by Victor Kloss
The prince stepped back and nodded to Draven, who stepped forwards.
“The warnings started almost six weeks ago, coming from just about every illegal Unseen we apprehended,” Draven said.
His voice was coarse compared to the prince’s, but his voice carried just as clearly.
“Now, we’re not idiots,” Draven continued, casting an accusing glance around. “We know this might be a load of tripe; it could even be a trap. But we have done our homework, and we have identified six possible locations in the Unseen Kingdoms and four on the south coast of England where the dark elves might strike. We will be ready.”
Draven stood back without further ado, and Wren stepped forwards. Her radiant smile immediately calmed those who had been ruffled by Draven.
“One of the rumours I would like to quell is that this is the start of full-scale war. While it may ultimately turn into one, that is not how the dark elves operate. They will make small strikes to try to take little patches of land and generally make trouble in order to create chaos. Our job is to remain focused and root out the dark elves wherever we find them.”
Wren stepped back and Colin, the Director of Diplomacy, stepped forwards. Ben thought he looked tired; there were marks beneath his eyes.
“My team and I have been working around the clock to make sure those Unseen Kingdoms that are in danger are prepared and, perhaps more importantly, securing aid from those kingdoms that are not in immediate peril. We are confident we have the resources in place to repel any dark elf attack.”
Colin stepped back, and Alex stepped forwards. With his hooded cloak, tight-fitting jeans and leather boots, he looked as stylish as the prince looked regal. He flicked a gold coin up and caught it, before beginning his speech.
“Our delightful dark elf friends have tried to block off our trade routes to our allies. Fortunately, through my contacts and a fair amount of bribery, we have managed to keep the supply lines open. We have purchased and stocked a massive amount of magical equipment, in case things get nasty.” Alex tipped his head in thanks, and then stepped back.
Victoria, the Director of Scholars, looked like she did not want to speak, but with a subtle nod from the prince she edged forwards.
“Our time has been spent learning as much as we can about the dark elves, studying their history of war, so that we might pass on knowledge to others. We are also heavily researching how Queen Elizabeth I defeated Suktar five hundred years ago, in the hope that we might be able to replicate her actions.”
Ben maintained a cool face, but he felt his heart skip a beat, and saw Charlie open his mouth from the corner of his eye.
Victoria stepped back, and the prince stepped forwards again.
“I felt it important to keep you all briefed. For the next few days, I am issuing a state of emergency. This means your normal functions in the Institute may be temporarily replaced by anything that is needed, primarily from the Spellsword and Warden departments. Thank you.”
It was all over in less than twenty minutes. The prince left the stage, followed by the rest of the executive council. Ben saw the double doors open and the shimmering barrier re-appear. People started filing out immediately.
“I wonder how that will affect us,” Charlie said, as they re-entered the main atrium of the Institute.
They found out less than an hour later, when Dagmar ordered Ben and Charlie into her office. Despite the intensity of everything that was going on, Dagmar looked as cool as ever. She sat behind her desk, inspecting her spellshooter with a critical eye.
“Ben and Charlie, good of you to join me – eventually.”
“Sorry, Ms. Borovich,” Ben said. “It’s so busy outside, it took us a moment to get in.”
“Please refrain from bending the truth,” Dagmar said, looking Ben right in the eye with a cool expression. “You must know how much I hate dishonesty by now.”
Ben bit back a reply and apologised.
“I have just spoken to some very senior people. As of now, you are off scouting and reporting. You have both been re-assigned as Institute messengers.”
“What is that?”
“You will be given the task of travelling the Unseen Kingdoms, delivering sensitive messages to senior-ranking officers and even nobility. You will report to Warden Matthew Boon. A messenger room has been set up in the Warden Department.”
Ordinarily, Ben would have been delighted. The chance to tour the Unseen Kingdoms was something he had always wanted to do, and here was the perfect opportunity.
“Have I made myself clear?” Dagmar said.
Ben and Charlie exchanged worried glances.
“There is a problem,” Ben admitted. He thought hard. Why shouldn’t he tell Dagmar? She was also a Guardian and had the right to know.
“What, may I ask, could be of sufficient problem to detract from your duties to the Institute?”
“Elizabeth’s Helm,” Ben said simply.
Dagmar very rarely showed any sign of surprise, so her raised eyebrows and subtle parting of the lips spoke volumes. She immediately raised her spellshooter and fired. Charlie instinctively ducked, slamming head first into a bookshelf. The spell hit the door and a transparent film rapidly surrounded the room. Ben recognised the silencer spell from his trips to the tea house.
“What is happening with the helm?” Dagmar asked.
Ben had no reason to hide anything, and so unloaded the progress they had made, from the discovery of the Protectors, including Hunter, to the unwitting Guardian at Edmund’s school.
At the end, Dagmar remained so still and silent Ben thought she might have turned into a statue.
“You think the helm’s Guardian might be able to pinpoint the location of the dark elves?” she said finally, directing the question to Charlie.
“It is possible,” said Charlie, “but far from certain. Also, there is the small matter of this girl, Abigail, being able to use the helm. I know she is the Guardian, but she doesn’t know anything right now. It might take her some time to come to terms with the Royal Institute, let alone the role she has to play.”
Dagmar turned away, and tapped her fingers on the desk. When she turned back, there was a hint of frustration on her face.
“I wish you had told me about this sooner.”
“I’m sorry,” Ben said. “Everything has happened so fast. And now there are only six days left.”
“The Institute wants to use you as messengers. I have already agreed to it, and I am not known to break my word.”
“There has to be something you can do,” Ben said. “We don’t need much time, just an afternoon to try to get Abigail.”
Dagmar clicked her tongue. “Abigail is just one side of the proposition. You also need to find that last Protector, and convince that idiot Hunter to help you find the helm.”
“Yes, there is that,” Ben admitted.
“Let me see what I can do,” Dagmar said. “Report to Matthew as planned. Dismissed.”
— Chapter Twenty-Two —
A Meeting with Abigail
Ben’s visions of excitement and adventure travelling the Unseen Kingdoms as a messenger turned out to be rather optimistic. He spent most of his time on the Dragonway, and when he arrived at an Unseen Kingdom, a local messenger was always waiting for him at the station to escort him to the intended recipient. Then he was back on the Dragonway to the Institute, where he would be given the next message. He saw glimpses of incredible lands and vistas, but had no time to explore them. It was incredibly frustrating.
To make matters worse, neither he nor Charlie heard anything from Dagmar. In fact, the only news Ben got was repeated ribbings from Aaron’s friends about the upcoming spellstrike game, which was now only days away. It was the last thing on Ben’s mind, but he was acutely aware that he had done absolutely no research on the subject or even begun forming a team, beyond a few brief talks with some friends he thought might be useful.
“I hope you’re ready, Ben!” Fay said, as she and Taylor
passed him in the Institute gardens.
Taylor laughed. “Not that it matters. You’re going to get your backside kicked either way. I’ve seen Aaron’s team train a few times. They’re insane.”
“He’s training them, is he?” Ben asked.
“On his field,” Fay replied. “He told us he made you repeated offers to use it yourself.”
Aaron had made no such offer, but Ben couldn’t be bothered to argue.
“We’ll be ready,” Ben said, with a smile, and eventually managed to fend them off.
The moment they left, his mind turned right back to Dagmar.
Six days became five. Five days became four. It wasn’t until day three that Dagmar summoned them to her office.
“You are off duty from 3pm,” she said, as soon as they entered her room. “But Mr. Boon is expecting you to report back in first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Perfect,” Ben said, with a smile.
Dagmar’s stare lacked a fraction of her usual impassiveness. “Good luck,” she said.
Natalie wasn’t able to get the time off. She had been assigned to the Diplomacy Department, to look after the sudden influx of important guests they were having, and was constantly busy. So right on three o’clock, Ben and Charlie headed to the Dragonway and back to Tiddlehurst.
“What’s the plan?” Charlie said. “Have you come up with a brilliant idea on how we can convince Abigail about the Royal Institute of Magic yet?”
Ben glanced at his watch. It was coming up to 4pm, and they were waiting by Edmund’s front gate. The students would shortly be filing out, some walking home, others being picked up by parents.
“That comes later,” Ben said. “First, we have to win over her trust.”
“How do we do that?”
“I’m going to chat her up,” Ben said, with a completely straight face.
“What about me?” Charlie asked.
“It won’t work if you’re about,” Ben said. “She will become intimidated if there are two of us.”
Ben wasn’t surprised when Charlie didn’t protest. This wasn’t his area.
“What if this doesn’t work?” Charlie asked. “As good as you are with girls, Abigail doesn’t strike me as your type.”
Ben gave a grim smile. “If this doesn’t work, then we bust out the spellshooters, show her some magic, and hope she doesn’t have a mental breakdown.”
“Let’s hope this works, then,” Charlie said. He pointed suddenly. “There she is!”
Ben and Charlie hid behind a tree. The school gates were open and students were pouring out, in twos and threes, sometimes more. Ben spotted Abigail, alone, clutching a bunch of books, just like in the photo Charlie had shown him. She walked alone, her gaze focused on the ground in front of her. She looked even more petite than the photo suggested; Ben felt that a strong gust of wind might knock her over. Her long, blonde hair was tied neatly back, revealing a clean, fresh face. She had pretty features, Ben thought, with large, brown eyes highlighted by long lashes that Ben could see even from a distance.
They waited until she passed through the gate, and started walking down the path.
“I’m going to cut her off,” Ben said. “You stay a little distance behind. Make sure you’re not seen. Keep your phone handy, though, because I might need you if things go pear-shaped.”
“Good luck,” Charlie said, and Ben darted off.
Ben cut across a large field, which the pavement skirted round. He kept glancing at Abigail to make sure she didn’t take an unexpected turn. Having taken the shortcut, he cut back onto the pavement. Abigail was a slow walker, and had lagged some distance behind the rest of the students, which suited Ben just fine. She was less than fifty yards away, and walking right to him.
It was show time.
Ben made a show of looking around, squinting at the various road signs and rubbing his head in confusion. He did this until Abigail was almost upon him. She had her eyes to the ground, but looked up fleetingly. Ben grasped the opportunity.
“Excuse me,” he said. “Do you know where St. Leonard’s Drive is?”
Abigail gave him an awkward look. Ben knew exactly what she was thinking. She lived on St. Leonard’s Drive, which meant that if she gave him directions, she might find herself walking next to this stranger all the way home. Would she lie or go a different way?
“Yes, I do,” Abigail said. Her voice was soft, but not meek, as Ben had imagined it.
“Great,” Ben said, giving her an embarrassed smile. “I just moved here and had my first day at school, so I don’t really know anyone yet. I have to admit, I’m hopelessly lost.”
“I am walking that way myself,” Abigail said. “It’s not far.”
“Do you mind if I walk with you?” Ben asked. He knew it was a bold move, but he kept his voice light.
Abigail seemed surprised, but she gave a shy smile. “Yeah, okay.”
“What year are you in?” Ben asked.
“Year nine. How about you?”
“I’m in year ten. It’s a bit mad in there.”
Abigail smiled again, but offered no comment.
They walked together for a while. Ben made sure she had plenty of space and made a show of looking around, as if he was acclimatising himself to the surroundings. Occasionally he asked about a road, or if a passing café or corner store was any good. He managed to make her laugh a couple of times; it was a soft, lilting sound that Ben enjoyed.
“What’s that necklace?” Ben asked, noticing the small piece of jewellery on her neck. “Is that the Spurs cockerel?”
Abigail flushed and she lifted the small piece. “Yeah. My whole family are football fanatics. I have three brothers. They always get me some Spurs clothes or jewellery for my birthday.”
“That’s cool,” Ben said. “I guess the last thing you want to hear about is football, but I support Spurs.”
“You’re right, that’s the last thing I want to talk about,” Abigail said, but she was smiling. “Actually, I support them as well. I have to, or else my brothers would disown me.”
Ben laughed, while at the same time taking note of how close they were to her house – less than ten minutes away. Though he felt like he was making good inroads with Abigail, he still hadn’t a clue how to introduce the subject of the Institute. Charlie had told him there were several fantasy books and references on her Facebook page. The problem was, Ben didn’t know fantasy, beyond The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies.
Ben’s phone rang suddenly. He looked at the screen and saw Charlie’s face. What could he want now?
“Hunter,” Charlie said. He was panting. “He’s coming.”
The phone went dead.
Ben cursed. He was only vaguely aware that Abigail was talking to him, when he saw Hunter come running out from a small side street. He was dressed in his customary black, and he was sweating, despite the weather.
“Abigail!” he said, stopping before them, breathing hard.
“Oh, hello, Mr. Abney,” Abigail said, with surprise.
“Thank goodness I caught you,” he said. Hunter turned to Ben, his face furious. “I knew it! You left my niece heartbroken just yesterday, and already you’re onto your next victim. What do you have to say for yourself?”
Ben was rarely speechless, but for a second he found his vocal cords unable to function. Hunter took advantage, turning to Abigail.
“I’m sorry, my dear, but I saw the two of you together and I knew he was up to something. I suppose he told you he goes to Edmund’s?”
“Yes,” Abigail said hesitantly.
“He’s lying,” Hunter said. “He was going to Liverdale, until he got expelled. I can guess why.”
Abigail was looking at Ben with increasing alarm and something approaching revulsion. Ben knew in that instant he had lost her. He was just a stranger she had known for a few minutes. Hunter Abney was a respected science teacher she had probably known for years.
“He’s lying,” Ben said softly, but Abig
ail just shook her head. She looked like she was tearing up.
“Come on, my dear,” Hunter said, wrapping an arm round Abigail’s shoulder. Let me escort you home.”
Abigail allowed herself to be guided by Hunter. She gave one glance back at Ben as she left, her frightened blue eyes a mixture of confusion and disappointment.
Ben watched them go, feeling paralysed. He was still staring hopelessly at Hunter and Abigail until they disappeared from view. Moments later he heard heavy footsteps and laboured breathing coming from behind.
“What happened?” Charlie asked, following Ben’s stare into the distance. He then took one glance at Ben and cursed.
“It didn’t go well, did it?” Charlie said.
Ben swore loudly, and then relayed the incident to Charlie, as they walked slowly to the bus stop.
“That lying, scheming, sick man,” Charlie said, when Ben had finished.
“I would use some slightly stronger language, but yes,” Ben said. “I was making good progress until Hunter came along.”
“He really doesn’t want us getting the helm or its Guardian,” Charlie mused.
“It seems not,” Ben said. “You’d never know we’re on the same team. I can’t understand why he’s going to such extreme lengths to stop us.”
“I can,” Charlie said. “I spent a lot of time reading about Protectors. They have just one goal in life – to safeguard the helm and its Guardian. They are obsessed with it. Ordinarily I would say it’s a bit mad, but with the dark elves after Hunter, I can see why he’s so paranoid.”
“We’re not dark elves, though,” Ben said.
“No, but until we prove otherwise, we are just three people who have somehow stumbled upon knowledge of Protectors and Elizabeth’s Armour. That in itself probably scares him, which is why he wants us to find the sword – to prove that we are genuine, not just some random idiots trying to find the Armour.”
Ben flagged down the bus. The optimism he had felt just a few hours ago had evaporated. They had three days left, had no clue where the helm was, and had now scared the living daylights out of the Guardian.