Katelin on her deathbed, reaching out to him with her weak hand …
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of memories flickered before his eyes. He seemed to have been lying there for hours, when in reality it must have been less than a second.
The avatar squealed and whipped its claw down towards him. Though he could barely see through the black mist floating in front of his eyes, he could make out the shining steel of the pincers.
An Our Father tumbled unbidden from his lips …
And then suddenly a brilliant light burst in his head. He jolted. He felt as though he were rushing up into the stars.
The Lightning yantra was burning in his mind. Somehow he’d thought of it without meaning to and … it had worked. The knowledge of how to use the power flooded into his mind.
All this happened in an instant, even as the pincers were plunging towards him. The metal was less than two feet away from him. In a second he would be dead.
He reacted with incredible speed. He raised his hand, barked words in a language he didn’t understand and shuddered as a pulse of lightning forked from his fingertips. His hand went numb and his arm tingled. The lightning shot up, smacked the avatar in the head and formed a sizzling web about its face for a second. The creature jerked backwards, dropped its claw and slipped its foot from Jack’s chest. It lifted its face to the sky and howled, as if in agony, the sound so loud it shook the leaves and sent dirt trickling down the slope behind it.
Jack’s mind was ablaze. His skin rippled with a strange energy. The pain in his chest was gone and he could breathe freely once more. He clambered to his feet, took one last look at the bellowing avatar, and then sprinted off into the forest.
Avenues of trees led off in every direction and he had no idea which way to go. He just ran straight ahead and hoped for the best.
The avatar stopped wailing and he heard its feet drumming on the forest floor. He risked glancing back and saw the beast bowling towards him again, crashing through branches that got in its way. Its mouth was wide open and its eyes burnt in the gloom.
Damn. The lightning had only stopped the beast for a few seconds. He might have broken the law of karma again, and he might have learnt a war yantra for the first time, but the avatar now seemed entirely unharmed. If anything, it appeared enraged and more determined than ever to hunt him down.
Sweat poured down his face and his breathing became laboured again. His lungs felt as though they were about to burst.
How long could he keep running? How long would the beast keep chasing him?
The ground turned boggy beneath his feet. Water seeped up through the earth and reeds sprouted everywhere. He found himself floundering through increasingly deep ponds.
He shot a look over his shoulder and saw the beast was gaining on him. It splashed through the pools without slowing its pace at all. He could hear the creaking of its joints, the rasp of the iron plates as they shifted about its body. A jet of steam screamed from its side and smoke frothed from its head.
He tried to will himself to move faster.
But the weed was snaring his legs and the mud was clotting on his boots so that it was as though he were shackled in irons.
The beast sloshed through the water right behind him. A cloud of smoke from it whirled about him. He could feel the heat of its breath on the back of his neck. It was so close now that it would surely be able to strike him with its claws at any moment.
He was considering whether to dive to the left or right, when he suddenly shot out of the forest and found himself charging across open marshland. The moon hung in the sky directly ahead of him and traces of mist clung to the ground.
He battled his way forward, but the pools were even deeper here than in the woods. He was wading through water that came up to his knees.
He couldn’t run fast enough. The beast was going to catch him.
Should he turn round now? Try to use Lightning again in order to buy himself some time?
He was still thinking about this when he slipped, fell forward and splashed into a pond.
10
Jack flailed about in the water. He was certain the avatar would strike him at any moment. He tried to stand, skidded over again and finally dragged himself onto an island.
Gasping for breath, he spun round, flicking water from his sodden tunic. He held his hand out, desperately tried to recall the Lightning yantra and prepared to voice the command to activate the power.
Only the avatar wasn’t there. He’d expected to find the contorted mass of iron towering over him, but instead he saw the reeds and ponds of the marshes, all veiled by tendrils of mist.
He was panting heavily, but he was catching his breath. He looked around him in every direction.
And then he saw it. The avatar had only made it a few yards out of the forest. It was so heavy it had sunk into the marsh up to the bottom of its abdomen. It stood still for a moment, smoke wafting about it, but then it screeched and thrashed its legs. It tried to haul itself out of the mud, but that only served to make it sink further. The water hissed, bubbled and steamed as it touched the creature’s hot metal carapace.
Jack whispered a Hail Mary. The avatar appeared to be trapped – but for how long? If it managed to haul itself out, he was certain it would waste no time in pursuing him again. He had to get as far away from it as he could. And find Kanvar.
Wincing at the pain streaking down his back and the aches from the numerous bruises covering his body, he waded back towards the line of the forest. The hills swelled up to his right, and from this angle he could see the fortress of the Mad Sultan clinging to the summit of the nearest slope.
The avatar lifted its head and bellowed at the sky. It struggled more vigorously, the water frothing about it, but it remained trapped.
Jack scrambled more quickly. He slipped over a couple of times and was covered in filth and slime by the time he reached the trees. He scanned the way ahead, staring into the whorls of leaves and shadow. If he were going to make his way back, he would have to find his own tracks and follow them.
He was about to walk along the edge of the forest towards where he’d first burst out of the trees, when he heard footsteps. Twigs snapped and leaves crackled as boots tramped across the forest floor.
He dashed behind a clump of brambles and scoured the woods. Who could be walking about in the forest at this time of night? He’d been wondering whether the avatar could really be acting alone. Perhaps there’d been a siddha nearby giving it commands.
He listened carefully. The person wasn’t walking ahead confidently, or even creeping stealthily. They were shuffling and dragging their feet.
Strange.
Then he saw Kanvar limping out of the shadows. The Sikh seemed on the verge of death. He was so weak he had to keep stopping and leaning against trees in order to rest.
Jack scurried out from the brambles. ‘Kanvar!’
Kanvar paused, put his hand against a tree trunk and raised his head. ‘Ah,’ he managed to say in a feeble voice.
Jack rushed to his side. ‘What happened?’
‘I am all right. Just tired. I have used too many powers in a short space of time.’
‘You fell over. I saw it.’
‘Yes, that is so. I used all of my strength against the avatar. It was too much for me.’
As if in response, the avatar roared, gargled and splashed about in the pool.
Jack could just see the steaming outline of the beast through the trees.
‘We’d better get out of here,’ he said.
Kanvar lifted his hand to his forehead. ‘Indeed. I have retrieved the horses. They are back at the pathway.’
‘You found the horses? That was quick.’
‘I had just enough strength to use a power. Call Animals.’
Jack gave Kanvar a wry smile. Call Animals sounded like a useful yantra. How many powers did the Sikh know? He was full of surprises. ‘Right, then. Let’s go.’
Jack and Kanvar rode through the n
ight, their horses’ hooves thundering on the dirt road. The forest paraded past to either side and eventually fell away. The hills and the Mad Sultan’s fortress receded into the distance and they found themselves racing across rolling farmland.
Jack kept an eye on Kanvar. The Sikh slumped forward in his saddle and seemed barely able to keep hold of his reins. He constantly looked as though he were about to fall off, but he somehow managed to cling on.
Several times, Jack glanced back over his shoulder and scanned the dark landscape. He half expected to see the avatar bounding down the lane towards him. But the creature didn’t appear.
After they’d ridden for two miles, Jack noticed his horse was growing tired. Her legs were trembling and white sweat was encrusting her shoulders and withers. Kanvar’s charger was a cavalry steed and could gallop for miles, but Jack’s mare was an ordinary country road horse. She couldn’t keep going for much longer.
‘We’d better stop for a while,’ Jack called across to Kanvar.
The Sikh managed to nod his agreement. They slowed to a walk and then halted beneath a stand of trees. With great difficulty, Kanvar swung himself down from his saddle, then collapsed against a tree the moment his feet touched the ground.
Jack went to his side to support him.
Kanvar raised his hand, saying, ‘I am all right. I just need to rest.’ He slumped to the ground, breathing heavily, as if he’d just run a mile.
Jack squatted down. ‘You sure you can carry on?’
‘I will recover in time. It is always like this when I use too many powers.’
Jack glanced back along the road, which tumbled away across the dismal plains. ‘You reckon that avatar will get out of the marsh?’
‘I do not know. It was strong. It might be able to.’
‘It might follow us, then.’
‘Possibly. But I have seen no sign of it.’
‘Or heard it.’
Kanvar nodded, trying to catch his breath.
Jack was silent for a moment. He had a lot of questions, but he wasn’t sure whether Kanvar was strong enough to answer them all. ‘What the hell was that thing doing there? In the forest.’
Kanvar gazed across the silent landscape. ‘I do not know. It is very strange. And disturbing.’
‘Disturbing? You reckon the army must be near?’
Kanvar shook his head. ‘They cannot have reached here yet.’
‘How else could that thing have got here?’
‘It is puzzling, I agree. But what concerns me more is that I have never seen an avatar such as that before.’
Jack frowned. He’d seen plenty of avatars, and even been attacked by them a few times, but the one in the forest had been large, strong and agile. He’d never seen anything quite like it either. That said, he’d lived in Europe all his life. He’d never been to India, where he’d heard there were many more of the miraculous creatures. ‘It’s not some sort of transport avatar?’
‘It was far larger than any transport avatar. It was clearly designed for war. And war avatars are normally very small. Also, its armour was strong. My powers were weak against it. There are no yantras for creating such an avatar – that I have heard of, at any rate.’
Jack thought quickly. ‘That you’ve heard of? You think this could be to do with the Great Yantra?’
‘That is exactly what I fear.’
‘You reckon that’s the power of the Great Yantra? It creates an avatar like that thing we saw?’
‘Perhaps. Whatever the case, it is of great concern to me that the Rajthanans have been able to build such a machine.’
Jack sighed and rubbed his forehead. His people were facing not only the forces of the largest army in the world, but now also huge fighting monsters. How could the English hope to win against such a foe? ‘At least we know what killed those villagers now. And what that lord was running from.’
‘Yes. The avatar must have been terrorising this whole region.’
Jack nodded, then paused for a moment. At least one positive thing had happened in the past hour. ‘You know, I used the Lightning power. The yantra came to me.’
Kanvar stared at Jack with his unblinking eyes. ‘I know.’
‘You know? How?’
‘I sensed you use the power. That is how I found you. It is good news. Remarkable news. Do you know how you did it?’
Jack picked up a stone and toyed with it. ‘No.’
‘You cannot recall anything that might have triggered your ability?’
‘Not that I can think of.’
‘Ah. It is good nonetheless that you have been able to do it. We can take heart from that.’
‘Aye.’ Jack stood. He still had many questions. But he also didn’t like the idea of waiting around any longer. Not only might the avatar reappear, but he and Kanvar also still had a lot of ground to cover before they reached the Great Yantra. ‘Are you strong enough to carry on?’
Kanvar hauled himself upright, leaning against the tree to support himself. ‘Yes. We can go.’
They rode for a further four miles across the open farmland. Scattered huts appeared in the distance, but all of them were dark. Even this far from the lair of the avatar, there were no signs of life.
A line of light bled into the sky to the east, directly ahead of them.
Kanvar called across to Jack, ‘We will have to make camp soon. I cannot travel once it is light.’
Jack sucked on his teeth. He didn’t like the idea of stopping now. They were supposed to be at the Great Yantra already, but the avatar had slowed them down. ‘How far away is the border?’
‘I will check the map.’
Kanvar drew his horse to a halt and climbed down. He’d recovered somewhat and appeared less exhausted now. He took the map from a saddlebag, spread it out on the ground and studied it closely in the growing light. Jack dismounted and stood watching.
Kanvar consulted a brass instrument in a wooden case. Jack recognised it as a compass – he’d often seen Jhala using one as the company navigated their way through the wilderness.
Jack gazed towards the horizon for a moment. He couldn’t help recalling all those times he’d tracked the enemy in the wilds, back when he’d been an army scout. Back when Jhala had been his captain and William his comrade. When his army oath had still meant something to him. When he’d still meditated before his regiment’s standard.
When he’d still trusted Jhala.
He found himself clenching his hand into a fist. Now that he and Kanvar had left the avatar behind, his thoughts were turning again to the threat his people faced. Jhala’s men were in Shropshire already. They were mere days away from Clun Valley and Folly Brook.
God’s will was strange and unfathomable. Why had He chosen to put Jack and his guru on opposite sides of a war? What purpose could that serve? It was impossible to understand.
Kanvar folded the map and stood up. ‘We are only a mile from the border.’
‘And how far from the Great Yantra?’
‘Once we reach the border, we will have a further six miles to go.’
Jack squinted towards the east. ‘We’d best keep moving, then.’
‘We will never make it to the yantra before daybreak.’
‘We’ll just have to keep travelling during the day in that case.’
‘If we camp now, we can travel overnight to the yantra. It is not far, and Takhat will wait for us.’
‘I can’t waste any more time. The Welsh army could be marching on Clun any day now. I have to get back.’
Jack’s voice came out louder and harsher than he’d intended. But he knew this wasn’t due to anger. It was worry.
Kanvar’s eyes widened and he licked his lips.
Jack sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He tried his best to soften his tone. ‘Let’s just ride as fast as we can and see how far we get.’
‘Very well. We will do as you wish.’
They pressed on along the road, spurring the horses into a gallop once mor
e. Dawn seeped across the land, picking out fields, byres, a watermill and a village, all of which appeared to have been abandoned.
After they’d ridden for a mile, a forest appeared ahead of them, spreading out across an area of gently rolling downs. The trees shone emerald and jade in the morning sunshine.
‘If my bearings are correct,’ Kanvar said, ‘the border is up ahead where that forest lies.’
Jack studied the surroundings. He and Kanvar were clearly visible in the bright light. They hadn’t seen a single person since they’d escaped from the avatar. But all the same, they couldn’t count on that continuing. And there could easily be guards on the other side of the border. Staffordshire was ruled directly by the Rajthanans, who could be wary of rebels passing through from Shropshire.
‘We’d better head through those trees.’ Jack nodded towards the woods. ‘We’ll be safe enough in there.’
They rode up the lane and then veered off towards the forest. As they approached the trees, Jack spied a goat track, which he followed into the woods. Birds sang high up in the branches, greeting the sun. Bees hummed and dog-rose flowers fluttered in the breeze. The strange horror of the night before seemed like a dream to Jack now. He could almost imagine it had never happened.
After about ten minutes, Kanvar said, ‘We must be at the border now.’
Jack stopped his horse and looked around. He could see nothing but trees in every direction. ‘You sure about that?’
‘Yes, I have been estimating the distance. This is it.’
Jack noticed the ground was sloping gently upwards to their right. He nodded towards the incline. ‘We’ll go up there. Should be able to see something.’
They left the track and began to weave their way through the trees. When they reached the summit, they saw that the far side of the hill fell away sharply. Below them, at the base of the slope, the road coiled through the woods.
‘The border crosses that stretch of road,’ Kanvar said.
Jack squinted in the glare. The lane was empty. As before, not a single person travelled along it in either direction. And there was no sign of any guards. No sign of life at all.
The War of the Grail Page 11