by Jenny McKane
“Things are going to be different,” he said slowly. “When we get out of here. I promise you, Avalon.”
***
Avalon walked into the room where she had been sleeping while they were imprisoned in this house. She gazed around, frowning. There was something about this space.
She could feel the sorceress. Had she come into this room, as well, to invoke her dark magic?
She walked around it slowly, studying the furniture. Her eyes swept over the walls and the curtains. There was something here, if only she could isolate it.
She closed her eyes momentarily. Then, she opened them, turning to her left. Her eyes alighted on a large bowl, sitting atop a dresser in the corner. She walked towards it.
The bowl was filled with water, and there were herbs swimming in it. She leaned down and sniffed deeply. Was that the scent of frankincense that she could detect? Yes. It was faint but definitely there. The sorceress had used this bowl of water in some way. There was no other explanation as to why it contained these things.
She had seen Mother Asta use water in this way. Sometimes, the Mother would use it to summon the Goddess, or as part of a ritual. Avalon frowned. There was something else that the Mother had done with it. What was it?
She kept staring at the water, frowning. Suddenly, she could see the water start to shift slightly, as if she had put her fingers into it and was stirring it.
She straightened, gasping. Yes, she remembered now. Sometimes, Mother Asta would use water in a bowl to see things. She had told Avalon that the water could reveal where someone was; that you could see them clearly. You had to have a clear intention of who or what you wished to see, and there were specific herbs and oils, which aided this process.
Could she visualize her animals and call to them through the water? Using the same process as the sorceress had used?
She bent back over the bowl. The sorceress had been clumsy, leaving it here. She had probably been so confident that she had not even thought to dispose of it. She was clever but arrogant. Avalon had a sudden intuition that her arrogance would be her downfall.
Everyone had a weakness, an Achilles heel, something that could be used against them. Had she just made a discovery?
She took a deep breath and spoke in her mind, staring deep into the water. She called her wolf and her horse. The water started to move again slowly.
Then, it started to swirl. Was there a picture forming within it? Avalon felt a stab of excitement. Yes. She could see the woods, just outside the house. And then, she clearly saw Hansa, pacing the perimeter. Behind her, Sidsel stood, staring at the house.
Hansa, she called.
The wolf’s ear pricked up, and her yellow eyes gazed around. Avalon knew that the wolf could sense something. She started to whine.
Hansa, she said, again. You must go with Sidsel back to the camp. You must tell Mother Asta what has happened to us and lead her back here. It is the only way that we will escape.
Had the wolf heard her?
Hansa whined, louder, as if in distress. Answer me, thought Avalon desperately. Hansa, please hear me!
The wolf’s eyes narrowed. My queen?
Avalon gasped, staring at the vision of the wolf in the water. Yes! I am talking to you, my beloved friend. Did you hear what I just said?
Hansa whined louder still. I heard you, my queen! I have been so worried about you. I have tried so hard to talk to you, but the dark magic was stronger.
Avalon felt another stab of excitement. I have found a way, Hansa, but there is no time to waste. You and Sidsel must run back to the camp and speak to Mother Asta.
I don’t want to leave you, the wolf said.
Avalon sighed. I know, Hansa. We have never been separated, and you want to stay and protect me, but it is the only way. You cannot get into the house, and we cannot get out. The only one who can help us is Mother Asta. You must be brave, my friend, and run like the wind.
Hansa yelped. Yes, my queen, if it is the only way.
It is, answered Avalon. And Hansa, you must tell Mother about the sorceress. Tell Mother that she is pretending to be me…
But the vision was fading before her eyes. Had Hansa heard her?
The water stilled. The vision was gone.
Avalon ran out of the room, down the stairs, her heart pounding. She rushed into the front room, staring out the windows. Skyresh heard her dash and was running after her.
“What is it?” He stared at her.
Avalon didn’t answer. She was too busy looking for Hansa and Sidsel. No, they weren’t at the front. She ran to the side windows and then the back.
They had gone! Hansa had heard her and had told Sidsel. They had listened to her and left immediately.
She let out the breath she hadn’t even been aware that she had been holding and collapsed against a chair.
“Avalon!” Skyresh ran to steady her. “Are you alright?”
Avalon nodded slowly, her heart pounding. “Yes, Skyresh. I am just so relieved, I can barely stand.”
He led her to the chair, and she sat down.
“Did it work?” he whispered, his blue eyes bright.
She nodded. “Yes! I discovered the sorceress’s water bowl in the room. She had obviously been using it – it was filled with herbs and frankincense.” She took a deep breath. “It was still imbued with her magic, and I was able to tap into it! I called Hansa and told her to take Sidsel and run back to camp.”
Skyresh stood up, gazing out the windows. “And they are gone?”
Avalon nodded again. She collapsed back into the chair, breathing deeply.
Everard came into the room and gazed at them. “I heard noise. What’s going on?”
“The animals are running back to our camp, Everard,” she whispered. “The others will come to us! Mother Asta will soon be here and will know a way to break the spell and release us.”
Everard smiled slowly. “I knew you would find a way.”
Avalon smiled back. It was promising; the breakthrough that they so desperately needed.
“Don’t get too confident,” warned Skyresh, turning back to them. “It will take time for the animals to get back to camp, and in the meanwhile, the sorceress is out there doing damage. I just hope that Mother Asta and the others get the message, as quickly as possible, before everything is destroyed around us.”
***
Disella kept riding, taking an upward trail through the mountains. She had heard that there was a village along this path.
She smiled to herself in satisfaction. The incident with the village of Krokr had played out brilliantly. The villagers had been ready to crucify her for what she had done to their townspeople. The reputation of the mighty Rebel Queen had been besmirched, well and truly.
She had left them to their fighting and had ridden away like the wind. They had shouted after her, and a few had even pursued her, but she was faster than them.
She had made sure that she was seen in every village that she passed through, acting as if nothing had happened. When these villages heard of the incident, they would remember their queen, riding through as if she didn’t have a care in the world. A heartless queen, who had formed a lynch mob to execute people without a proper trial and then smiled as she rode away.
She had caused chaos and confusion. The people would no longer follow the queen, and the whole rebellion would be left in tatters.
She had to get word to Agnor immediately. Tell him to gather his forces for an invasion. They had to take advantage of this confusion and swoop in immediately. There would be Stromel who regretted their involvement in the rebellion and would be eager for order to be re-established.
Better the devil you know, thought Disella, smiling.
She could see the outskirts of the village in the distance. Perhaps these villagers would be able to tell her where the rebel base camp was, and she would be able to infiltrate it. Her smile widened, as she thought of the havoc she could cause amongst the queen’s warriors, turning
them against their queen, well and truly.
She cantered into the village. The people stopped what they were doing and stared at her. They didn’t smile; in fact, they looked wary. Disella smiled again. Had word spread so quickly of the executions at Krokr, even to this remote area? It was working quicker than she had expected.
A little girl was playing with a doll on the step of a hut. She glanced up, as she saw Disella riding by, and cried out, running toward her.
“Queen Avalon!” The little girl was barring her way.
Disella glanced down at her, frowning. What did she want? She needed to see the town mayor and find out where the rebel base camp was.
“Yes?” she said crisply. “What do you want, little girl?”
The little girl’s smile started to fade just a bit.
“My queen,” she said. “Have you come for me? Is it time?”
Disella kept staring at her. “Time for what?” she scoffed. “I think it is time for you to run along, back to your doll. Queens do not have time to tarry when there are important things to do.”
The little girl frowned. “I don’t understand, my queen.”
Disella sighed impatiently. “Run along now. I think that I hear your mother calling you.”
The little girl paled and hung her head in confusion. Then, she slowly walked back to the hut, picking up her doll. She started to cry.
Disella rode off, down the dirt road toward the town square, without a backward glance.
An old woman stepped out of the hut and gazed down at the crying girl.
“What’s wrong, Silja?” she asked gently. “Are you feeling sad for your mother again?”
The little girl wiped her eyes with her sleeve, sniffling.
“It was the queen,” she said, in a small voice. “She rode by. She was…different.”
The old woman frowned. She had heard the rumors, along with everybody else, that something strange had happened in a village at the base of the mountains. Something that involved the queen. She hadn’t believed it; the queen was always so kind and approachable. She loved her people passionately.
“How was she different?” she said, crouching down and taking Silja’s hand.
The little girl sighed. “It was like she didn’t remember,” she said slowly, staring at her doll. “She didn’t know me or remember that Mother had died.” She hiccupped. “She promised me, Grandmother. She said that she would take me to train as a warrior, but she didn’t remember that either.”
The old woman stood up, gazing down the road that the queen had just ridden. What kind of a queen made a promise to a little girl, whose mother was dying, and then forgot it entirely? And forgot her as well?
She frowned, puzzled.
“It wasn’t her,” said Silja suddenly. “I know now why she didn’t remember. It’s because that wasn’t really the queen. Its only someone pretending to be her.”
The woman stared down at her granddaughter. “Silja, that is impossible! I saw her when I looked out the window. It was definitely the queen. She is riding the same horse.”
Silja shook her head stubbornly. “It’s not her. I remember now. The real queen has a mole on her right hand. That woman didn’t have it.”
The old woman stared back down the road. A feeling of unease had entered her heart. She tried to shake it off. The girl had just lost her mother – she was still grieving and had clung to the queen’s promise, talking of it often. She was just disappointed that the queen didn’t seem to remember something that was so important to her.
The old woman frowned again. There couldn’t be any truth to what Silja said…could there?
Chapter Thirteen
Hansa glanced to her left, watching the white horse galloping along beside her. Sidsel was fast, so fast that it was a strain sometimes to keep up with her, but Hansa knew that she had to push herself. Avalon had told them to run like the wind back to the camp.
The wolf hadn’t wanted to leave her mistress; it went against all her instincts to abandon Avalon. She would have paced the house for eternity, if she had to. She was sworn to protect her. And Hansa didn’t trust that the sorceress, who had imprisoned Avalon, would not return. If the evil one did come back, how would they defend themselves?
The thought caused the fur on the back of the wolf’s neck to rise—and a low growl sounded in her throat. It had distressed her when she hadn’t been able to communicate with Avalon since they had been imprisoned in the house. Hansa had tried, but it was as if a black wall shut down in her mind every time that she attempted it. The spell was too strong for her to overcome.
When she had heard Avalon speaking to her, she didn’t trust it at first. It was so sudden, but then she had sensed her mistress’s presence, almost as if she were standing in front of her. Hansa had only felt that once before, and that had been when they had been lying on the banks of the stream on the way here. Her fur had prickled, and she had known that someone was there although she couldn’t see them.
Hansa panted hard, straining her legs to go faster. She was sure, now, that it had been the sorceress, watching them. Finding out where they were. The evil one had been expecting them. Avalon had walked into a trap, and there had been nothing that Hansa could do to save her.
Sidsel neighed, tossing back her mane. Hansa yelped. The horse was telling her to stop thinking and to run faster still. But how could she? Her lungs were about to burst, as it was. Surely, there was a stream close by, where they could stop for a moment to have a drink? Hansa was sure that she had seen one in this direction.
Sidsel neighed again.
Don’t think about stopping, the horse said to the wolf. We can drink as much as we like, as soon as we get back to the camp. Avalon and the others are depending on us, Hansa.
Hansa growled deep in her throat. I am so thirsty, she replied.
As am I, said the horse. But we can endure it. Avalon must be rescued as soon as possible. You know that.
Hansa yelped. You are right, of course, but I think that I shall sleep for a week after this run.
The horse reared up on her hind legs. Then, she swiftly turned direction, heading towards the mountain track, which was just up ahead.
They were getting closer. Hansa could barely believe it – they had made such good time. But now the going was about to get really tough. They would be ascending up into the mountains. She barely knew how they would keep up this pace without a break for water.
The wolf growled again. Sidsel was right. They just had to endure it. For Avalon’s sake. Their mistress was in extreme danger—and there was something else.
Hansa could sense that the sorceress was close by, somewhere in the mountains. If it was true what Avalon had said, that the evil one was pretending to be her, then they had to get to the camp before the sorceress had time get there and to deceive all within it.
***
Mother Asta gazed out over the plains, watching the riders depart. She could see Escolen at the front, leading them. The man was jittery; there was no doubt about that. He had barely spoken before they had left, heading inwards to the villages in the mountains, searching for their queen.
“Mother Asta.”
The Mother turned her head away from the departing riders. Minna was standing beside her, frowning.
“What is it, Minna?” Mother Asta suddenly felt very, very weary. What was she going to say to the woman? Had she heard anything that about what had supposedly happened?
“Mother,” said the woman carefully. “Everyone is wondering why Escolen has taken a group into the mountains to buy more horses. We hardly need more for starters, and it seems odd that he would leave the camp when Skyresh and the queen are still gone.”
“Not at all, Minna,” replied the Mother evenly. “Escolen took some horses to be re-shod just yesterday. He knows that the camp is well defended in his absence.”
Minna sighed impatiently. “You are not telling me everything, Mother. I am not stupid. I know when you and Escolen are anxious.”
She took a deep breath. “Is it something to do with Skyresh? Have you heard from him?”
Mother Asta shook her head. “I have not heard a word from any of them.”
That much was at least true. She hadn’t heard from them.
“If only I hadn’t fallen ill,” hissed Minna, frowning. “I would be with him, now, instead of being stuck here, feeling as if I am slowly going mad!”
Mother Asta put a hand on Minna’s arm. “Patience, Minna. All will be well. I am sure that Skyresh and the others are on their way back to us now…and you know that you couldn’t have gone with them.”
Minna stared down at the ground. “I have a bad feeling, Mother. I can’t shake it off. I think that he is in danger.”
“You do not know that,” said the Mother calmly. “You mustn’t panic yourself, Minna. Skyresh would not want it. He would want you to be strong and carry on as normal.”
“You speak of him as if he was gone for good,” said Minna slowly, staring at the old woman. “Mother, are you sure you are telling me everything?”
Mother Asta sighed wearily. “Minna, I have communed with the Goddess. She has not revealed anything to me about any of them and what has happened on the mission.”
That was also true. Mother Asta had sat on the cushion in the temple for two hours, searching for answers, but all that she could see was swirling darkness. The Goddess either would not, or could not, reveal herself.
Mother Asta thought of Avalon’s vision. Of what Avalon had told her about seeing a woman exactly like her. She shivered, clutching her cloak tighter. If only she knew what it meant!
“I must rest, Minna,” she said now. “And I need to speak to the Goddess again. If I find out anything, I will let you know.”
She walked away, as quickly as her old bones could carry her. Minna would not be satisfied for long. She would harangue her, and Mother Asta didn’t feel up to it. She was so troubled; she had barely slept since Escolen had told her about the rumors. Thoughts kept twisting in her mind, and worry about Avalon and the others was consuming her. The last thing that she needed was a hysterical Minna, grieving for her boyfriend when they had no confirmation that he was indeed dead.