Raff grinned. “I hadn’t even thought about that. But now that you mention it… this could be fun!”
“So what were you chuckling about then?”
Raff’s eyes were twinkling with mischief. “I was thinking about what it’ll be like to go back to Naissance. It feels like years since I left there!”
Leah smiled. “I know what you mean. I so get what Belle meant when she said she wasn’t the same girl who grew up in Naissance. I feel exactly the same way. I can’t believe what a whinger I was! And that I was terrified of leaving!”
“I remember you arriving in Madame Persimmon’s office, chatting away with Dub like you’d known him forever. You were so cool, calm and collected. And of course, beautiful.”
“Yeah right,” Leah said, blushing as she nudged him with her knee.
“I’m serious! You were the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. And you still are…” He could feel the heat burning up his neck, and for once he didn’t care.
Raff groaned as the college came into view. “One day we are going to have an entire conversation without someone, or something, interrupting!”
Leah sighed. “I’m right there with ya! Although something tells me it won’t be anytime soon.”
Aracus rode up on the other side of Raff. “Raff, I was thinking maybe we should continue on to the veil and set up camp there, for those not involved in the rescue. That way everyone knows where to meet once their tasks are completed.”
Raff grinned. “Great idea. And I think you should be in charge.”
Aracus stared. “But I…”
Raff patted his shoulder. “I have no idea how to organise this many people. We’ll be fine dealing with Professor Goon and Jonah, but someone needs to organise who’ll deal with the cart drivers, and any other staff. I’ll just let everyone know that you’re co-ordinating the rescue.”
Aracus sighed and shook his head. “You really are so much like your father! Fine, I’ll let the others know we’re continuing on to the edge of the veil.” He turned and rode back towards the others, and Raff was sure he heard him chuckling as he left.
* * *
They had decided to wait until after the dinner bell rang before they put the plan into action. It would be easier to organise if all of the parties concerned were in one place at the same time. Aracus had organised some of the elven guards and dwarves to take care of the cart drivers after they dropped the children off at the college. Shielded elves were also posted around the place, to ensure there were no unpleasant surprises.
Raff had insisted that none of the drivers or staff were to be hurt. They were merely following orders and doing their job, not something for which they deserved to die. The amulet, however, would deal with Jonah the kitsune. It would decide his fate… as it had Tyranius’.
Raff, Leah, Belle and Lyricus waited, with their wolf friend Vulk, in the red dirt common area. Safely protected by a shield, they watched the children file listlessly towards the dorms. Raff wanted to shout to them that it’d all be over soon, but he bit his tongue. Leah squeezed his hand, and he looked into her sad eyes. He knew they all felt the same way.
Ten minutes later the dinner bell rang, and they watched the same procession of children stream towards the dining room. Not one child spoke or interacted with anyone else, as if they needed to preserve their energy for the next day. When Jonah and Professor Goon entered the dining room, the four friends smiled, and headed towards the door.
The children were all seated, eating their meagre dinner in silence. Professor Goon sat at a table drinking a cup of tea, while Jonah patrolled the room, kicking a random foot if it stuck out too far from under the table.
Vulk emitted an ominous growl as they entered the dining room, the shield discarded at the door. Raff was oblivious to how the children, or the Professor, reacted to the sight of the new arrivals. His attention was fixed solely on Jonah.
Jonah had heard Vulk’s growl, and could now see him slinking towards him. Raff smiled at the fear in Jonah’s eyes. The changes were subtle at first. White fur appeared on his arms and legs, his face distorting as the flesh fell away to reveal the long, fur-covered snout and beady eyes of a fox. Raff vaguely heard the cries of terror in the background, but his eyes never left those of Jonah the kitsune on the other side of the room.
He felt Leah and Belle step up on either side of him as he pulled the amulet from its sheath. Finally, the nine-tails Raff had been waiting for sprung out behind the trapped kitsune, swishing wildly in joyous release, oblivious to their impending doom.
Raff lifted the amulet in front of him, the radiating heat and pulsating glow increasing as Belle and Leah’s hands joined his. He closed his eyes, and allowed the images of the beaten and half-starved children to file through his mind, feeding the evidence of Jonah’s cruelty to the amulet.
He knew the kitsune’s fate had been decided when a blazing light shot out of the end of the blade, just as it had done when Tyranius had faced the amulet. The kitsune howled in terror as the blazing light swirled around him, severing the nine-tails in a frenzy of flashing light. And then it was over, the amulet cooling in their hands as the kitsune slumped to the ground, dead.
A deathly silence hung in the air, as all of the children’s eyes turned towards Professor Goon. He stood up and clapped his hands very slowly. “Well done my friends. Children, it seems we are finally free to leave this hellhole and start a new life elsewhere. Would I be correct in assuming we’re leaving?” The Professor smiled at the four friends, his old eyes shining with happiness.
“Absolutely!” Belle said, her eyes filled with tears. “The sooner the better as far as I’m concerned.” She turned to face the children, their eyes as big as saucers as they tried to process what had happened. “We’re all going to Florisia. Unless of course anyone would rather stay here?”
Raff laughed, covering his ears as the deafening sound of over a hundred chairs being pushed away from tables filled the room. It didn’t look like anyone had the slightest intention of staying in Valleron!
Chapter Twenty-Eight
-A Triumphant Return-
Belle didn’t know whether she wanted to laugh or cry at the glimmer of hope and wonder she saw in the eyes of the rescued children. Her early years had been nowhere near as bad as what these children had suffered. But she still remembered as if it were yesterday the despair and hopelessness she had lived with every day. She knew it would take a long time for their bad memories to fade.
By the time they’d all gathered at the veil for the crossing, it had been agreed that the journey from the other side of the veil to the palace would be too much for the children to manage that night. Eager to put Valleron behind them, they’d made the crossing and set up camp in the meadow, safe on the Florisian side of the veil.
Hareth strolled over to stand beside Belle as she watched the children settle down for the night. Not one of them had complained about the headache she knew they’d all be suffering from.
“It’s a wonderful thing you and your friends have done.” Hareth said. “I’ve watched these kids stagger into the barracks every day for months, and hated myself for not being able to help them.”
“We were the same the first time we crossed over into Valleron and saw the college. But we knew we couldn’t get them out on our own, so we had to leave them there until we came back with help. And that was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.” She smiled at Hareth, and rubbed the big man’s arm. “Just know that you helped them by saving us, so we could all rescue them together.”
Hareth sighed. “This place is so beautiful. I had no idea the other worlds would be so different to Valleron.” He chuckled softly. “You know, Gemma and I always wanted children. I guess I’ll just have to get used to having a few more than we’d planned!”
Lyricus’ voice drifted over from where the horses were madly cropping grass before they flew back to the palace. “Belle, we need to get going. You ready?”
“I’m coming
now,” she replied, smiling up at Hareth. “Try to get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a big day!”
* * *
Belle slid from Midnight’s back as soon as they landed in the meadow outside the palace. She was exhausted! She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a decent sleep. The Oracle came running towards them as Lyricus walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Good to be home, eh? You look about ready to collapse!” Lyricus whispered into her ear.
Belle smiled, leaning back against him. “You have no idea! I think I could sleep for a week.”
They watched Leah and Raff meet the Oracle halfway across the meadow. After a quick discussion, the Oracle turned and hurried back to the palace. From the look on the elderly elf’s face before he’d turned and left, the sleep she was craving would be a long way off yet.
Leah laughed as they joined them. “Belle, you look as bad as I feel! The Oracle has gone to make arrangements for the children, and the survivors from Aracus’ community. He’s sending food to our room, and suggested we eat and freshen up. He wants to meet back in our room in about an hour.”
Belle groaned. “Of course he does. Because he couldn’t possibly wait ‘til the morning to hear what’s been happening. Well, let’s get moving, and not waste a minute of our precious hour. I intend to spend at least half of that soaking in a hot bath!”
* * *
Clean, relaxed, and well fed, Belle snuggled up next to Lyricus on the lounge while they waited for the Oracle to arrive. Raff and Leah sat opposite them, whispering and chuckling to each other.
Lyricus kissed the top of her head, leaning down to whisper into her ear. “We’ll get this chat with the Oracle over as quickly as possible, and then you can sleep the day away tomorrow.”
Belle sighed and shook her head. “Much as I’d love to, I want to be around to see the faces of those children when they arrive at the palace in the morning. I wouldn’t miss that for the world! Besides, I left Wort with one of the younger girls who was terrified we were going to leave them there. I told her I was relying on her to look after him ‘til I saw them today.”
A knock at the door heralded the arrival of the Oracle. He looked slightly frazzled as he flopped down into the remaining chair, but the huge grin on his face told them he was pleased to see them.
“Well, I’ve organised transport and accommodation for the new arrivals. It was a huge challenge, but I’m sure they’ll all be happy with the arrangements. So, who’d like to start? I can’t wait to hear the latest developments!”
All eyes turned to Raff, and he laughed self-consciously. “Seriously? Why is it always me? Okay, fine, I’ll start. But you guys need to chime in if I forget anything!”
Raff started the tale with finding the burned remains of the Haven, and then explained how he’d come across his grandfather and the other survivors the next day. When he explained that his grandmother had died in the attack, Belle was sure the Oracle noticed the controlled anger, and devastation, in Raff’s voice. The Oracle’s eyes were full of sympathy, as Raff brusquely moved on to the next events.
When Raff got to the part where Professor Goon told them about the device, Belle thought the Oracle’s eyes were going to pop out of his head.
“A device that negates magic? How….?”
Raff grinned at the Oracle. “Hang on, it’s better if I keep going… trust me!”
Raff related the rest of the story, from meeting Wort, to finding the black box, and Hareth saving them in the room under the barracks. By this time, the Oracle was sitting bolt upright in his chair, his mouth doing the ‘fish-thing’ every time Raff paused for a breath.
“Truly remarkable…” He muttered, shaking his head and looking at them in awe.
Raff nodded to Belle. “I think you should take over from here. If you thought your singing voice was bad, you definitely don’t want to hear mine!”
Belle laughed as she told the Oracle about the book, and Wort’s role in revealing the second prophecy. “Apparently, once the first prophecy was fulfilled, the second prophecy came into play. It was on the next page of the book, so no one had thought to look for it. Wort said he’d known the two songs all his life, and believes his ancestors helped write the book.”
The Oracle raised his eyebrows. “So Wort must be a Werrett! I haven’t seen a Werrett for decades. I thought they’d died out. They were believed to have been cursed with the inability to speak so they could never reveal the secrets they held.”
Belle laughed. “Well the curse must have back-fired. Wort can definitely speak; it’s just that no one else can hear him, except those with a Gift like mine.”
The Oracle smiled. “So are you going to tell me the prophecy now, or do I have to beg?”
Belle cleared her throat nervously. “Okay, but just remember, you asked for it!”
In a land without magic
Where children must grow
The Orb of Truth
Will be hidden below
The three must return
With the three that’s now one
One seeks the other
To right what’s been done.
“And that’s the last time I’m singing that song for anyone! So someone had better write down the words, before I scream!”
Leah, Raff and Lyricus burst out laughing at her tirade.
Leah winked at her. “You actually have a beautiful singing voice Belle. I think we were all just too excited about the words last time to appreciate what it actually sounded like.”
The Oracle stood up and began pacing around the room. “A second prophecy! Who would have guessed? But then, I suppose it would have been meaningless without the first prophecy being fulfilled, so its importance was simply overlooked.” He turned and looked at the children. “I assume you’ve already worked out the meaning of this new prophecy?”
Raff’s eyes held a devilish twinkle. “Of course we have. Now we just need to work out how to get back to Naissance and find where the Orb of Truth is hidden!”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
-Mr Kafoops-
Three days later, Raff, Leah, Lyricus and Belle left Ellissidil to fly back to the Fey Academy. Hareth, Aracus, Dominic and Dub were travelling by road, so would arrive in a couple of days. Dominic and Dub were taking them via the ‘scenic route’, so that Hareth and Aracus could see some of the sights of Florisia.
Belle had extracted a promise from the Oracle to take good care of the children while they were gone. Leah had laughed at both Belle’s feisty demands, and the look on the Oracle’s face at her tone. She’d also seen the glint of pride in the old elf’s eyes at Belle’s concern for the children’s well-being.
Leah felt a tingle of excitement when the Fey Academy came into view. Solange shivered as well, and she decided to let her have her head. The tension of the last few weeks melted away like a winter’s thaw, and she laughed with abandon, the wind whipping her hair around her as they sped towards home.
Madame Persimmons stood in the meadow with a huge smile on her face. Leah slipped from Solange’s back and ran to hug the old woman. Surprised at the intensity of the hug returned by Madame Persimmons, she pulled back and scanned the old woman’s face.
“Is everything alright?” Leah asked.
Madame Persimmons blushed. “Of course! I’ve just been so worried about you lot since you left. Everything is fine now you’re all home.” She grinned and watched the others approach.
Raff was frowning, his eyes glued to Leah’s. “Are you alright? What was the burst of speed and maniacal laughter all about?”
Leah grinned. “Oops, sorry about that. Solange and I were just in a hurry to get home!”
Raff shrugged and scratched his head. “Goodonya! I thought something was wrong.” He chuckled. “I think I need to chill for a while. I’m so used to problems, and things going wrong, I’m starting to expect them.”
Belle hugged Madame Persimmons, and then stepped back in fro
nt of her. “So where’s Kafoops, the kitsune rat?”
Madame Persimmons frowned. “I sent him to town on an errand. He has no idea you’ll be here when he gets back. I’ll tell you everything once we are somewhere a bit more private. I’d hate someone to see you, and let it slip that you’re here. Could you please ask your horses to stay out of sight until we have a plan?”
Belle sent a message to Midnight, and within seconds the horses were galloping off to the other end of the meadow.
Lyricus, who’d been hovering in the background during the conversation, stepped up beside Belle. “And now Madame Persimmons, I think we need to find somewhere we can talk. You’ll find Belle a little more… ummm, feisty… than the quiet girl who left here a few weeks ago. Let’s not keep her waiting too much longer. Trust me, it’s not pretty.” He winked at Belle, who punched his shoulder playfully. Laughing, they all headed towards Madame Persimmons’ private quarters.
* * *
The sitting room in Madame Persimmons’ quarters was cosy and comfortable. In fact, if Leah had ever thought about where Madame Persimmons actually lived, and what it would be like, she’d have described it exactly as it was. Madame Persimmons had laid out fresh juice and honey cakes, before sitting down on the overstuffed lounge to join them.
Wort had slipped out of Belle’s pocket onto the table, and was now waving his arms around trying to get someone’s attention. Belle chuckled, and reached over to break a few crumbs off one of the honey cakes.
Madame Persimmons’ eyes nearly popped out of her head at the sight of the tiny creature. “Oh my goodness, is that really a Werrett? I thought they were extinct.”
Belle grinned. “Madame Persimmons, this is Wort, and yes, he’s a Werrett. He found us in Valleron. It’s a long story… maybe it can wait until later?”
Valleron (Book 2) Page 14