by Roger Hurn
‘But you were disguised as a tramp.’
‘Of course. Tramps are invisible. Every human pretends not to see them and ignores them when they pass by.’
‘That’s true,’ said Lizzie, ‘Mum always walks straight past that homeless guy who sells the Big Issue and never answers him when he speaks to her even though he’s always polite and friendly.’
‘Yeah, but he’s not a chronomage.’ Ritchie did a double take. He looked at Ezra. ‘He’s not, is he?
‘I have never met him,’ replied Ezra. ‘But I imagine he is a human like yourselves.’
‘That settles it,’ said Lizzie. I’m going to buy a Big Issue off him next time I see him and I don’t care what Mum says.’
Alice and Will were growing increasingly impatient. ‘Why do you stand talking in riddles? Why are we not storming the barn and freeing our friends from captivity?’ Will could barely contain himself. ‘If your courage is lacking then I will lead the charge.’
Ezra reassured him that that would not be necessary as the bloods were best suited for that particular job. Will’s face fell but he soon cheered up when Ezra reminded him that both he and Alice would have the vital task of explaining to the freed children exactly what was going on. ‘We cannot succeed in this mission without your aid,’ he said and Will glowed with pride.
The men and women of the bloods slipped out of the forest and crept towards the farmhouse. Ezra ordered two bloods to go with Ritchie, Lizzie, Will and Alice to the barn and release the children while he led the rest of the team to storm the farmhouse itself.
‘If luck is with us we’ll catch all the villains red-handed,’ he told them. ‘So be swift and let no one escape.’
***
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ezra’s team of Bloods struck like cobras. They smashed down the door of the farmhouse but all they found inside was a very surprised Rasna. He made a dash for the back door and ran straight into the arms of two burly bloods who were waiting there. They dragged him out into the farmyard where he came face-to-face with the children he had held captive in his barn. They were filthy, hungry and very scared. The sight of them should have shamed him. Instead, Rasna looked at the children with an expression of surprise on his face.
‘Who are all these brats?’ he asked Ezra. ‘Where did they come from?’
‘You’ll have to do a bit better than that, Rasna. We know all about the smuggling racket you and your brother operate. Though I must say I didn’t think even you would stoop so low as to steal children.’
Rasna spat at the ground by Ezra’s feet. ‘I just told you. I’ve never set eyes on them before and I’ve no idea how they got into my barn.’
Ezra gave Rasna a flinty stare. ‘Tell me about the Lady Celandine. How’s she mixed up in all this?
Rasna suddenly looked wary but he kept his mouth shut so Ezra continued. ‘She was here with you and Bogan. According to my information, she was extremely angry with your brother and sent him off to Albion to fetch the Crystal Beast.’
Ezra paused to see what effect his words were having. Rasna scowled but still said nothing. Ezra smiled. ‘I believe she promised to feed Bogan’s heart to that pet raven of hers if he came back without the Crystal Beast.’
‘Did she? Then you know more than me.’
Ezra sighed and shook his head. ‘Why are you being so stubborn, Rasna? We’ve caught you in the act and you’re going to spend a long time in the Wraith Pits of Grimore if you don’t help us.’
The Wraith Pits were a place of punishment where only the worst criminals were sent. They were dreaded by all but the threat of them had no effect on Rasna. There was something else he feared more. ‘Yes, but at least I’ll come out of the pits alive at the end of my sentence. If I tell you what you want to know I’ll be signing my own death warrant and that of my stupid brother.’
‘So you admit that the Lady Celandine is behind all this!’
Rasna laughed. It was a bleak and bitter sound. ‘I admit nothing.’
Ezra sniffed the air. ‘But the Lady Celandine was here. I can smell her. The reek of belladonna fills my nostrils.’
Rasna’s lips twisted into a mocking smile. ‘You’re bluffing, Captain. You could only smell her if she’d travelled through time and we both know the Lady Celandine is a law-abiding subject of the King and would never do something illegal like that.’ His face took on a crafty expression. ‘But you’re right about one thing, she was here. This farmhouse is on her land and she stopped by to take some refreshment when she was out riding a couple of days ago.’
‘She came to see your brother you mean.’ Ezra flung the words at Rasna but he only shrugged.
‘I haven’t seen that useless brother of mine for weeks. I wish I had. I could do with some help with the ploughing.’
Ezra looked around at the barren fields. ‘You wouldn’t know one end of a plough from the other.’
‘You’re right, captain. That’s why I could do with Bogan’s assistance. Now, if you think Lady Celandine is up to something why don’t you go and kick down the door to her castle and ask her? Or do you bloods only do that sort thing to poor farmers like me who can’t fight back?’
Ezra’s cheeks flushed red with anger. ‘You’re an evil wretch who sells children as slaves yet you stand here and pretend to be an innocent man.’ He raised his fist and it seemed for a moment as if he was going to strike Rasna. Then, with some difficulty, he mastered his temper and dropped his hand to his side. ‘Take this creature away to the lock up. And make sure he stays there.’ Two of the bloods snapped chains onto Rasna’s wrists. Another produced a pipe from her belt and was about to play when Ezra said, ’Don’t worry, Rasna. You won’t be on your own for long. Bogan and Celandine will be joining you soon – that I promise.’
***
Chapter Twenty-Four
As soon as the bloods had removed Rasna, Will and Alice came hurrying up accompanied by one of the children from the barn.
‘This is Isobel,’ said Alice. The girl curtsied to Ezra and then stood there wringing her hands. ‘She has something to tell you.’
Ezra smiled at the terrified girl. ‘What is it?’ he asked.
The girl told him how, after Will and Alice had escaped, Rasna had taken her from the barn to wait on him and the Lady Celandine as they ate a meal in the farmhouse.
‘Yes, but I don’t see how this helps me to catch her. I already know she was here.’ Ezra spoke abruptly and his impatience was obvious. Isobel flinched as if he had slapped her and silent tears ran down her cheeks. Alice stepped forward and put her arm around the girl. ‘You’ve done well, Isobel,’ she said. ‘Now I will take up your burden and finish your tale.’
Alice looked disapprovingly at Ezra who mouthed the word sorry at both her and Isobel. ‘Hmm, said Alice. ‘Now hold your tongue and listen. The Lady was angry. She raged and barely touched her food. Then she jumped up to her feet.’ “Your brother is a fool and not to be trusted,” ‘she shouted at Rasna.’ “I can’t sit here idly waiting for his return. I’ll follow him and keep an eye on him.”
“You don’t have a pipe,” replied Rasna. “Or the skill to use one if you did.”
‘Isobel says the Lady screeched with laughter at this.’ “There is another way to enter the world of the half-lifes as you well know,” ‘she told him before sweeping out of the farmhouse and galloping off. Isobel says she did not return.’
The news that the Hooded Lady was now in Yarfleet was not well received by either Ritchie or Lizzie. Ezra however was not so concerned. ‘She is a danger to the Piper,’ he said. ‘Not to you.’
‘Only if he doesn’t steal the Crystal Beast. And what is that by the way?’
Ezra scratched his head. ‘I only wish I knew. Perhaps Rasna will break down under questioning and tell us but I doubt it. He is too afraid of Celandine.’
‘For this he is blameless,’ said Will. ‘The Hooded Lady is a she-devil.’
‘She is if she knows of a new way to enter your
world.’ Ezra’s face was etched with worry. ‘This is another mystery for me to solve. And it’s not as if I don’t have enough on my plate already.’ He glanced across the farmyard to where the children of Francheville were standing looking bewildered.
‘Well, the first thing to do is get these kids something to eat and drink and then you can take them home to their own time.’ To Lizzie this course of action was as obvious as an elephant in a paddling pool and she thought it was typical that it took a woman to suggest it. She was shocked when Ezra told her that the children could never go back to their homes again.
‘They vanished on that day in 1377 and there is no record of them ever returning. We chronomages are sworn to uphold the laws of time and so we cannot change history.’
Lizzie was totally dismayed. ‘But what will happen to them?’
Ezra explained that the children were not the first to be smuggled into Elfhame and rescued by the bloods. He told them that there was a network of foster families in Elfhame who would look after the children until they were old enough to fend for themselves. ‘They will learn our ways. In time the world they have left will become like a barely remembered dream.’
His words were like a hammer blow to Alice and Will and the children of Francheville were equally devastated when their plight was explained to them. They broke down and wept bitterly at the thought of never seeing their families again. Even the bloods of CM Squad 9, who were as tough as old boot leather, were moved by the misery of these heart-broken children and did their best to comfort and reassure them.
‘But you guys don’t have to worry,’ said Lizzie to Alice and Will. ‘You can come back to Yarfleet and live with us, can’t they Ritchie?’
Alice and Will shook their heads. ‘There is no place for us in your time,’ said Alice sadly. ‘We must make our lives here.’
Lizzie and Ritchie tried to persuade them to change their minds but it was no good.
‘We would only bring you trouble. Your parents would call us lunatics and be angry with you for bringing us into their house. It is better we stay here among our own where people know we are not mad.’
When Lizzie and Ritchie had finally accepted the situation, Ezra explained what was going to happen next.
‘You two will return to Yarfleet and then on Saturday you will play your part in the Randy.’
‘Now just hold on,’ Ritchie spluttered. ‘Are you out of your mind, Ezra? Mr Davies is the Piper. Do you seriously expect us just to give ourselves up to him? He’ll kill us.’
‘No he won’t. As you said yourselves he needs to know where Alice and Will are hiding and how they travelled between the worlds. Only you can tell him this so he’ll bring you to Elfhame thinking to question you here at his leisure.’ Ezra smiled grimly. ‘But he’s in for a nasty surprise. We’ll be waiting here for him and we’ll have him in the lock up so fast he won’t know what’s hit him!’
Lizzie and Ritchie exchanged high fives. ‘Nice one, Ezra.’
‘And we’ll relieve Bogan of the Crystal Beast before he can give it to the Lady Celandine.’ Ezra grinned at the thought. ‘He’s weaker than his brother. If we threaten to send him to the Wraith Pits he’ll sing like a bird and supply us with all the evidence we need to put the Hooded Lady away for a very long time indeed.’
‘What will you do with Bogan if he does cut a deal?’ Ritchie had visions of the Piper being allowed to go free and return to Yarfleet with vengeance on his mind. It was not a thought he was comfortable with.
‘Oh, don’t worry, Ritchie. Bogan’s earned himself a one-way ticket to Grimore whatever happens.’ Ezra gave a short hard bark of a laugh. ‘I think Rasna and the Lady will be glad of his company and I’d hate to disappoint them.’
***
Chapter Twenty-Five
Mr and Mrs Brown had a surprise waiting for them when they arrived home from work that evening. Ritchie and Lizzie greeted them with smiles and had made dinner for them. A bottle of wine was chilling in the fridge and they’d even put a vase of fresh flowers on the table.
‘All right. What’s going on?’ said Mr Brown while his wife eyed them suspiciously.
‘We were out of order last night. So we wanted to make it up to you,’ said Ritchie.
Lizzie flung herself into her mother’s arms.
‘I know I can be a bit of a mare at times, Mum. But I don’t mean it. Ritchie and I both know how lucky we are to have you and Dad.’
Both Mr and Mrs Brown were completely baffled by this welcome but rare show of affection.
‘Yes…well…err… and Mum and I are lucky to have you two – most of the time. Aren’t we Mum?’
Mrs Brown agreed that they were and then asked what that lovely smell was coming from the oven.
‘It’s a ready to cook lasagne from the celebrity chef range at the supermarket,’ said Ritchie proudly.
‘With a Mrs Barker’s cherry pie and Dairy Choice ice cream for pudding,’ concluded Lizzie.
‘Oh so you haven’t made any of it yourselves then?’ Mrs Brown sounded slightly disappointed.
The children looked crestfallen.
‘Just as well,’ said Mr Brown quickly. ‘I remember the last meal Lizzie cooked. At least we’ll be able to eat this one without getting food poisoning.’ He went and sat down at the table.
‘Come on, kids, let’s be having you. I’m a hungry man.’
Mrs Brown joined him. ‘I hope you’ve heated the lasagne through properly,’ she called. ‘And make sure you don’t burn the pie.’
‘Yes and can you bring me a beer? You know I’m not keen on wine,’ added Mr Brown.
In the kitchen, Ritchie and Lizzie looked at each other and shook their heads. ‘Maybe living in Elfhame and never coming home again wouldn’t be so bad after all,’ said Lizzie.
The children managed to heat the food to the required temperature and, after three glasses of wine, Mrs Brown declared it was the best meal she’d ever tasted. The two children groaned inwardly as they both knew that their mother went way over the top when she was tipsy and they braced themselves to be on the receiving end of some embarrassing displays of affection. But they were lucky. While Ritchie and Lizzie loaded the dishes into the dishwasher she dozed off on the sofa and their Dad took the opportunity to nip off down to the pub for a quick pint.
The two children were just about to tiptoe past their mother when Ritchie noticed the local paper lying beside her. The headline caught his eye and he reached out and took the paper with him taking care not to disturb the sleeping Mrs Brown.
‘Take a look at this, Lizzie,’ he said handing her the paper as soon as they were safely in the den. ‘What do you make of it?’
Lizzie glanced at the headline ‘Stained Glass Lion Stolen!’ and then read the article out loud.
On his way home from the Noah’s Ark public house in Newtown, last night, Josh Williams, a 42-year-old father of four, spotted a shadowy figure trying to break into the town hall.
Mr Williams shouted at the villain to stop. The man told Mr Williams to mind his own business and carried on with the attempted break in.
But have-a-go hero, Josh was having none of that. He marched over to make a citizen’s arrest. The villain took to his heels. The plucky father of four gave chase but was no match for the yob.
Mr Williams called 999 on his mobile and waited for the police to turn up. ‘I was surprised to see that, far from attempting to break into the town hall, the thief had in fact stolen the stained glass windowpane showing the old Francheville coat of arms,’ said the 42 year old. ‘I mean why?’
PC Robin Bassett of the Yarfleet Area Crime Team pronounced himself equally baffled. ‘Just what a crook would want with an old piece of glass is beyond me,’ he said. ‘The Lion in the picture is a noble beast all right, but it’s not really worth anything.’
So what is the motive for this senseless act? Was it a student prank or a wanton piece of vandalism? The police have no clue as to the identity of the thief but have asked the
public to be on the look out for a tall man with dark hair who may be posing as an antiques dealer selling stained glass.
On a brighter note, the Mayor of Newtown, Steve Packwood, 35, has promised to commission a suitable artist to make a replacement stained glass window of the coat of arms as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it won’t be ready in time for this year’s Newtown Randy when visitors flock to the historic town to take part in the fun and games.
‘Flippin’ heck, Ritchie. We’ve found out what the Crystal Beast is. It’s the lion on the Francheville coat of arms. That thief wasn’t a student or a vandal – it was the Piper!’
‘Yeah, but he’s got it now. He’s got what he came for in the first place and we’re too late to stop him.’ Ritchie shook his head in despair. ‘He’ll give it to the Hooded Lady and she’ll have won.’
Lizzie stood chewing her thumbnail, her forehead creased in thought. Then her eyes widened and her face lit up. ‘Maybe not, Ritchie,’ she said. ‘I think the Piper has just made another big mistake.’
***
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ritchie and Lizzie had to spend some of Friday afternoon in Yarfleet parish hall rehearsing the re-enactment with Mr Davies and the other actors. They were both extremely nervous and tense but they needn’t have worried. It was dull in the extreme and all Mr Davies did was make cutting remarks to anyone unfortunate enough to forget their lines. He paid absolutely no attention to the children except when he compared Ritchie’s attempts at dancing to those of a drunken hippo in hobnail boots. He smirked as he said it and normally this would have raised at least a snigger from the other kids but, by now, Mr Davies had made himself so unpopular with everyone that nobody so much as smiled at the feeble put-down. The rehearsal continued with all the jollity of a Christmas party for turkeys.
When he was finally satisfied, Mr Davies told everyone that they were to assemble at Whitley Meadow at four o’ clock sharp the next day. ‘And please don’t be late,’ he pleaded. ‘The re-enactment of the Piper legend is going to be the highlight of the Randy.’ He treated them to a smile that held all the warmth of an ice cube and then strode off towards the centre of town.