by Andrew Symon
“The Seelie around the country will unite,” continued Marco, “but only if they believe the Kildashie can be defeated. That is why some of you must undertake a quest, to recruit allies. When the right force is ready, then it will be time to strike back.”
“Who are these allies?” demanded Telos the McCool. “Why haven’t they made contact with us?”
“The Unseelie control most of the mainland,” replied Luka sternly, “but not the islands. However, there are Unseelie spies everywhere. Some of you will journey north. Others will stay here and join in later. The low road will open when the time is right.”
“In the meantime,” continued Marco, “the young ones are to continue their studies. Weather permitting, some of you will leave in a month or so.”
A whole month? Jack ground his teeth. I thought we were going to get the green light now.
2
Sheena of the Shadows
Gilmore had done his best to recreate a workshop, but it wasn’t up to much – just a table and a bench; and yet he was somehow managing to add to his materials most days. Despite his gripes about lessons, now that Jack was finally learning about charmed cloths, he knew he was getting somewhere. Invisibility cloth might still be some way off, but shrinking and growing and healing cloths showed great potential.
Shame Freya’s not here, mused Jack as he stitched a blood bandage. I miss her.
There had been no news of Freya, or her sister Purdy, since the forced evacuation of the Shian square in Edinburgh nearly four months earlier. Jack had heard that they’d got away; but whether this was true, or where they’d gone, was really anyone’s guess.
Fenrig was first to finish that morning. Presenting his newly stitched cloak to Gilmore, he simply nodded, and left.
Jack tried to finish the stitching on his blood bandages. The edges were important – Gilmore had stressed that; otherwise the blood just gets out of the side. But that’s just the cloth – even humans have them; I need to learn what makes them special, what makes them Shian.
Jack didn’t notice his tutor watching him closely as he laboured over his task. When Jack had finished, Gilmore placed his hand upon the youngster’s shoulder.
“Well done, Jack. The bandages will help to stem the flow of blood, but only if they’re charmed properly. I think you’re ready to move on now.”
“Are we going to do the charms?” Jack’s heart began to race.
“It’s time. And we’ll have to pick up speed if we’re to have enough for our journey.”
“Are … are you coming on the boat?”
“I do have some uses, you know. And there’ll be plenty of need for charmed cloths where we’re going. Not to mention good swordsmen. Speaking of which …”
Jack turned round to see his father standing in the tent entrance. He was looking stronger.
“Luka and Armina are good doctors,” he said, reading Jack’s mind. “It’s been slow, but I can feel the strength returning. But don’t let me stop you.”
“I was just about to teach him the haemostat charm. Sit and watch if you like.”
Despite the novelty of seeing his father watching, the morning passed quickly as Jack learned how to prepare the bandages for charming. The haemostat one was quite easy, but the Cu-shee ones were tricky. Jack had never come across this famed Black Dog of the North. More werewolf than dog, if half the stories told about it were true.
“Gilmore’s right about having to stock up well,” noted Phineas, as Gilmore went to get his lunch. “There’s some rough journeying ahead.”
“Have you been where we’re going?” asked Jack. “The McCools told me it’s wild up on the north coast – but nice.”
“Enda’s a good man; but he’s only travelled that route in the spring. Autumn winds and winter gales are very different.”
“If it’s that hard, why are we travelling that way?”
“Because that’s the right time to get what we need.”
“The Mapa Mundi showed us going north in autumn,” said Jack. “What do we need to get?”
“Well, there’s ‘what’; and there’s ‘who’. We have several places to see before we get to the north islands. Our first stop will be to raise the Hebseelie, and we’ll have to time that right. If we get them on board, we’ve a good chance with the Norseelie. But there’s somewhere else we need to go in between.”
There’s tears in his eyes; but he doesn’t look sad. Quite the opposite, in fact.
“D’you know a lot about the island Shian, then?”
“A little. But there’s one island that’s going to be a real problem. I believe something I went looking for a long time ago is there. That’s when I ended up being suspended by the Grey. Me and Konan.”
“Konan told us where Marco was. He said something else too, only Grandpa said it was just a story.”
“The Stone key?”
Jack nodded.
“It’s no story. In fact, it’s why your mother and I quarrelled.”
Jack took a deep breath.
“I know you want to ask about her. And it’s right you should know.”
“Grandpa told me she was … highly strung.”
Phineas’ laugh was hollow. “Well, that’s one way of putting it.”
He’s still got tears; but his eyes aren’t so happy now …
“Jack, I don’t know how much you know about families. They’re complicated; your mother certainly was.”
“Was?”
“Is, for all we know. Life in Rangie just didn’t suit her. She’d found someone else.”
“Who?” Jack clenched his fists.
“A human. She was going to leave.”
“Leave me too?” Jack’s voice was no more than a whisper.
“I don’t know. But she said she would leave me if I ever went to see Tamlina.”
“You knew Tamlina?” gasped Jack.
“I’d heard of her; and I’d heard she had something that makes the Shian stronger. The Raglan stone was a chance I couldn’t pass up.”
Raglan stone … Jack’s mind raced. Tamlina had said that when she’d come out of her trance, the first time he’d seen her.
“The Raglan stone helps Shian to get stronger … but how?”
“I couldn’t tell you how it works. But it’s powerful. I wanted to show Father – your grandpa – that I could do something worthwhile. When Sheena found out, she said she would go.”
Sheena. Jack had almost never heard his mother called by her name. It had always been ‘your mother’. It was strange to think that she even had a name. So many things about his family were … uncomfortable.
“What about my sister? Is she … you know?”
Phineas laughed, heartily this time.
“Yes, she’s really your sister. But that’s all I know. You’ve both grown up without your father; and I’m truly sorry. I can try to make some of that up to you. As for Cleo, well I suppose she’s had her mother …” His voice trailed off.
Jack closed his eyes, hoping things would go away.
“Does Grandpa know all this?”
“About her human? No, I never told him.”
“Grandpa and Uncle Doonya just told me that she couldn’t cope after you’d gone. They looked everywhere, but couldn’t find her.”
“They wouldn’t have thought to look in the human spaces. She didn’t let that on to anyone. She was always very … secretive.”
“‘Sheena of the shadows’?”
“You heard that one, did you?” Another hollow laugh. “It’s what some people in Rangie used to call her.”
“So the Raglan stone would help you to become powerful?”
“Not me: I meant it for the Congress. I thought that would show your grandpa what I could do. But the Grey got to me before I could find Tamlina. And Tamlina didn’t have it when you last saw her, did she? Grandpa used the Pulviscin charm to cremate her; but the Raglan wouldn’t have burnt. I’m guessing Malevola took it.”
“But Rana finished Mal
evola off on the giant’s bridge at midsummer.”
“She’ll have taken it back to her own home – Tula. That’s why we’ve got to go there and get it back.”
“How hard’s that if Malevola’s dead?”
“She may be gone, but her cronies will be there. They’re Boaban Shee, Jack. That’s why we’ll need the charmed bandages.”
“Boaban Shee? They’re like vampires, aren’t they?”
“Sort of. They drain their victims’ blood; but they don’t bite them. They use their nails. That’s why the haemostat bandages are vital. And the swords – they can’t stand Shian steel.”
“Gilmore talked about a swordsman, just before you came. Is that you?”
Phineas stood, and adopted an en garde stance, imaginary sword in his right hand. Then, swiftly advancing, he cut and slashed the air, vanquishing make-believe enemies.
Then he stopped, puffing. Sweat trickled down his brow.
“I’m not as strong as I thought I was.”
He sat again.
Great, thought Jack. We’re about to take on vicious enemies, and he gets tired fighting the air.
“Don’t worry,” said Phineas. “We’ve a few weeks before we leave. Plenty of time for me to get fit again. And it’s the equinox tonight. That’ll help.”
“So where’s Tula, then?”
“Difficult to say. It’s off the north coast, but it’s almost impossible to find. It’s always covered in cloud, or fog. Some even say it moves around. But that’s where Malevola came from; and that’s where she’ll have hidden the Raglan stone, I’m sure of it.”
“Because it would make her powerful?”
“Some say it’s like the Destiny Stone in Edinburgh. It’s got a real power.”
“Shouldn’t we be concentrating on getting the Kildashie out of Edinburgh, then?”
“The Destiny Stone’s protected, Jack; the Kildashie may never work out how to get it. But if the Boaban Shee are using the Raglan stone, that’s bad.”
“If they keep it on their island, what’s the harm?”
“Sooner or later the Kildashie will get it. Remember they seem to be controlling the Thanatos: they can be very persuasive.”
Jack thought back to Tamlina’s ring, and the execution scene it had shown. He shuddered.
“Come on,” said Phineas, standing up again. “We’ll get some lunch. Then you’ve got lessons with Finbogie this afternoon, haven’t you? He’s going to show you lot something special today.”
3
Autumn Equinox
Finbogie’s lesson had been good, even if it hadn’t been a one-to-one. Learning how to use a sword, now that had been cool. Rana and Lizzie showed some promise too, and Fenrig. Finbogie had stressed that this was just basics, but even in a few hours, Jack felt he had mastered them. He’d stayed practising for ages with Finbogie after the other apprentices had given up, and now resolved to show his father what he could do. After all, he was a swordsman too.
Jack strode from the field where they’d had their lessons, and made for the house, swishing the blade Finbogie had given him. He noted the activity outside the house as tables and chairs were set out, and garlands strung over branches, but as Jack stepped through the doorway his shouted ‘Hello’ got no response, and his enthusiasm faded. The island was so busy these days that it was unusual for the house to be empty.
Probably getting ready for tonight’s party …
Temporarily at a loss, Jack wandered along, examining the book shelves. So many books; how did they find time to read them all? He noted the wall-mounted season-wheel, which showed that they were indeed turning towards autumn. There was something reassuring about the wheel; it didn’t lie. His eye was caught by an old leather-bound tome. Picking it idly off the shelf, Jack sat down and flicked through.
This new section’s got a picture of an eagle. ‘In the beginning …’ But it’s near the end, thought Jack. And it’s long. It would take years to read this one.
He flicked further back. The people’s names were strange. Jack flicked on, trying to find something he recognised. Ah! Something about a riddle, that should be good.
“Out of the eater came something to eat …” Jack read aloud.
“It’s good to see you reading that.”
Jack dropped the book as he jumped up and turned to face Marco.
“I … I was looking for my father.”
“It’s all right.” Marco stooped down and picked up the old leather tome. “I don’t mind you reading. But take care of the books, please.”
Jack blushed, and avoided Marco’s gaze.
“Your father’s down at Trog’s Bay with Murkle. They’re practising their duelling. You can wait for him here. He shouldn’t be long.”
Jack sat down, and accepted the book from Marco.
“I think you’ll find you were … there,” said Marco, opening the book at the page Jack had been reading.
Jack was relieved when Marco left, and he resumed his reading. Strange riddle … ah. There’s the answer. Huh? Jack read back a bit, to find the start of the story. A lion? Coincidence that, seeing as Marco’s a …
“En garde!”
Jack turned to see his father in the doorway, brandishing his rapier. He looked suddenly … alive. Proudly, Jack got up, and held his own sword ready, facing his father.
There was a blur, three sharp metallic twangs, and Jack felt his sword fly out of his hand.
“I couldn’t resist that,” laughed Phineas.
“You don’t look so tired now.”
“I can feel the equinox coming; it’s healing me. I’m glad to see Finbogie has started you on some useful stuff.”
“He’s already taught me loads of useful stuff,” pouted Jack. “But the swords are cool. He said we would need them against the Boabans.”
“That’s only half of it,” replied his father. “You need to be able to use the sword, but to banish them you have to …”
“Cut off their feet, and use some kind of hex. Finbogie told us.”
“Did he teach you the hex?”
Jack shook his head.
“Well, I’ll teach you that soon. Maybe when we’re travelling. It’ll take some time to get there. We’ll need to teach you the hexes for Cu-shee as well.”
“The Black Dog of the North? Gilmore showed me the bandage hex.”
“That’s for the wounds they cause; you need to know how to fight them too. They don’t like Shian steel either. We’ll cover that when we’re sailing.”
“Are you coming on the boat with us?”
“I’m sure I’ll be strong enough in a month’s time.”
Jack thought back to how tired his father had become just fighting the air. A gruelling sea journey, with vicious enemies along the way, seemed a tall order. Still, he seemed to believe he would get better.
Supper was eaten as the falling sun neared the horizon. The whole Shian congregation were present, now about 100 in all. By the gloaming hour, the revellers sat replete, wistfully watching the darkening sky.
“Friends,” called Marco, “you are all most welcome to this equinox feast. I know that some of you felt we did not celebrate midsummer properly. I hope tonight has gone some way to making up for that.”
A whoop of delight from Rana.
“I am also aware that many of you are keen to reclaim your homes from the Kildashie and their allies. I would ask Kedge to bring us news of the situation.”
Jack blinked hard. In all the excitement of the party he hadn’t even seen Kedge … but there was no sign of Ploutter. He hadn’t seen either of them since their jaunt in the High Street more than a year earlier.
“I am Kedge, from Rangie, near Edinburgh.” Kedge’s voice was faint. “The Kildashie have the city in terror. No Shian is safe; and the areas outside the city are nearly as bad. It’s been freezing since the Kildashie took over.”
His clothes tattered, and his right arm hanging limp by his side, he cut a pathetic figure.
“Tel
l them what happened.” Luka spoke gently.
“They caught me trying to get into Cos-Howe with my brother. Sometimes they use Thanatos to give out punishments. They tied me to a chair; then they took Ploutter …” He paused a moment and took a deep breath. “They sat him in front of me, and put his eyes out. Then they took a sledgehammer …” He sobbed, his shoulders heaving.
“Urrgh!” Lizzie covered her face at this picture of torture.
Jack felt his scalp go cold. He’d seen this … or some of it: when he’d looked at Tamlina’s ring. He tried to swallow, but his mouth was dry.
“I never liked Ploutter,” whispered Rana, putting her arm around her sister’s shoulder. “But no one deserves that.”
“What the Thanatos did to Ploutter has been done to many others. They are a vicious enemy, fearing only the death that awaits them in Sheol.” said Marco.
“Murkle told us about Sheol once,” said Jack. “It’s Shian hell. And if you’re nearly dead when you’re sent there, you’ll die, soul and all.”
“The Kildashie,” continued Marco evenly, “seem to have turned the seasons back.”
“Then how’d we get them out?” shouted Ossian.
“Only with the right force, and at the right time.” Marco spoke evenly. “You will need many more to have any chance of regaining your homes.”
“But they have the Tassitus charm,” yelled a voice.
“Perhaps,” replied Marco evenly. “They are strong, have no doubt of that. And especially in the bitter cold, for that is their element.”
“More friends are coming from Ireland,” announced Enda. “In the next few weeks they will teach you about life on a boat. Some of us will sail to the north islands.”
“Seven boats will go north,” stated Marco. “Their fate will determine when others can go to the mainland. As you all know, certain feast days are more auspicious.”
“Who’s going by boat?” demanded Ossian. “And what kind of tasks will they have?”
“Those who are being considered will know soon enough, for they will have to undergo training. But your knowledge of some of the island Shian will be valuable.”