Lost in my thoughts, I heard a shout in a nearby alley. I approached, thinking to help someone a little worse the wear for drink, but what I saw stupefied me. Although many years had passed since the ferry incident, I recognized Alwena immediately. She was leaning over Bryan, who seemed barely conscious. She was about to hit him with a ball of green energy she was holding in her hand. I was frightened, but I reacted anyway.
“Stop!” I shouted.
Surprised, she raised her head, and seeing who it was, she threw her green fireball at me. I had just enough time to put up a protection screen, and congratulated myself for having continued training with Galahad. He was never far off, for Viviane had wanted him to keep an eye on me – despite the fact that nothing had happened since I’d arrived at Cambridge. Until now…
Without more thought, I took out my pen and it transformed into a sword. I was ready to show some fight. But instead of taking a defensive stance, Alwena shot me a sarcastic smile, then changed into a bat and disappeared.
I didn’t move for a second, wondering why she’d left. She wasn’t the type to capitulate so easily, and I didn’t get it. A groan of pain brought me back to the present, and I sheathed my sword-pen and ran to Bryan.
“Are you alright?” I asked him, surveying him to see if he was hurt.
“My legs hurt,” he moaned.
I looked at his legs, but didn’t see anything amiss. However, when I set my hand on his ankle to roll up his pants, he screamed with pain. The leg was blue, and I realized that the other one was too – both his legs were broken.
While I got ready to heal him, looking around for the nearest tree, two of our crewmembers from the rowing team arrived, alerted by the shouts. So I could do nothing for him.
“Damn… What happened?”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “I just got here. But we better call an ambulance, as it seems his leg is broken.”
I reprimanded them, in the hopes of distracting their attention. “Why did you guys let him go home alone? He wasn’t in a state to do that!”
The two students looked guilty, and I kept up my lecture to make it look like they were to blame. Bothered by Bryan’s cries of pain, they went off to telephone for help. I took advantage of their absence to treat him, as I couldn’t let him suffer like that. Without yet knowing why, I felt convinced I was responsible for his misadventure, so after setting my palm on his forehead, I silently recited a spell destined to relieve his pain. He watched me, then his moans quieted down and his features relaxed. We heard sirens in the distance.
The next day, I was called in by our trainer. I was worried as I entered his office, thinking I would be cut from the team for having joined Bryan in that stupid drinking game.
“Sit down,” he said coldly. “I just got back from the hospital…”
I swallowed painfully.
“Bryan has multiple fractures in both legs. He’ll be in casts for several weeks, and then he’ll have to undergo months of rehab.”
I looked at him, astonished.
“Good God!” he barked. “Did you have nothing better to do, only a month before the Boat Race? Bryan was my best rower, and you all knew how important the race was to the University. This afternoon I want you at training. You’re going to replace him, and you’d better not disappoint me.”
“But Steve is a substitute too, and he’s much better trained than me,” I protested.
“Steve had to go home for a while, as his mother just passed away. He won’t be part of the competition.”
I was pensive, as the two events seemed too unexpected and too closely related to be coincidental.
What is Alwena cooking up?
The trainer’s cavernous voice brought me back to the office. “Is that clear, Mr. Dymas? I’m counting on you!”
“Yes, Coach. Don’t worry – I’ll be there.”
A half-hour later, I found Professor Deen in the St John’s College cafeteria. We had been searching for months for an explanation to the mysterious quote on the paving in St Bene’t church, without a single result. And yet Viviane was convinced that Merlin’s best friend must have known the location of his manuscript, that precious document containing the formula for opening and closing the passage linking our two worlds.
With two coffees on the table, we opened our files and dove back into our investigations. For the umpteenth time, I pronounced the quote: “Often I remember that he is the key to recovering hope, blood of my blood.”
The professor replied, “St John’s College motto is in ancient French, ‘Souvent me souvient,’ or ’Often I remember,’ but I still don’t get what it refers to exactly.”
Hesitatingly, to hide that I knew the truth, I suggested, “According to my research, a legend recounts that the same priest was in charge of the construction of the two churches.”
“But that’s impossible! St Bene’t was founded around the year 1000, and St John’s chapel wasn’t built until 1869.”
“I know, but the legend claims he’s immortal.”
“Ridiculous…” grumbled the Professor. `
I kept myself from saying it was my grandmother who had slipped me that information and that there was nothing a legendary about it.
“Maybe, but the chapel was built on the ruins of a much older medieval building,” I replied. “It may be worth investigation. I’ll need to find the architect’s plans.”
“Very well, I’ll take care of that. You’ve got an exam to study for and I learned this morning that you also have a race to train for.”
Often I remember that he is the key to recovering hope, blood of my blood.
I repeated this enigma again and again as we walked back toward my dorm. I was persuaded that Merlin knew what was going to happen, and I had no doubts about his powerful visions. Unlike me, he had certainly been capable of seeing into the future. He spoke of me as the ‘key,’ so all I needed to do was find the lock.
I decided I would pursue my research in the chapel later, and we wrapped up our meeting by discussing my thesis for the Doctor of Science degree.
In the afternoon, I trained with the rowing team. At the end of practice, my coach told me someone wanted to talk to me, and pointed at the riverbank. I saw Galahad with Viviane standing there, and my heart accelerated. I hurried to join them.
“Hello Viviane,” I said, as I’d been calling her by her first name for some time now. “To what honor do I owe this visit?”
She smiled in response. “Do I need an excuse to come see my grandson?”
At my dubious look, she became serious. “We have to talk about what happened, but not here.”
“How about we go have a bite to eat? I’m dying of hunger.”
We found a small restaurant, and after ordering, she began. “Gabriel, I’m worried about you. Alwena is Adenora’s daughter, and not only is Adenora a powerful sorceress, but she’s Morgana’s cousin. She’s the one who summoned the kobolds. I learned from Galahad that her daughter has already tried to kill you.”
“Did you think I couldn’t fend off a little bit of a girl?” I teased.
“I’m not joking,” she cut in imperiously. “Alwena didn’t attack you deliberately – she wants you to take part in this race, and she got rid of those who were preventing you from doing that.”
I lost my lightheartedness. Disturbed, I said, “I didn’t think of that.”
“Stay on the alert,” she warned me. “I’ll be here for the race as will all of Avalon’s priestesses. Something is being planned, and I have a feeling that it’s going to be terrible. We have to protect you, and also protect our secret from any humans.”
I had no more desire to joke around, as Viviane was never worried unless she had good reason to be.
The day of the Boat Race soon arrived. Viviane, the priestesses and the knights of Avalon had arrived the day before. Galahad was staying with them.
The whole staff is here! I thought with resignation, but also a sense of consolation.
Thousands
of people had gathered under overcast skies, and were now lining the banks of the Thames to watch the yearly event. Television crews from all over the world were present, which did not reassure me in the least, because whatever was going to happen would be seen around the entire planet. I scrutinized the crowds, but saw no trace of Alwena or her mother.
My stress was at its height now. My fine physical condition and my height of six feet, two inches helped me fit in well with my teammates, but I was the youngest of them all.
After warming up and stretching, we settled in our seats and rowed into place on the south bank of the Thames. One last glance at the opposing team, and we were off.
In the first five minutes, the battle to take the lead was brutal, but everything seemed to be normal, apart from the sky, which was becoming darker and more threatening every second. Almost imperceptibly, the water also became agitated, and kept pushing us toward the middle of the stream. The referees were signaling to both teams to head back in the right direction but before we could, a wave suddenly lifted up our boats and crashed them together, breaking one of the rowers’ oarlocks and throwing him over the side.
It all happened so fast! The storm broke with a fury. Lightning bolts hit the camera crews’ trucks and vans, exploding their antennas one after another in a spray of sparks that caused wild panic among the people close to them.
Then the water started boiling around our boats, and in front of a flabbergasted audience, an aquatic creature resembling an enormous sea snake erupted out of the water. With a strident screech, it rushed at our boats and broke the Oxford team’s hull. The rowers had barely had time to jump out, and they now floated among the debris, panicking. Some of them started swimming frantically toward the banks.
Recovering my calm after an instant of bewilderment, I launched an incantation as the serpent was lifting its head to strike again.
“Gwynt cryf!”
The wind and clouds concentrated into a tempest in my hands and then struck the creature in the head, stunning it. It sank down into the foaming water.
I looked at the banks and a wave of anguish filled me. People were screaming and running every which way, pursued by witches and soldiers in dark armor. Colored shafts of light revealed that the fairies and Viviane had reacted, and were fighting to save the people. A little farther off, Galahad and his knights were crossing swords with the soldiers. It had to be Alwena and her allies, who for some inexplicable reason were attacking humans.
It didn’t take me long to understand that the horrible serpent rising up again and facing me was no other than Adenora. Only a powerful sorceress could take the form of such a monster. Her cruel reptilian eyes fixed me, then without warning she came at me. My fellow rowers’ cries forced me to dive overboard, as I didn’t want them to be hurt because of me, and I hoped that she would follow me instead of attacking the boat.
As the tossing river bounced me along, I felt my body fill with an energy unfamiliar to me. All my senses were alert. The snake’s needle-sharp teeth tried to find me, but she missed by a hair, and I was able to surface. A good thing, as I needed air, but it was a short respite, for Adenora thrust herself high up out of the chop, hissing with rage and ready to land on me again. My heart stopped as I stared up at the monster, and for the first time, I felt thoroughly frightened. This was a sorceress with powerful gifts, and I wasn’t sure I was equal to her. The next attack could be fatal.
I was desperately trying to think of what I could transform into in order to escape, but her speed through the water left me without any hope. I spied the banks and suddenly I understood – the others were there only to create a diversion, so that I’d be left alone with Adenora. Sheer panic filled me. She must have perceived it, as a satisfied smile appeared on her monstrous mug and a victorious cry rang out. Then she launched herself at me.
Back on shore, Viviane was fighting Alwena, but even though she’d given her a telling blow, and blood was now flowing in a thin stream from her mouth, Alena kept smiling and staring at Viviane with a sneering countenance. This perplexed Viviane.
The young witch saw the fairy’s suspicion, and broke into an ugly laugh. She couldn’t help crowing, “My mother never misses her target! That’s what she said after she killed your daughter. Unfortunately, she thought your grandson was dead, so she spared him – accidentally.”
Viviane turned white as the blood in her face drained away.
Alwena smiled sardonically and continued in a smug tone, “Now she can fix her mistake, and Morgana will be very happy to learn of his death, as well as yours when I’m finished with –”
She didn’t get the chance to finish her phrase. Viviane was holding her hand straight out, her face as cold and hard as a rock. She closed her fist and the tighter she held it, the more Alwena struggled for air. Strangled noises escaped her mouth.
“Do you think a pitiful little sorceress like you can vanquish me?” Viviane thundered in a deafening, vibrating voice. “I could have killed you the minute I saw you.” She stared at Alwena disdainfully. “And what prevents me from doing it now? Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth…”
Her look of suffering and anger left no doubt as to the outcome, but abruptly, she released the young woman from her grip. Alwena gasped in a lungful of air.
“Perhaps I should just make you suffer like my daughter suffered…”
Alwena tried to draw in another breath, but Viviane murmured an incantation. She saw the glow of terror in her eyes, and heard the sinister cracking sound of bones breaking in several parts of her body. Her scream of agony ripped the air. A scream that even Adenora heard. Recognizing the voice, she turned, even as she was swimming forward to attack Gabriel again, to seek her daughter’s location. She locked glances with Viviane. Although far apart, their determination was palpable, and both Gabriel and Alwena waited to find out who would capitulate first.
It was Adenora. Aware that Viviane might show no mercy to her child, she decided to switch opponents. She drew her neck well out of the the air and glared at Viviane, roaring in a way to incite her to come and fight. Viviane did not need to be asked twice, and she rapidly came at her enemy – walking over the water.
But of course! I thought in a flash. I shouldn’t try to escape her, but to confront her.
My instincts had goaded me to protect myself but I should have given battle, a revelation that made my magical powers quiver all through my nerves and my veins. How could I have been seized with panic like that? I wouldn’t have drowned, because like Viviane, I could master water.
I emptied my mind and felt my body rise up through the water until the soles of my feet touched its surface, then I walked on it as if I were walking on terra firma.
I saw my grandmother push the boat and its struggling students toward the riverbank with one wave of her hand. Incomprehension was written all over their faces. Then Adenora dove toward Viviane, screeching savagely, but she smashed into a wall of water that the fairy had just raised in front of her.
I was so impressed and proud of my grandmother that I decided I wouldn’t disappoint her this time. Plus, I had to help her – although Viviane could master the elements, she couldn’t transform herself, and after several lunges, the sorceress knocked her down with her tail. I was anxious when I saw her roll up onto the riverbank, but she immediately stood up.
“I will not let you hurt Gabriel!” she shouted as she threw a blade of light, aimed to pierce Adenora’s scaly coat of armor. The powerful witch recoiled from the pain and fell back down under the water, but she soon resurfaced.
“You killed my daughter, but today it’s you who are going to die!” continued Viviane.
At first I didn’t understand what she meant, but the energy was boiling in my veins and brutal images started flashing into my consciousness. I saw the accident again, my father dead, my mother wounded, watching someone with terror in her eyes, and finally I saw the face of the one causing that fear: Adenora.
It was like the stab of a dagger. Image
s continued to scroll through my mind with dizzying speed: the faces of my ancestors, dying one after another at the witch’s hand. Crushing anger mounted to my brain and my blood started to burn through every portion of my body. I saw Merlin’s proud, smiling face materialize in my mind. My whole being was transforming. A sense of endless, rapid growth, like in a time-lapse film, a sense of incredible strength insinuating itself into the least of all my muscles. Viviane looked at me, petrified, her eyes wide. Curious, Adenora followed her glance and her face took on the same expression.
Everyone had their eyes riveted on me, but I didn’t care a jot. My rage carried me away, and I didn’t even know at first that the wild bellowing that echoed all over the river came from me. It was not until I saw myself reflected in the monster’s huge, open eyes that I understood. I was the object of her fear – I was a gigantic dragon with bluish scales flapping its wings powerfully and its pointed tail frenetically. A burning hot, sulfurous whoosh came from my reptilian nostrils, and I flexed my claws, ready to grab my prey.
The realization that I was the dragon was my last coherent thought. My devouring anger filled me completely and I jabbed at her, mouth wide open to break her neck.
When my teeth sunk into her flesh, I tasted her blood, iron and bitter, and I heard her cry of pain. I clamped down tighter. Carried away with rage, we twisted in circles as she tried to escape me. She struggled desperately, but I clung to her tail with my claws while shaking my head vigorously to shred her neck, until I heard nothing more. The monster floated, immobile and disjointed.
It became deathly silent all around me. On the banks, the fairies and witches stood immobile, as did the knights and soldiers. The humans were in the same state, petrified as they gazed at me. But none of that was important. I howled out my anger and pain in a deafening cry, then felt my body relaxing, my mind vacillating. I groaned. Viviane approached me, pronouncing some soothing words in her gentle voice, urging me to calm down, and as she caressed my scales, I gradually transformed back into a man, until I felt myself in her arms.
Heirs of Avalon: The passage Page 8