by Andrew Symon
If Jack was impressed with this, he was stunned at Grey Wolf’s response. Retrieving the slimmest of bows from under his blanket, the Cree fixed a needle-fine arrow in place and let fly. Fffft! In two seconds he had repeated the feat. Two Dunters fell dead.
Taken by surprise, their comrades turned round, and aimed their gory bonnets at the two arrivals.
“Absango!”
Jack was gratified to see another Dunter vanish. More fell as Grey Wolf’s arrows found their mark.
We might just be in time to save Caskill after all!
Jack took aim again.
“Absa …”
The Dunter threw down a hex-stone …
“Tarditas!”
… and Jack’s voice froze. In fact, everything froze.
Jack stepped beside his frozen body, and looked at it. His right arm was raised, and his mouth was open. But he looked like a statue … and so did Grey Wolf and the Dunter … and Caskill – frozen in the act of falling to the ground.
Jack racked his brains. What kind of a hex was this?
“It’s quite simple.” The voice was husky; the words spoken slowly. “The Dunter has stopped time.”
Jack felt sick.
It can’t be!
But when the grey-cloaked figure emerged from the mist, he knew it was.
“Ye’re the one who brought back my sand timer after that Brashat wretch stole it.”
The Grey advanced on Jack’s disembodied figure.
Am I imagining this?
“I see ye do not have my sister’s ring with ye; a shame. But yer determination shows ye have talent. I have watched yer progress these months, and would mak ye an offer.”
In a second the Grey had advanced on Jack and scooped him up in her arms. Sweeping him up to a crest that looked over a colourless Edinburgh, she sat him down.
“I could use yer talents. Bring me the map and the ring, and I will give ye power and riches beyond yer wildest dreams!”
She waved her arm over the city, instantly transforming it into a bright colourful metropolis. Wealthy people paraded along fine avenues, displaying their opulence.
“Ye and the Kildashie can have the Shian world; and even the wealth of these humans will be yours if ye will join me.”
To have as much as I could ever want …
A series of images flitted through Jack’s mind. His family, living in grand style; the best food and clothes; Petros could even have all the human gadgets he wanted …
No; something’s wrong. Jack shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
“And not just riches.” The Grey swept her arm over the cityscape again, and buildings shone in the warm sunlight. Jack felt the chill leave his bones, and a snug sense of wellbeing filled him.
“A life of comfort awaits.”
The vision was so enticing. To be warm again, to shake the winter off … He was warm!
“All Shian creatures will be your servants; even the Kildashie will be at yer beck and call. Only give me the map and the ring, and pay me homage.”
A candle ignited in Jack’s brain. No: if the Kildashie are still around the sunshine won’t come back! And the Grey’s … evil.
Jack felt an eagle soaring overhead … He imagined it, claws outstretched, flying at the skoffin.
“No!”
The blow hit Jack right under the rib cage, knocking the breath out of him. Frozen again, he fell to his knees, gasping. He was aware of a succession of Ffffts as he merged back into his body, and looked up to see Grey Wolf despatch the last three Dunters.
The ground in front of them was littered with Dunters. Lying in a series of grotesque poses, each body displayed a fine arrow shaft. But near the very summit of Arthur’s Seat, Caskill had fallen sideways, and was breathing slowly. Foul-smelling burns festered where the bloody caps had found their mark.
A low exhalation escaped, a throaty grunting sound.
“Caskill!” shouted Jack.
There was a flicker, and Caskill peered up. For a moment he didn’t seem to see Jack. Then a smile spread across his face.
“’Talis.” He indicated the charmstone which now hung by a mere thread.
“That’s right; I taught you that. But why did the skoffin bring you here?”
The giant’s great fist patted the charmstone.
“’Talis. Dunte’ wan’.”
Grey Wolf now removed the amulet from around his own neck, and showed this to Caskill. As the giant saw the crescent moon shape, he smiled again. Then he winced in obvious pain. The stench from the burning flesh caught Jack’s nostrils afresh, and he retched.
“No good.” The giant rested his head down on the ground, and breathed heavily. “Die now.”
Before Jack could stop him, Caskill reached for his charmstone, and tore it off. Pressing it into Jack’s hands, he closed his eyes.
“Uuuuh.”
A last throaty exhale; then nothing.
“He has been gathered up,” said Grey Wolf. “We must encase him here.”
He took out a small stone from a pouch, and laid this next to Caskill’s body. Then he pulled Jack away.
“Sepelio!”
The ground beneath the giant subsided, and enveloped his great carcass. Almost as quickly, the earth sealed over him, finally ending the stench of putrid flesh. Just the outline of the giant’s body remained visible.
“Your knife.”
Grey Wolf indicated Trog’s knife, still strapped to Jack’s calf. Taking the steel blade, Grey Wolf strode to one of the dead Dunters, and sliced off his ear. He wrapped the gruesome relic in one of the caps before stuffing it into his pouch.
“These will show Magnus that the Unseelie have attacked Caskill.”
“You mean Caskill’s Norse?”
“His ancestors were.” Grey Wolf looked round at the scattered Dunters. “We will need to remove these bodies.”
He put his fingers to his lips and whistled. Moments later, three huge buzzards descended, and scooped the Dunter bodies up in their great talons. As the birds flew off silently, Grey Wolf eyed Jack curiously.
“I think you saw something here?”
Jack pondered this. What had he actually seen? It was like a dream …
“I had a memory of the Grey.”
“That Red Cap threw a hex stone. It blinded me for a moment; then I killed him.”
“A moment? We were talking for ages.” Jack paused and thought. “She said something about stopping time.”
“Then our quest is urgent. You have the charmstone?”
Jack showed the amulet to Grey Wolf. It was strange to think of the journey this charmstone had had since Gilravage had taken it from the ‘laird’ in Nebula.
“Let us go and find the others.”
Grey Wolf set off down the slope, but while the bigger and much stronger Cree made light work of the descent, Jack found this hard. He stumbled and slipped several times as he tried to keep up. When they were both finally at the bottom, Jack stopped.
“I need to get my breath back,” he gasped. A stitch in his side felt like it would split him open; but at least he was warm – despite the frost. Grey Wolf looked on in amusement.
When his heart rate had slowed down, Jack took in his surroundings.
“Cos-Howe’s not far from here. I wonder how Cosmo and the others are getting on.”
“We heard of Cos-Howe. Where is the gate?”
“That way.” Jack indicated a path. “Past the human streets.”
As the two left the comfort of the Shian space, Jack felt what was by now an unfamiliar sensation: rising up to human height.
Nearing the streets by Cos-Howe, they could see a few humans, well wrapped up against the snow.
“It’s just up here.”
Jack became increasingly confident as they got nearer the street which contained the secret entrance to Cos-Howe, but as they turned the corner into it he stopped and put his arm across Grey Wolf’s chest. The muscles beside his eyes were twitching furiousl
y.
“There’s Shian nearby. They must be Kildashie.” The two turned round and retraced their steps for a short distance.
“What d’you think?” Jack asked. “Should we try again?” He peered down the street.
A whistle from behind him made Jack spin round, and he just caught sight of a figure in a doorway.
“Jack! It’s me!”
“Oobit?”
“You walked right past me!”
You’re that skinny now you were easy to miss!
“I never saw you. How’d you get out?”
“There’s another gate – the Kildashie are too stupid to find it. They can’t work out why we haven’t run out of food, but we’ve managed to find supplies – until now, anyway.” Oobit shivered.
“We’re all at Novehowe, with the NorShian.”
“I know. The two Kildashie who got away really scared Boreus when they said what had happened. He’s talking about pulling all his men in to defend Edinburgh.”
“How many are there?”
“At least 100, split between the castle and guarding Cos-Howe. They’re cocky, though, and stupid. They’re drunk half the time; and they fight each other when they’re bored. Without the Thanatos they wouldn’t amount to much. Who’s your pal?”
“I am Grey Wolf. We came because Caskill was in trouble.”
Oobit and Grey Wolf exchanged greetings.
“Is Caskill OK?”
“The Dunters killed him. They were after his charmstone, but we got it.” Jack showed Oobit the amulet.
“I heard about the charmstone. The Dunters would’ve given it to the Kildashie; crawlers. It’s good you got it.”
“How d’you hear about it?”
“Oh, we’ve got a spy in the square. But Cos-Howe can only last a few more days, Jack. It’s getting hard for us to find food.” He looked warily up the road, and rubbed his hands up and down his arms.
“Are the Kildashie going to try and get the Destiny Stone on Hogmanay?”
“Aye; they’re planning a big celebration. We might’ve taken them on, only they’ve had Thanatos guarding Cos-Howe too. We can’t tackle them.”
“We heard what happened to Ploutter.”
“He nearly made it, too. The Thanatos are vicious. They’re only helping the Kildashie because they think they’ll get the Chalice. The Kildashie told them it can stop death.”
“And they believed that?!”
“They’re desperate. You know they’re nine-tenths dead? It means they don’t fear those who are alive. But anything that might stop them going to Sheol is worth a try.”
“Sheol? You mean Shian hell?”
“It’s the worst punishment of all. Most of them know they’ll not survive that – being nearly dead already.”
“So who can defeat them?”
“The righteous dead, Cosmo says. Whatever that means.”
“Like the ghosts at Dunvik? The Brashat didn’t believe the ghosts would last after Hallows’ Eve.”
“We’d need an army of righteous ghosts – and I don’t know where we’d get that in Edinburgh. Anyway, the main thing is to stop the Kildashie by Hogmanay. What’re the chances of an attack by then?”
“Well, we’ve got McCools, and the Nebula crew up in Novehowe. There’s Cree too, and we’re trying to get the fjordsmen. Is it true the Kildashie have the Tassitus charm?”
Oobit looked at Jack in amazement.
“Tassitus? Of course not. They’ve worked out something worse, though: they’ve got the Tarditas hex. With that they can freeze time while they attack.”
That’s what the Dunter used on me!
“Is that how they attacked the Congress?”
“They were just practising then. They’re boasting they’ll have it perfected by Hogmanay, and then they’ll take the Destiny Stone. It won’t be lack of food that kills us if they get that.”
“We’ll be back by Hogmanay,” said Jack firmly. “Say Happy Christmas to Cosmo for me, yeah? We’ve got to find my sister and Petros now – I don’t want them getting scared because we’re late.”
“I’ll tell Cosmo you’re asking after him. You know the low roads are open today?”
“We came by horse; the low road wouldn’t work.”
“It’s definitely working now. See you soon. I’ve got to find some food.”
Oobit ran furtively up the street, and was lost to sight as he rounded a corner.
“Come on, the High Street’s up here.” Jack set off up towards the Royal Mile, along streets that were eerily quiet.
“This big city is not so busy,” said Grey Wolf as they neared the Finisterre café bar.
“It’s Christmas Day – most people are indoors.”
They crossed the North Bridge intersection, encountering a few cheery human stragglers who wished them a happy Christmas.
“That’s St Giles’ up there,” said Jack as a crowd of humans emerged from the cathedral.
“Jack!”
A shout from across the street.
“It’s Petros,” said Jack, starting to cross the road. “Hey, where’s Cleo?”
Petros looked near to tears.
“I’ve lost her.”
31
Thanatos Execution
Jack felt his stomach lurch.
Dad’s going to kill me …
“Where did you last see her?” demanded Grey Wolf.
“In the New Town. I went to look at a shop window, and when I looked round she’d gone.”
“I knew we shouldn’t have brought you!” shouted Jack.
“It’s not my fault,” retorted Petros. “She wandered off.”
“Shh! We must not draw attention to ourselves – there may be Unseelie spies,” said Grey Wolf, looking around cautiously. “I will find her. Show me which direction you went. Her scent will be on the air.”
“You mean you can smell her?”
“I’ll feel her presence. But you must both get away: they will be missing you in Novehowe.”
“I can’t go back without my sister,” said Jack.
“It’s too dangerous to stay here. There’s Unseelie about, I can sense them.”
“They wouldn’t have taken Cleo, would they?” asked Petros unhappily.
Grey Wolf shook his head. “She’s human size; and she’s used to blending in. The Unseelie won’t realise who she is. Don’t worry: I’ll find her.”
“We were about half a mile over there,” said Petros, leading the others part way down the Mound, and indicating a section of Edinburgh’s New Town. “You’ll find her, yeah?”
“I will. And Jack: show this to Magnus.” Grey Wolf untied the pouch from around his waist and handed it over.
Jack grimaced as he thought of what was inside.
“I’ll bring the mustangs back. Your friend said the low road was working again – use that – and take this.” Grey Wolf handed the invisibility bonnet to Petros.
“I don’t fancy hanging around here any longer,” said Petros.
You wait ’til my dad gets you, thought Jack. Mind you, he’ll kill me too …
Grey Wolf set off quickly towards the New Town while Jack and Petros retraced their steps back up the Mound. Turning right, they headed for the castle esplanade.
“We’d better use the bonnets now,” said Jack firmly.
“I know,” replied Petros testily, “I’m not stupid.”
Stupid enough to lose Cleo, thought Jack, but he knew better than to voice this.
Both youngsters placed the green bonnets on their heads, and disappeared from view. The esplanade was silent as the pair made their way to the Shian gate in the corner. Jack walked slightly faster than his cousin, and when Petros joined him on the gate Jack grabbed his shoulder.
“Effatha!”
The gate swung open. An icy blast hit them as they emerged gasping for breath at the top of the Shian square.
Kildashie cold again!
“There’s no one about,” whispered Jack. “Look: they’ve
smashed half the square’s crystals.”
“I can see that.” Petros peered into the gloom. “Let’s get out of here.” He started to march down towards the foot of the square.
“Wait a minute; I want to see what they’ve done to our house.”
There were lights on in the house, but there was no sign of anyone as Jack approached. He crept up to the front window, and peered in.
Doxer!
Instinctively, Jack shrank down out of sight; then realised that this was ridiculous.
I’m invisible: he can’t see me.
Jack raised his head again and looked in. Doxer was facing the window, right enough; and carrying a tray of drinks, which he offered to those seated.
That’s Boreus!
The Kildashie leader was indeed sitting there, with several other figures in dark robes, their heads covered by cowls.
They must be Thanatos …
Facing them was a sorry-looking figure.
It looks like Freya’s dad!
Involuntarily, Jack gripped the windowsill.
Just then Doxer looked up and stared out of the window. Again, Jack sank down.
But he can’t see me!
Jack checked his green bonnet was still firmly on, then risked another look in, and saw that Boreus had risen from his chair.
“What is it?” demanded the Kildashie as he approached the window. “Is there someone there?”
Crouching down again with his back to the wall, Jack held his breath. He was sure he could feel Boreus standing there, just on the other side of the window.
Jack had counted to twenty before he allowed himself to exhale slowly.
I’m getting out of here!
As quietly as he could, Jack crept down to the house at the foot of the square.
“Where’d you get to?” hissed Petros angrily. “It’s too dangerous to play silly sods.”
“Well, you should know,” Jack retorted.
There was a sound of a door slamming, and a man crying as blows rained down.
“What’s happening up there?”
Jack risked a look.
“It’s Festus – Freya and Purdy’s dad. The Thanatos have got him.”
Petros looked round from the shelter of the wall, and instantly wished he hadn’t. The sight of someone you know being sliced by a Thanatos sword is not something you want to dwell on. He retched, and fell backwards.