by Jacky Gray
Reagan read the questions, they were pretty much as he’d expected.
Part 1: Describe the characteristics of your chosen Worthy which made him/her worthy of that title. You must give examples of deeds or incidents to support your opinions.
Part 2: Suggest the type of life your Worthy might have led, indicating when and where he/she was born and the places he/she may have visited during his/her life.
Part 3: Either Describe a typical day in the life of the Worthy or Give a detailed account of one of the events which made your Worthy famous and well respected.
Reagan was glad he read the third part first, identifying the main event easily, but he needed some smaller anecdotes for part one. The bell rang and he decided to start with the last section, hoping he would remember something else.
The next thing he knew, the bell rang to signal they must stop writing. He looked down at his paper in horror – although he’d completed the final part and the first section covered a good couple of pages, he hadn’t even started the second question. As Niall asked them to write their names on all pages, he quickly wrote down the dates and places; he had some extra time because his paper was last to be collected. As he noticed the random numbers and symbols drawn in the margins of all his answer papers, he wondered if his efforts might be disqualified.
‘Are you alright, mate? You look as white as a horse.’
He smiled weakly at Molan’s jest as Taryn came up.
‘What happened to you in there? I saw you stop writing for ages and then you were scribbling like crazy.’
‘No idea. My answer paper is covered in numbers and little drawings but I don’t remember doing any of them. I just hope I got a decent score on the other tests because I don’t think I’ll get much off that one.’
‘Are you kidding? They won’t even need to look at that paper; you’ll have so many marks from the rest. When I saw the question about trees and the fire festivals, I knew the rest of us might as well give up.’ Taryn knew his friend’s expertise well.
‘A question about trees? I must have missed it. I did the one about sacred foods and lesser sabbats.’ Reagan was deadpan.
‘That’s what I did, you know me and food.’
‘He’s on the tease, Molan. No way would he have missed that.’ Taryn recognised the false innocence.
‘Sorry, mate. Couldn’t resist getting my own back.’
The girls joined them. ‘Reagan, are you alright? I thought you were going to faint or something.’
‘No, he’s still poorly, Rowena. I think it’s going to take both of you to get him well again.’ Molan winked at Taryn as the girls fussed over Reagan, checking his temperature and pulse.
While he wasn’t exactly enjoying the attention in the same way Molan would, Reagan appreciated the cool hand on his forehead, which really ached. But it ended all too soon as Professor Niall approached with a serious look on his face. ‘Reagan, I’d like a word if I may.’
‘Certainly, sir.’ He followed him back into the hall where he walked over to the pile of test papers. Reagan’s sat on top, the numbers and symbols standing out clearly as though they were somehow thicker than the rest of the writing.
‘I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t mean to do that, I don’t know what happened to me.’
‘It’s alright, Reagan. Sit down. You’re probably still feeling a bit shaky. You’re not in trouble; Malduc said this might happen. Apparently you went into some kind of trance; it’s two days before the full moon so you’re susceptible to its power.’
‘And this is the most potent time.’
‘You were very keen to attempt the trials so we have not interfered with your wish. But it’s important you start using the willow wand again, even if it’s just for the five nights surrounding the full moon.’
‘Will I need a new willow wand?’
‘Of course. I understand you have a special tree. Would it be possible for you to get there before sundown?’
‘Certainly. It’s not far, down by the river.’
‘Go there now, then. Take someone with you.’
Reagan didn’t think to ask why; he simply focussed on getting there soon. Everything and everyone else could wait. So he didn’t notice Professor Cathair asking him how he was, or that Amiera and Rowena had waited for him, even though lehren had ended and everyone else had gone home. Their concern passed by unheeded as he questioned them. ‘Have you seen Taryn?’
‘He went off about ten minutes ago with Molan. I think he had to go home.’
‘Are you alright, Reagan? You look a bit strange.’
He nodded. ‘I’m fine. I have to go.’
‘You don’t look fine.’
‘Where do you have to go?’
‘To the river.’
‘We’ll come with you. You shouldn’t be on your own. There’s definitely something wrong.’
‘You can’t come. It will be dark soon. You need to go home.’ He ran off, too fast for the girls to keep up with him. It wasn’t far to the river but even before he reached his special tree, he could tell something was wrong. Her pain and distress affected him many paces before he reached her.
Turning the corner, he saw some boys. ‘Stop, stop. What are you doing? You can’t do that, it’s wrong.’
‘Well, well. The mighty Reagan. Still thinks he can tell me what to do. I thought you learnt your lesson last time.’
Reagan froze in horror at the familiar voice as he tried to make sense of the scene before him.
9 Edlyn the Tormentor
‘You know the tree code. We don’t cut branches off without asking permission first.’ Reagan vibrated with disgust.
‘That’s alright, they weren’t cut off. They were broken off.’ Edlyn turned to his cousin and smirked.
Reagan protested. ‘But that causes even more pain. The new growth is strong and you would need to tear at it to break it off.’
‘Which you would know because you’ve done it so often.’
‘No. I watched someone do it once but the screaming got unbearable. Exactly as it is now.’
‘That’s nonsense. I can’t hear any screaming, you’re just imagining things. And anyway, the poor old tree’s got too many branches, it won’t miss a few.’
‘She would be glad to let you have some branches if you’d asked. There are serious consequences if you break the rules.’
Edlyn paused for a second and something like fear passed over his face. He shook off the memory and continued his taunting. ‘It’s she, is it? Is she your girlfriend, Reagan? Come and look at this, boys. This wyrdo’s in love with a tree.’
Four boys stepped out from behind the willow. They were fourth years; Reagan recognised two of them as Outil; the other two, more muscular, he took to be Warriors.
‘Anyway, we didn’t do anything to the tree, it was these boys. They wanted to know what would happen at the Imbolc initiation, so we thought we’d show them.’
‘You can’t do that, there’s a reason for the secrecy. You mustn’t break the sacred laws.’
‘Who’s going to stop us, you? I don’t think so.’
Reagan tried to appeal to the boys. ‘Look, you will get into big trouble if anyone finds out you know. You should go home now, before it’s too late.’
‘It’s already too late, we’ve told them.’ Edlyn winked at Godryk and turned to the boys. ‘Now, who wants to go first?’ One of the Warriors stepped forward. ‘Who will test him?’ The other Warrior stepped forward. ‘Right, you know what to do.’
Reagan watched in horror as the first boy took off his tabard and tunic, turning his back to the other boy who raised the willow whip in his hand.
‘Stop.’ Reagan rushed forward to stop him but Edlyn anticipated the move and caught one of his arms while Godryk restrained the other. Reagan watched helplessly as the boy’s arm completed its arc and the branch whipped across the other boy’s back. The Outil boys gasped; they both wore expressions of horror which reflected Reagan’s own.
‘R
emember, if you make a sound it will have to start again until you have done three without a murmur. Again.’
Reagan could not stand by and let this atrocity continue. He tried struggling against them to free himself, but they both had a wiry strength and took great pleasure in tightening their grip and digging their fingernails into his arms. If he couldn’t stop them physically, he would take the only option available to him. ‘Stop it. This is wrong. The initiation ceremony is not …’
‘Careful what you say.’ Edlyn hissed in his ear. ‘The only way to convince them is to tell them the truth. I don’t need to tell you what would happen if you did that.’
Reagan could tell the Outils would not need much persuading to see sense. ‘These boys have been telling lies. You are not asked to whip each other in any part of the ceremony.’
The first boy had endured his three lashes without a sound and Edlyn directed them to swap places. With him distracted and the two Warrior boys busy in their task of either enrobing or disrobing, Regan saw his chance. Seeking the worried faces of the two Outil boys, he put every ounce of command he could into his voice. Somehow, neither Edlyn nor Godryk heard him.
‘Go home now. This is wrong. You must have no part of it. You will be in serious trouble if you continue with this.’
Both boys reacted instantly, dropping their whips and moving backwards until the willow tree’s branches swallowed them up. They ran out of the back of the tree toward the village and Reagan said a silent thanks to the tree for helping to shield them even after they’d abused her. She told him she understood these boys were unwilling participants in the proceedings. He apologised for her horrendous treatment at Edlyn’s hands and expressed his concern for her injuries. She thanked him for his healing energy, assuring him the pain was reducing.
‘Stop dreaming, Reagan. You’re missing all the fun.’
‘You find this funny? I find it appalling. Why would you gain pleasure from watching boys inflict pain on each other? That is worse than doing it yourself.’
‘Hardly. I don’t have to get all hot and sweaty and the end result is the same. And it’s more satisfying because you can watch the expressions on their faces as they try not to call out.’
‘You are nothing more than a coward and a bully.’
‘Why, thank you. I’m sure I could think of a few names to call you, but there’s more work to do.’
The second boy’s trial ended; it had been less arduous because the first boy’s pain sapped his strength. Reagan pulled away from his captors and went over to examine the boy’s back. ‘You are foolish to believe these boys,’ he whispered, ‘put some salve on it when you get home and it will not sting as much.’
‘What are you whispering about? Godryk, get those miserable Outils; they must be cowering behind the tree.’
‘I simply told them to put salve on their wounds.’
‘Pah. They’re barely scratches. You need to do it a lot harder if you’re going to get your boy to squeal. Maybe you should get a bit of extra practice on the Outils.’
Both Warrior boys looked as though they wanted nothing more than to go home and forget their ordeal.
Godryk came running out from the tree. ‘They’re gone. The Outil boys have gone. I’ve looked everywhere.’
Edlyn grabbed Reagan, shaking him violently. ‘This was your doing, wasn’t it? You told them to go. You’ll pay for that.’
‘I didn’t need to say a word. They realised how stupid this all is. They’ve probably gone to tell one of the professors.’
‘Why would they do that?’ Godryk sneered. ‘He’s bluffing.’
‘I’m sure you’re right, but we’d better not stay here too much longer, it’s getting dark. Well, boys. I promised you some extra practice. Grab a whip each. Godryk, you know what to do.’
Godryk pulled off Reagan’s tabard before he realised, but it took both of them to remove his tunic and Edlyn’s voice held some urgency. ‘Come on boys, give it all you’ve got, see if you can’t draw some blood.’
The Warrior boys looked at each other uncertainly. This clearly wasn’t what they bargained on when Godryk asked if they wanted to know about the ceremony. Edlyn pointed out they’d been willing to cheat. He reminded them he was a senior; his father an important member of the council. So the first boy raised his whip and brought it down on Reagan’s back.
Reagan flinched but would not give them the satisfaction of crying out. He heard a high pitched screaming. It did not come from him, but the willow protesting at his torment. The second boy’s whip cracked and still he made no sound. As the third lash struck his back, the noise grew to an unbearable intensity, filling his head with its angry sound. He could no longer feel the pain in his back nor the hands cruelly pulling his arms apart. He could not smell anything and lost all sense of time and place. Finally, his vision blackened and he was no longer aware of anything.
10 Blaise the Guide
As he regained consciousness, Reagan sensed the strangeness of his surroundings. Even with his eyes closed, he could tell the comfortable cot in which he lay was not his own. It didn’t smell the same and although he could not have said exactly how, it didn’t sound like his room. When he did finally open his eyes, the candle on the chest threw shadows which danced on walls different to the ones in his chamber. He heard a rustle as someone moved and turned towards the back wall.
‘Don’t fret, Reagan. You were taken ill and they brought you to my house. Do you know who I am?’
‘Ganieda, Archer’s mother.’
Her voice held a smile. ‘Yes. You may feel some pain when you move your head …’
Moving his head, he not only felt the pain, but heard again the willow’s angry scream. He winced and closed his eyes.
‘Try to relax. She worried about you and screamed so loudly it alerted me. We hurried to find you and Sedge carried you home.’
‘Is she still screaming?’
‘I cannot hear her.’
‘Why can I still hear her then?’
‘Because your connection is so strong. She probably still worries. Tell her you’re alright and she may stop.’
‘She can hear me?’
‘Try it.’
Reagan relaxed back into the cot and imagined his willow, her branches softly swaying in the breeze. ‘It’s alright, I’m not hurt. Please don’t worry about me.’ Although he didn’t say the words out loud, in his head the words echoed as though he had. The screaming stopped.
‘I think she heard you.’
‘I thought you couldn’t hear her.’
‘Not exactly. My link to your willow is too weak for this distance. I have my own willow, on the opposite bank of the river. She was troubled by her sister’s distress, but she’s silent now. The combined strength of both voices told me where to look.’
‘So you talk to trees.’
‘Well, yes. All healers talk to their plants. We could not do our work otherwise.’
‘But it’s more than simply talking at them, you actually communicate with them.’
‘As you did, just then. We call it a mind-link. Most healers can link with plants, and many gamekeepers and farmers with their animals, but very few people can mind-link with other humans.’
‘But there are people who can?’
‘One or two. Look, it’s important you rest now. Any form of mind-link takes a lot of energy and I suspect you have done more than you know tonight.’
‘But Niall said I would need a willow wand because of the moon. Last Imbolc I could not sleep without one.’
‘I remember, but I could not cause your willow any more pain. She allowed me to take the branches on the ground but warned me they may be tainted.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘There is only one way you can tell. This may cause you some discomfort, but it’s better to do this now when I am here to help and guide you. Hold each branch in turn; only you can tell which one is right for you.’
He held the first one and felt absol
utely nothing. She nodded. ‘This is mostly old growth. I thought it would not be suitable.’ She placed it to the right of him.
The next one trembled, and he felt a sense of peace. She answered the question on his face. ‘I hoped this might be the one, but I felt very little connection.’ She put it on his left side. ‘Take care with this one.’
He took it and dropped it straight away in horror. This branch had been used to whip first the Warrior and then himself. In the tiny part of a second it had been in contact with his skin, a dozen images flashed through his brain, none of them pleasant.
She frowned. ‘Sorry. Now you know what to expect, it will be easier.’
The pile on his right grew steadily; mostly old wood with no reaction. One of them had been used on the other Warrior and another had been used to whip him. He tried to hold on to this one for a little longer and saw how Godryk had bent and twisted it for some time before it finally broke off.
Ganieda tutted her concern. ‘I sense a bad connection. Don’t hold on too long, it’s not good for you.’
‘But I want to see what happened. Edlyn told me he didn’t do anything to the tree. I wanted to see for myself.’
‘There are only two left. Try this one.’
Again, he smiled at the faint sense of peace, so she put it with the other branch on his left. As he took the last one he could sense the difference instantly. This Outil boy knew what he was doing. He’d asked her permission and given thanks first. Finding the node where the year’s growth began, he snapped it off cleanly. Then he apologised to her for any hurt. Reagan read all of this in a few snapshots, then a huge grin spread across his face as the white horse trotted into his head.
‘I see you’ve found a friend.’ She smiled.
‘My white horse. I haven’t seen her for ages.’
‘I’ll leave you to rest. Sedge has gone to tell your parents you will be stopping with us tonight.’