Niamh to Grady and back again before reaching a decision. ‘It could be a trap. He loved the Morrigan, you know?’

  Niamh nodded. ‘Yes I know that. But I don’t think it is a trap, and neither does Grady.’

  ‘Oh well, that’s okay then,’ he said in mock relief. ‘You know you can trust Grady’s judgement.’

  ‘Hey!’ said Grady. ‘That’s hardly fair. Well … mainly not fair. Okay, well, maybe it’s fair.’

  Quinn stared intently at Niamh as if trying to read her mind. ‘Okay. You want him now?’