‘What did they say? What happened?’ Loomis asked.
‘They wanted to know what we wanted and what we were doing.’
‘And?’ Loomis asked.
‘I told them we needed passage to Antarctica,’ Jack said, his mouth full.
‘Did you tell them what for?’ Loomis asked.
‘No,’ Jack said. He sounded cagey but he had no other choice. Dax had seen the Amulet and Jack didn’t know if he could tell the others. If he got a chance to speak to Cali alone he would tell her. He quickly told them what happened in the rest of the meeting.
‘And Dax let you go? He didn’t try to question you further?’ Loomis asked. Jack could tell he was suspicious.
‘Yeah.’ Jack could read a little of what Loomis was feeling in the salamander’s eyes - they were lighter than usual and they were flickering.
‘Perhaps they already knew of you.’
‘How could they know?’ Cali asked, horrified.
‘Your movements are known to few but secrets are tricky,’ Loomis said. ‘They find a way.’
Soon after they turned in for the night. Jack set his hammock up close to Cali’s. She gave him a funny look but she didn’t object.
It was not a struggle for Jack to stay awake, he was tired from the journey, but the shadowy world of the deep tantalised him. He could see ordinary sea creatures darting past but every now and then something he had never seen before would appear. Once a large seahorse came into view – the size of a human or bigger. It was iridescent like a pearl and it had a shining horn on its head. It’s a sea unicorn, he thought, amazed.
Jack got lost in the show for some time before he remembered why he was staying awake. He reached over and shook Cali who murmured and rolled over in her hammock. He shook her harder.
‘Cali!’ he whispered as loudly as he dared.
‘Whazzat?’ Cali said sleepily. Although she hadn’t spoken loudly, her voice echoed around the bubble room.
‘Shhhh!’ Jack said, scanning the room for any moving shadows. His eyes had adjusted to the dark so he could see Cali looking at him with big round eyes. The eye that had been blackened by the brute at Five Oakes was no longer swollen, though it still looked painful.
‘Has something happened?’ she asked in a low voice.
‘I needed to speak to you,’ Jack said.
‘Oh,’ Cali said.
‘You know earlier when I was telling you what happened with Dax?’ Jack said. Cali nodded. ‘While I was there…’ Jack stopped and listened intently. He heard something, a small furtive noise. Cali yawned.
‘OK, OK. Dax saw the Amulet,’ Jack said bluntly.
‘How? How did it happen?’ Cali gasped. She sounded shaken.
‘I leant forward and it fell out of the front of my shirt. By itself,’ Jack said wretchedly.
‘By itself? Jack you knew it was there. Aloysius wouldn’t have trusted you with it if it wasn’t really important,’ Cali said.
‘I know,’ Jack said miserably.
‘Who else saw it?’
‘No-one, I don’t think… No, no-one else saw it.’
‘You have to be careful Jack.’
‘I know. I’ll find somewhere safer…’
‘I don’t just mean with the Amulet,’ Cali said carefully.
‘What do you mean then?’
‘Us, our group. It’s falling apart. No one trusts anyone else.’ He had no chance to reply because just as she finished speaking a terrifying shriek rang around the bubble, echoing off the sides. Jack leapt from his hammock as if he’d been electrocuted but the echo made it impossible to identify where the noise came from.
He could hear the others moving around shouting to each other, confused in the dim light. Eventually the Elementals guarding the door reacted to the pandemonium and light faded up. A grim discovery awaited them. Brayden was slumped on the floor in the middle of the room, the left side of his face torn open.
‘Brayden!’ Jack shouted, running to where the gnome lay, motionless
‘What happened?’ Esther asked, as she huddled down on the other side of Brayden, her long mossy hair brushed against the gnomes face and she gently pushed it away.
‘I have no idea,’ Jack said looking at Loomis, ‘but I’m going to find out.’
Lynn appeared, emerging from one of the walls.
‘What is going on?’ she asked, glancing around the room, taking everything in.
‘Somebody has attacked Brayden,’ Jack said.
‘Attacked?’ Lynn asked. Either she was an extremely good actress or she was truly shocked. Her pale skin became almost translucent and her eyes grew wider.
‘Can you ask your people to check for strangers in the rest of the dwelling?’
‘Impossible,’ Lynn whispered.
‘What do you mean impossible?’ Jack asked white faced, his hands curling into familiar fists by his side.
‘No one has been in or out of this room. It is guarded,’ Lynn said, her skin regaining some colour.
‘Are you saying what I think you’re saying?’ Jack asked unable to believe it. Lynn nodded.
‘The person who attacked Brayden is still in this room,’ she said. Jack looked at Loomis again.
‘Jack,’ Cali whispered.
‘What?’
‘He’s coming round,’ she said. Jack turned back to Brayden.
‘Brayden, it’s Jack. Are you OK?’ Jack asked. Brayden nodded, grimacing.
‘Don’t move,’ Cali said, leaning over Brayden. She was pushed aside by Esther who was pale beneath her usually green, dewy skin.
‘You’ve been hurt – do you know who it was?’ Esther asked without a trace of a stutter. Her eyes looked wild. Brayden shook his head.
‘Couldn’t see anything, too dark,’ he said, voice raspy.
‘D-d-did you hear eh-anything?’ Esther asked. Jack could answer that for her.
‘I was awake. I didn’t hear anything,’ he said. Esther turned her attention from Brayden to Jack.
‘N-n-nothing at all?’
‘Well, I thought I heard a noise earlier. I thought it was nothing…’ Jack said.
‘Do you remember anything Brayden? Anything at all?’ Cali asked. Brayden gently shook his head again, but Jack thought he had seen something not quite right.
‘Someone jumped out and hit me over the head,’ Brayden said.
‘What were you doing out of bed?’ Loomis asked. It was the first time he had spoken since the attack.
‘What business is that of yours?’ Brayden said pushing himself up onto his elbows, the pain making him sink back to the floor. There was a short silence.
‘He’s got a point,’ Jack said. Brayden looked at him reproachfully.
‘I was going to use the bathroom. Happy?’
‘Right,’ said Jack. Cali turned to Lynn, who had been hovering near the only door into the room.
‘Can you fetch a caregiver?’ she asked. Lynn nodded and hurried away.
‘If what Lynn said is true then whoever attacked Brayden is in this room,’ Jack said. He looked around at their faces. All looked shaken except Loomis whose expression rarely changed. His eyes were steady though. Jack was sure, hard as it was to admit, that Loomis wasn’t involved.
‘I know this is a long shot, but does anyone want to confess?’ Jack asked.
‘Would you like to hear my riddle?’ the Keeper said. Jack ignored her. No one else spoke. Jack nodded wearily. Lynn came hurrying back through the door with another nymph.
‘I’ll be just over there,’ Jack said. Brayden nodded without opening his eyes.
‘What do you think?’ Jack asked as he sat next to Cali.
‘It’s got to be Loomis. There’s no way Esther would have attacked Brayden,’ Cali said.
‘Why?’
‘Haven’t you noticed?’ Cali asked.
‘Noticed? What this time?’
‘Of course, you’re too involved to see beyond the end of your nose. She’s started shaving,’ Cali said.
Jack stared at her.
‘I have no idea what you’re talking about,’ Jack said, hoping that he wasn’t going to get drawn into a conversation about… girl stuff.
‘Don’t you remember what Gordy told us? Gnomes only grow beards when they meet their life partner,’ Cali said.
‘But, I thought, I mean, obviously he meant men,’ Jack spluttered.
‘Why?’ asked Cali crossly ‘because only men have beards in our world?’
‘Well, yeah,’ Jack said a small smile peeking from his anxious face.
‘Typical,’ Cali snorted. Jack waited until he was sure that she wasn’t really angry before he spoke again.
‘Are you telling me that Brayden is Esther’s life partner?’
‘He must be. And she’s desperately trying to hide it from everyone,’ Cali said, looking over to where Esther was sitting. Jack had to admit, she looked thoroughly miserable.
‘How do you know about it then?’ Jack asked.
‘I saw her shaving the other night,’ Cali answered.
‘And she told you?’
‘No. I don’t think she knows that I know about that particular aspect of the gnome culture,’ Cali said.
‘What did she say?’ Jack asked, curious.
‘She begged me not to tell anyone, she said it was embarrassing. Of course I told her I wouldn’t.’
‘But you’re telling me?’ Jack said. Cali flushed a little but didn’t reply. ‘So it wasn’t Esther, that’s what you’re saying?’ She shook her head.
‘I don’t think so. And you and I were talking at the time. That only leaves Loomis,’ Cali said. Jack couldn’t deny her logic.
‘Why though? It doesn’t make any sense,’ Jack said, shifting his gaze from Esther to Loomis. He was sat on his own, not in his hammock but with his back against the bubble. He looked comfortable.
‘I don’t know,’ Cali said thoughtfully.
‘Well we can’t ask him,’ Jack said.
‘Why?’
‘For starters, we can’t tell anyone why Esther isn’t in the frame,’ Jack said. Cali nodded.
‘I guess so. At least we know for sure that we can’t trust him,’ Cali said.
‘Yeah,’ Jack replied. But he still wasn’t convinced.
‘You were still right about keeping him with us. At least this way we know where he is all the time,’ Cali said. Jack nodded, looking over to where Loomis sat. Jack could see his glowing eyes from across the room; a soft orange. Lynn approached and their conversation was abruptly cut short.
‘He will be fine. He just needs to rest,’ Lynn said. Brayden’s face had been sewn together neatly; it might only leave a thin scar. The caregiver was speaking to him still, handing him what looked like a pot of cream. ‘I have spoken with the guardians,’ Lynn continued pensively. ‘They confirmed that no one entered or left the room.’
‘They’re sure?’ Jack asked.
‘It is protected by more than the guardians. Our doorways allow us to scan all people entering or leaving,’ Lynn said looking at the floor.
‘What do you mean scan?’ asked Jack.
‘The doorways allow us to connect with your mind briefly. They were developed using talents of the Air Elementals,’ Lynn said. She looked up at Jack and her eyes looked sad. ‘I am sorry I did not tell you before. It is… the new way,’ she said. Jack didn’t know how to take her confession, spoken with the smallest hint of fear and a darkening of her deep blue eyes.
‘When will the council come back with their decision?’ Jack asked. Lynn shook her head.
‘I must leave. There are things that must be done,’ Lynn said and left. Jack went to follow her and then stopped. There was no way he would be able to go through the water wall unless she wanted him to. He threw himself down onto his hammock as the greenish blue light slowly dimmed once more.
It was a long time before he managed to go to sleep.
Chapter 12: Across the Ocean
Jack was dreaming of dark figures dancing, deep in shadow thrown by orange flickering light. The dancers were whirling faster, faster. Spinning, twirling, hair flying and another glimpse, so close of gold... it was hair, golden hair. Jack felt a sick jolt in his stomach as he ducked and dived around the outside of the circling dancers. He reached out. The girl - it was surely a girl no older than six or seven - was almost within reach, she was moments away. He could see her hair flashing in the light.
He was gently shaken awake by Cali, his arm half raised, groaning quietly.
‘Jack, Lynn’s back,’ she said. Jack instantly snapped fully awake.
‘Why?’ he asked.
‘She says we’re to go and meet the council,’ Cali said her voice soft. Her black eye was watering. Jack looked around for Brayden, Esther and Loomis. They were all working by themselves, packing and checking that they had everything. They knew they might have to fight. The thought of something so violent starting so soon made Jack wonder if they should have tried to cross the sea some other way.
It was too late now; Lynn was leading them and all they could do was follow. Jack had no idea where she was taking them. They had been walking for half an hour before, without warning, the water parted above their heads. They were leaving. Jack wasn’t sure if this was good or bad. At least they wouldn’t have to fight underwater with no chance of escape.
‘I must leave now,’ Lynn said. She turned to Jack and bowed her head to him.
‘Good luck Jack,’ she spoke quietly so only he could hear and then turned to the cove and dived into the water. Jack watched as she swam. Her legs fused and with a flip of a newly formed tail, she disappeared.
Jack turned to look at Cali.
‘A mermaid,’ Cali said, astonished.
‘Sophie would have loved that,’ Jack replied but he was not smiling. It was good to be outside, in real air, real daylight, with real friends.
‘Jack!’ Cali said. Jack looked around. Dax stepped out of the lake.
‘Who’s that?’ Cali whispered to Jack and he realised that he was the only one who had met Dax before.
‘It’s Dax,’ Jack said looking at Cali meaningfully. Only she knew Dax had seen the Amulet.
‘We must move quickly. Follow me,’ Dax said and hurried up the hill. Jack rushed forward to walk with him.
‘What’s going on?’ he asked.
‘In time,’ Dax replied.
When they got to the top of the hill another nymph joined them. Jack recognised him as the man Dax had spoken to at the end of the council meeting.
‘This is Doug,’ Dax said. He turned to Doug and conducted a hushed conversation with him before turning back to Jack.
‘You must go swiftly. Follow Doug. He will take you as far as you wish,’ Dax said.
‘What about you?’ Jack asked. Dax smiled.
‘I must inform the council that you have been handed over to the Black Prince,’ Dax said. Jack stared at him, dumbfounded.
‘But… they’ll know,’ Cali said, her face white.
‘I can deceive them for long enough. You will have time to move out of their reach,’ Dax said.
‘Why are you doing this?’ Jack asked.
‘I know what I saw,’ Dax said, his blue eyes dropped to the chain around Jacks neck.
‘Yeah,’ Jack said, feeling like a sham.
‘I know Aloysius. I trust him. He is a great man.’ He clasped Jacks hand, shook it warmly and left, walking slowly back down the hill to the cove.
Jack turned to Doug. His dark eyes were similar to Dax’s a deep ululating blue. He had long golden hair, which was tied at the nape of his neck in a complicated looking knot. His face was smooth and ageless – Doug could be ten or he could be two hundred. When he spoke his voice was melodic.
‘Greetings Jack,’ Doug said. ‘I am to take you across the sea to Antarctica.’ Without another word Doug turned and began walking briskly. The others, taken unawares by the speed at which Doug began swiftly hoisted their backpacks on and began jogging to catch up. It was only a
short distance to the coast but the pace was exhausting.
‘Do we… have to walk… this… fast?’ Jack asked.
‘Yes,’ Doug replied.
‘Why?’
‘The council, aside from Dax and myself wanted to hand you over to the Black Prince.’ Jacks insides turned cold.
‘He’s here?’ he asked. Doug shook his head but didn’t stop.
‘Not yet.’
‘You mean he’s coming?’
‘Yes. It is important that we are already in the ocean when he arrives.’ He didn’t sound scared but his pale skin was almost translucent.
‘But… what’ll happen to Dax?’ Jack managed to ask.
‘He will be exiled,’ Doug said distantly. Jack couldn’t speak. He knew all about being an outcast. He looked over his shoulder to find Cali and fell back to walk alongside her. Jack told Cali her everything Doug had said.
‘What do you think?’ he asked in a low voice.
‘I think that there’s a lot more going on than Doug has told you,’ Cali said. Jack felt the Amulet slide across his skin, warm and silky, light as air, beautiful and just a thing. Just a little thing.
By the time they reached the sea Jack was completely exhausted. The bitter wind couldn’t penetrate his rare cloak, however he could feel its bite through the scarf covering his face and through his gloves. Doug turned to face them.
‘We will be travelling along the ocean floor. We will be going very deep so the darkness will be absolute,’ Doug said.
‘We can’t go all the way in the dark,’ Jack said, trying to shake off some of his fatigue. It was difficult, surrounded by grey skies and a tumultuous ocean.
‘I can provide a little light and Loomis will be able to provide a small fire. That is, if you are sure that it will not be noticed,’ Doug said. Loomis nodded.
‘How long will it take?’ Cali asked.
‘That will depend on how quickly you want to get there,’ Doug said.
‘Quickly,’ Jack said.
‘The way will be punishing,’ Doug said.
‘I expected that,’ Jack said, more bravely than he felt. Doug smiled.
‘You are more than you look,’ he said. It was the first time Jack had heard true warmth in the nymph’s voice. ‘I am a strong Water Elemental. I can shorten your journey, but it will drain my strength.’
Elemental: Steele Stolen: Part 1 and 2 Page 14