by SJB Gilmour
Mel gaped at him. ‘Wait a minute! You guys do that?’
Jax laughed. ‘Your precious humans think aliens land and make designs in their crops and mutilate their cows.’ He waved one claw at the healers hovering about them. ‘Where do you think these idiots get their non-goblin training? Volunteers?’
Melanie hid a smile. She did not particularly like goblins usually. However, this Captain Jax was more than your average soldier, she realised. He was civilised and quite urbane… and he a sense of humour that she was beginning to really, really like. He also possessed tremendous fighting prowess that absolutely fascinated her. She made a mental note that if she had the time, one day she would ask him to teach her to fight like that.had
In her mind, Mel could hear Apollo gently whispering for her to keep certain things secret. She shut her eyes for a moment and got quite a surprise. She could still see! It was as if she could see directly through her own eyelids! The image was not quite the same as if her eyes were open. Everything she saw was still the same and had the same colours, however it was as if that colour had dulled somewhat and an eerie silver aura glistened over the goblins. Mel opened her eyes quickly and swallowed. Then she noticed that she could see that same silvery light coming through the walls of the hospital! She could actually see through everything! She stared at her left palm and there, smack bang in the middle of her hand, she could see amulet quite clearly.
‘As for the three old smiths,’ Jax said conversationally, ‘as soon as they got settled in at the palace, I understand they headed straight for the Academy.’
The Jildere Academy was famous within the enchanted community for producing some of the finest smiths. Student jewelsmiths, armourers, machinists, and smiths of every other discipline often paid huge tuition fees to train there. Of course most went from there straight into the transport industry on Jilde where they made the immense flying machines, trams and railcars that made up the Jilde automotive industry.
Melanie smiled. None of the goblins seemed to notice anything different about her. She took a deep breath and then paid her attention back to Jax. The three Master Smiths he mentioned had been making enchanted equipment for thousands of years and they themselves inspired many students. Letting them loose in the Jildere Academy would be like letting schoolboys loose in a toyshop.
‘Now, my distracted Mistress Hazelwood,’ Jax instructed in a polite but very business-like manner, ‘that you’re back on your feet, it’s time for you to meet The Emperor.’
Melanie quickly reassessed the goblin Captain. Very little escaped his notice. She decided that she too had a few surprises up her sleeve and smiled at him.
‘Why not?’ she said enthusiastically. ‘Do we have far to go?’
Jax did a brief double take then nodded. ‘About an hour’s march.’ He looked at Melanie’s legs, which were quite a bit longer than his own, and sighed. ‘It’s a good thing I keep in shape.’ He handed Melanie a pair of goggles very similar to the ones Ronny wore when he burrowed through the sand to Troll Mountain, only these had lenses that were very, very dark.
‘Here,’ he said. ‘These might help you with the glare.’
Mel looked at them with a look of distaste. ‘I’m not wearing these things!’ she told him, handing the goggles back to the surprised goblin. She pulled a pair of dark sunglasses out from her jacket. ‘These are sooo much more cool!’
Jax smiled. ‘If you say so, Mistress,’ he replied diplomatically, donning his own goggles. Despite the thickness of the dark lenses of his goggles, Mel could see his eyes quite clearly. He led Melanie out of the hospital and outside. It was nighttime but the nights on Jilde were still very bright and also quite warm. The wind howled past them and they had to shout to be heard over it. Overhead, ornithopters flapped past while higher still floated the huge and majestic airships of Jilde. The street itself was crammed with rattling, steaming tramcars that trundled along, venting off billows of steam and smoke. When they were well down the street and away from the protesting hospital staff, Melanie decided it was time to ask Captain Jax a few questions.
‘What does The Emperor want?’ she yelled.
Jax shrugged. ‘He didn’t tell me that, Mistress,’ he shouted back. ‘He just told me it was very important that you and Mistress Coppernick come to Jilde. Do you know where she is?’
Mel shook her head. ‘The last time I saw her, she was at Wolfenvald. How long was I out?’
‘About ten of your hours, Mistress,’ he replied, looking at an ornate bronze pocket-watch.
‘That’s about half an Earth day,’ Mel told him. ‘She could be anywhere!’
The wind picked up even worse and talking became impossible. Every time Melanie closed her eyes, she could still see, even in the dark. Every goblin she passed had the same silvery tinge surrounding them. As she marched alongside Captain Jax, she wondered if this strange new phenomenon would be same for all creatures, not just goblins.
‘How did you know Guntex?’ she asked Jax.
Jax’s eyes were distant for a moment. Then he shook his head. As they marched, began to explain.
‘Guntex and I were like brothers once,’ he explained. ‘We went through the Mingus Corp together. We did everything together. Our legions were contracted by the old establishment to be the army of Jilde and I was always happy with my lot, being a soldier, but Guntex always wanted more.’ He sighed. ‘Thousands of years ago, Jilde had gods just like every other planet. We goblins were happy. Then,’ and he shrugged, ‘our gods died or disappeared, along with our moon and from what I’m told, a large chunk of land from over there.’ He pointed down to a vast valley, in the middle of which was a sludgy swamp that glowed brightly from all the silver polluting it. ‘Anyway,’ Jax went on, ‘we grew up godless. It’s never really bothered me, but Guntex was always troubled. He joined The Moon Cult,’ he explained. ‘They worship a god that most rational goblins believe doesn’t exist yet. They tell of a time when a new god will come and restore glory to Jilde.’
Mel looked at the temple. ‘Do you believe that?’
Jax shook his head. ‘I believe we had gods once. As for what will be, I rarely believe that until I see it.’ He shrugged. ‘I don’t know about the world of men, Mistress, but here on Jilde, there are no records anywhere of a new god ever appearing anywhere. Anyway, Guntex joined one of the more zealous branches of the cult. They were set on converting all of Jilde to their cause, by the blade if need be.’
Mel shook her head. Even a girl as young as she knew that most of the worst wars in Earth’s history were at least partially related to religion.
‘I bet that wasn’t good.’
Jax grinned at the understatement. ‘No, Mistress, it wasn’t good. Guntex and I were Lieutenants at the time. His commission was revoked and he and his followers were exiled.’
‘But why does he hate you?’
Jax did not smile. Instead, he sighed with profound regret.
‘I was the one who exiled him, Mistress. I lost a great number of good guardslins in the process, as did he, but eventually he and his remaining troops were sent to Earth. He’s hated me ever since.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Mel told him. She knew this must have been very hard for Jax say.
Jax allowed himself a wry chuckle. ‘It’s ancient history now, Mistress. In fact, it’s kind of ironic. Emperor Jerrit is more devout than his predecessors. If not for his earlier crimes, were Guntex here now, he would probably hold my rank as Captain of The Imperial Guardslins.’
The odd pair continued to march through the wind in silence. Finally, Jax led Melanie to two massive iron gates guarded by elaborately dressed goblin soldiers. The soldiers immediately saluted Jax and held the gate open.
‘After you,’ Captain Jax said politely.
Mel thanked him and walked through into a large stone courtyard in front of the Jildere Royal Palace. Jax led Mel through the courtyard and into the palace. Once inside, Jax removed his goggles. Despite her normally quite strong opinion that
sunglasses should only be worn outside, Mel kept her own shades on. Dozens of goblin dignitaries and courtiers flurried about the place and all of them scurried out of Jax’s way as if they were quite terrified of him. There was no fear in the looks they gave Melanie however. Many were startled and then frowned. Others were less discreet and glared at her with undisguised hatred.
‘Why do they keep looking at me like that?’ Mel hissed.
Jax gave an ingratiating smile. ‘It’s quite rare for humans to be seen here, Mistress,’ Jax replied apologetically. He paused, trying to find the right words. ‘Perhaps most goblins just don’t know enough humans very well to get over their superiority.’
Mel was startled. ‘Racism?’ she asked.
Jax grinned. ‘It is not just a human conceit, I’m afraid.’
‘You don’t seem bothered by me being a human.’
Jax laughed and cast a meaningful glance at some of the disapproving goblins nearest him. They quickly averted their eyes and went about their business.
‘Mistress Hazelwood, I’m a Guardslin of the Imperial Corps. Everyone is inferior to us!’ He smiled. ‘Think of your human Special Forces. There are soldiers and then there are Guardslins.’
They kept walking through massive stone halls and corridors until they finally came to a large set of incredibly elaborately carved gold doors. Several burly goblin guards stood in front of the doors. Unlike the previous soldiers Mel had seen, these goblins were dressed in similar garb to Jax. They wore no armour that she could see. Instead, they wore flowing black pantaloons and knee-high black boots. Their chests were bare and large scimitars hung at their sides. On their forearms, they wore studded leather braces. Their heads were shaved and Melanie could see that several of them had scars. Some were even tattooed with black tribal markings. One of the dangerous-looking goblins stepped forward and saluted Jax smartly.
‘Captain,’ he said briskly. His face remained disciplined and steely and gave no indication at all of any surprise he might have felt at seeing his Captain with a human.
Jax returned the soldier’s salute then turned to Melanie and grinned.
‘You’ll find Imperial Guardslins like Sergeant Mog here are much better behaved than common soldiers, and far more so than civilians.’
Mog allowed himself the slightest of smiles and then stepped aside while his partner opened one of the massive gold doors.
‘His Excellency is expecting you, Captain,’ Mog announced politely. Then he nodded at Melanie. ‘And you, Mistress.’
Mel sighed. If she was going to meet the ruler of Jilde, then she should at least show some manners. She took off her sunglasses and tucked them into the wallet pocket inside her jacket.
Emperor Jerrit, Supreme Chancellor of The Mingus Consortium and current ruler of Jilde, assumed his best poker face. His best and most trusted Captain had just marched through the main doors to the great hall with perhaps the most important human ever to have been born – and she didn’t even know it! He felt strangely nervous, afraid even. And that was a feeling Jerrit was definitely not used to. In nearly five thousand years, he had been angry, excited, passionate and sometimes bored, but never afraid. He glanced down at the last surviving copy of The Babylonian Heresies. The hieroglyphs were old and faded but the resemblance was too close to be anything other than a match. Marching beside Jax was indeed the legend!
Jerrit calmly studied several more pages of the ancient tome. Jax stood smartly at attention exactly sixteen feet from the simple stone throne. The destined one stood impatiently by his side. Strange, Jerrit thought to himself, this human was not afraid. She was curious, he could tell that much, and troubled by something… However, she was not frightened. Intriguing!
Finally, when he had thought his guests had waited long enough, Jerrit shut the ancient tome and rested it on one stone arm of the throne. He smiled briefly at Jax.
‘Thank you, Captain,’ he said politely. ‘That will be all for now.’
Jax saluted smartly. The seasoned soldier then marched swiftly from the hall and shut the doors behind him. Jerrit peered down at Melanie Hazelwood. She seemed so small and slight, even for a human. Could this really be the one? He wondered.
‘Well?’ Melanie demanded.
Jerrit grinned to himself. No, she most definitely was not afraid. Indeed, she must be powerful!
‘Welcome to Jilde, Mistress Hazelwood,’ he said politely. He rose from his throne and took several steps forward.
‘I’d feel a lot more welcome if I knew why I was here,’ Mel retorted.
‘Forgive me please, Mistress,’ Jerrit said calmly. He thought for a moment. She wasn’t stupid, he knew that, and there was obviously some contact with powerful forces as well… possibly even gods… He decided to lay his cards on the table.
‘Would you believe that your coming was foretold? Your destiny is unfolding, Mistress, and part of it is going to unfold right here.’ He nodded as delicately as he could at her hip pocket, which was bulging with the tome she had retrieved from the jungle temple. ‘Ahh, he said almost sadly. ‘I see you found one of the decoys.’
‘Decoys?’ Melanie demanded angrily. She dug out the tome and wrenched it open. The pages were all blank. She threw it away with several colourful curses. When she had done swearing, she looked up at Jerrit. ‘What the hell are you talking about? Why am I here?’
Jerrit grinned. ‘Simple,’ he said with a negligent shrug. ‘Among other things, you’re going to return our moon.’
Mandy Kelly watched the old dragon circle around the clearing in the jungle. She watched him land. She watched him deposit with surprising gentleness for one so large, the unconscious form of the Golden Mane. Hidden from view in the thick jungle foliage, she was safe and could wait until her master returned. She had not been told to attack, though her skin tingled and her heart beat quickly as she just itched to change form and attack her maker.
If it weren’t for the Silver Shroud in the pack, she would have disobeyed her master and attacked. She had bested several werewolves easily by now. Even though they had fought ferociously, they were no match for her now she was trained in not just the martial Nunjuxu arts, but also endowed with might and power only a lycanthrope made by a Golden Mane could possess. So, frustrated but still with the practised calm she had learned to maintain, she waited.
She did not hear her master return. She didn’t need to. By now she knew how to detect his presence. His scent, the ever-so-subtle changes in even the temperature of the air around her… These things told her he had materialised behind her.
‘The pack is growing,’ she reported calmly, not turning around. ‘Soon, she might be too hard to get to.’
‘Perhaps,’ her master replied. He moved silently through the scrub to take a place beside her on the branch. ‘But we must endure these moments of seeming lost opportunity,’ he told her, letting her know he knew quite well how frustrated she was at not being able to attack. ‘When the final battle is underway, when all her forces are well and truly committed elsewhere, then, my young apprentice… Then and only then will we attack her. When you have the Star of Planes, you will be able to control The Gate. You will be able to raid Wolfenvald and exterminate the werewolf infection.’
She turned to him. ‘What of your world, Guntex?’ She had never called her master by his name before, but since he was being so forthright with her, she dared risk it.
The goblin smiled, his black eyes missing nothing. ‘You shall have Wolfenvald,’ he guaranteed her, ‘but Jilde will be mine. The new god will rise and under his rule, Jilde shall become the mightiest power in the universe.’
‘What new god?’
Guntex didn’t answer. Instead, he muttered a short incantation and the the master and the pupil disappeared, leaving only a scarred branch where an impatient lycanthrope had stalked her future prey.
Extras
The Adventures of Sarah Coppernick and her friends will continue in:
The Armies Of Nine ©
&nbs
p; Book Three of The Adventures of Sarah Coppernick. ©
By S J B Gilmour.
About the Author
I live in Melbourne Australia with my wonderful wife and two fantastic daughters. I was raised in the family footwear business where I still work, but I’ve done a great deal besides. I’ve edited, researched, sub-edited and published. I’ve done a stint in the Royal Australian Navy, run a small café and pumped diesel at a bus depot. I’m a travel junkie, amateur birdwatcher and overall book and film nerd.
Sam Gilmour.
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