by Phil Maxey
“Come on, quickly!” said Jax.
Darren got back to his feet, and they all started running through the dark trees as the sounds of cracking timber seemed to keep pace with them.
They burst from the wood into a clearing, with the road and car just a hundred yards ahead of them.
“Keep running!” said Jax. “Don’t look back.”
As they moved as quickly as they could over the fresh snow, Kat looked up and saw the dark winged shapes circling above them.
They all skidded onto the road, and were soon at the car.
Jax ran around the front, looking back to where they came, it was still empty and dark. He jumped into the driver’s seat while everyone else piled inside and he started the engine. Spinning the car around in the snow, he pushed the accelerator and they quickly sped away. He looked at Kat in the backseat. “It shouldn’t be too long until we are there.”
* * * * *
Soon they were travelling through the Mendip hills, a designated area of natural beauty which even under layers of snow lived up to its name.
Kat sat in the back, looking out at the undulating slopes, hedgerows and forests all laden in white and wondered how things managed to end up like they had. Apart from Sparrow and Darren she didn’t trust the others in the car with her, and even they she had only known a week and a day. Her thoughts turned to her mother, could she find her? She thought about how her mother would be dealing with knights and magical beings. She smiled. The idea was absurd, but somehow it was real. She glanced down at the ring. Twice it had saved her, but exactly how she wasn’t sure. During the night, she told Darren not to say anything about her ability to teleport or how Chip came to them. She wanted some cards kept up her sleeve.
Justin glanced at the girl next to him. Her long black hair just visible under her winter hat and hood. She was the same age as him, but seemed younger, at least in appearance. Maybe it was the fact that she stood almost a half foot smaller than him at around five foot five, but her temperament seemed pretty tough though. She had found out about the Order of the Ring, and all that went along with it, the same time he had, and dealt with her new reality better than he did during those early days. He looked down at the dog between their legs and smiled.
Darren lay looking up at the roof of the car from his almost comfy position in the rear area behind the back seats. He felt his jacket pocket. It’s still there. He breathed in heavily feeling relieved. The bad news was that he only had two more pills left, after that all bets were off.
Sparrow looked out at the road ahead and wondered what state the Pendragon Sanctuary would be in. As far as she knew they had all been attacked, with only Arnold's sanctuary holding up against the barrage. In her head, she tried to put together the pieces. The name Ulysses Goran rang a distant bell in her mind, but she couldn’t pin it down. At least they now knew there was at least one powerful Magi ranged against them and that they were after the rings, and maybe the custodians themselves. She sighed. There were still many pieces of the chaos she wasn't seeing and she couldn't help but feel that they were still doing what their enemies expected them to do.
The road around them narrowed then widened. The homes they passed seemed mostly devoid of activity, and after an hour they had only passed two vehicles moving in the opposite direction.
Eventually they moved back onto the motorway, and passed over the River Severn into Wales.
Shortly after the countryside around them grew wilder, and it started to snow heavily. Even though it was almost noon, the sun was hardly visible through the grey clouds high above.
“Another ten or so minutes and we will be there,” said Jax. Everyone started stretching, except Darren who had fallen asleep.
As they entered the town, the snowfall was so heavy it was hard for them to see too far ahead, and Jax was finding it difficult to keep the car from sliding. “We may have to abandon the car and walk some of the way,” he said.
Soon they drove into the high street full of boarded up shops, and he let the car slide to a stop at the side of the road. “This is as far as we go without walking,” he said.
Darren sat up blinking. “We there … oh the weather looks bad.”
Everyone got out, apart from Chip. Kat looked back at the animal that had helped keep her sane over the past week. "I'll be right back, just stay here, and in like an hour I should be back OK?" She slid her hand over his silky-smooth head, then closed the rear door. He immediately jumped up on the seat looking at her.
Jax closed and locked the driver’s door. “It’s one hundred yards down this road then it’s a right and another ten-minute walk to the top of the hill. Let’s get this over with.” His words formed a white mist in front of him which was quickly blown away by the increasing wind.
The small group set off walking as best they could against the gale and through the fresh snow which was now a foot deep.
Kat looked at the stores around her. A baker, newsagents, estate agent’s office, all closed with no life behind their windows and shutters. Her foot kicked a mound in the snow. The others walked on, but she stopped, bending down to wipe some of the icy flakes away. Eyes and a nose looked back at her. She yelped and fell backwards. Quickly getting to her feet, she steadied herself then walked around the frozen body moving as quickly as she could to catch up with the others.
“Is it just me, or is the blizzard getting worse the closer we get to the sanctuary?” shouted Eden.
Sparrow nodded.
Soon they turned a corner, and even in the limited visibility of the snow around them, they could see it on the hill in the distance. A building which looked part church, part castle, perched halfway up a hill, with a canopy of trees behind it on a higher hill.
“The lights are on!” shouted Sparrow, encouraged by the sight of life. “Someone’s there!”
They all forged forward, walking on the road.
As Kat looked at the orange glow of the building’s windows, she felt excitement that maybe Glastonbury was not the only place she could feel safe again. Her ring hand started to ache. It was a pain she was starting to get used to.
As they drew closer the building loomed tall above them, and they could see figures moving beyond the arched windows.
There were several vehicles parked in front of the large gothic building, behind an ornate black iron gate.
Jax pushed the gate open, and they all funneled inside, each person's face hardly visible through their winter clothes and hats.
They quickly moved between the cars and up the stone steps, trying not to slip and got to the top where they faced a large white painted wooden door, set within an even larger stone arch above it. Jax went to lift the impressive dragon head iron knocker, when the door opened.
“Mr Aldane, we were expecting you,” said a tall, slim, grey-haired man.
Jax nodded and walked inside, followed by the others.
As Justin was pulling his scarf and gloves off he marvelled at the stone arches and staircases that ran upwards and the high vaulted ceiling above him. He felt like had he had entered a cathedral.
Eden's face was ashen and full of emotion. She walked up to the tall man. “Is Foreman Dyer here?”
“He is ma'am, please follow me to the main hall.”
By now they were all allowing their hands and faces to enjoy the heat generated by burning lamps that hung on the plain, stone walls. They followed the man past the base of the main stairs, down a small corridor then to another arched door which he opened.
“Whoah,” said Darren, as they all walked into the large hall, with even higher vaulted beams above them. On both sides groups of men and women hushed, and stood watching as they entered.
At the end of the room a few people stood.
Kat's hand started to ache beyond the usual pain she had grown accustomed to when near magic. She flexed her wrist trying to alleviate the discomfort. They all walked forwards slowly. As she approached the end of the room, with its huge framed paintings on either si
de, and equally massive stained-glass window on the far wall, one of the two figures started to become recognizable.
Eden walked forwards solemnly to the other figure and was about to speak when Kat took in a deep breath.
“It's him! That's the man, that Goran guy!” shouted Kat, raising her ring hand at him.
Eden looked confused and looked back at Kat, just as a blade slid through her midriff.
“No!” screamed Sparrow, who immediately went to grab an arrow from her quiver when a bolt of energy from Jax's hand hit her, sending her spiraling through the air.
Kat's panicked eyes looked around at the hordes of people who were now brandishing swords and axes. I can't fight them all!
The old man that she knew to be Goran stepped forwards and raised his hand, Kat knelt as she knew what was coming next, and grimaced with her ring hand held out ahead of her. A bolt of red fire leapt from his ring towards Kat, but as with their last encounter hit an invisible barrier emanating from her hand.
Looking to her side she could see some of their attackers had descended upon Sparrow who looked unconscious.
“What do we do!” shouted Justin, brandishing his own sword.
Kat's mind raced. Another burst of flame hit the barrier which was now protecting Darren, Justin, and herself. As chaos reigned, her grandfather’s voice echoed in her mind. "You've always thought yourself out of any problem."
Think myself out.
“Everyone, put your hands on me!”
Darren and Justin looked at her unsure. “Now!” she shouted, and they both leapt to her side, placing their hands on her shoulders.
Swords, axes, and magic slammed into the white, fizzing, domed barrier that was keeping the three of them from harm. Then they were gone.
CHAPTER 39
Snow and ice swirled around Kat, Darren, and Justin.
“What the hell just happened?” shouted Justin, swinging his sword back and forth waiting for an attack, his head feeling slightly dizzy.
Kat collapsed onto the pavement, the foot-thick snow catching her fall. Darren and Justin immediately knelt next to her.
“You OK?” said Darren.
“I feel weak and sick, I need to rest for a while,” she said sheepishly.
Justin looked around him, his mind flashing back to Sparrow being knocked through the air by magic from Jax. That bastard. He then realised they were back out in the street they had just travelled up, and the sanctuary was staring back at him on the distant hill. He looked the other way, and could just make out the car through the flurry of white flakes. “We can't stay here, we have to move, they might come looking for us.”
They helped her back up on to her feet. She looked back at the car. “Chip.” The word barely made it from her lips.
“Yeah, damn. He's in the car,” said Darren.
“Do we really need to get him?” said Justin, anxiously looking at the gothic house at the end of the long street. “Can't we just go?”
“No …” Kat's eyes fluttered and they both stopped her from falling again.
“I’ll carry her,” said Justin. Bending down slightly, he heaved her across his shoulder, then stood. “Let's get to the car. But keep looking out behind us, in case you see anyone coming after us,” he said to Darren as they struggled through the snow.
As they traipsed forwards past the metal shutters of forgotten shops, the wind buffeted them making their course haphazard. Soon they were at the back of the large car. Chip was already watching them and started barking.
Justin laid Kat down against the hood of the car out of breath. “How we going to get him out, we don't have keys.”
“Shit, yeah, err,” said Darren.
Justin swallowed. “Here, help Kat further away, I'll break the window.” He looked around him. Out front of one of the stores was a metal sign, almost invisible in the mound of snow it was part of. He grabbed it, held it high, then smashed it into the front side window of the car which shattered instantly. The car's alarm kicked in sending a shrill beeping out into the storm. Chip's bark got louder in unison.
“Shit, shit, they will know where we are!” shouted Darren.
Justin leaned in, unlocked the door, then sat inside.
He grabbed Chip's leash, sliding it over the dogs head, then handed it to Darren. “Here, take him,” Darren did as asked, and pulled Chip down from the back seat and onto the pavement.
Justin then quickly jumped into the rear area and grabbed Kat's bag, as well as a small UK road atlas, a small axe and jumped back out into the cold. “I don't think they will hear the car through the storm, but we can't stay here anyway,” he said, trying to be heard over the repeating siren.
"Where are we going to go?” shouted Darren as he peered into the gathering blizzard.
Justin looked around. Police? What am I going to tell them? That we were just attacked by evil wizards, but we’re ok because this young girl that looks drugged just teleported us out of danger?
He didn't know what 'teleport' actually meant in the real world, other than this small dark-haired girl probably just saved their lives.
“I don't know, let's just keep moving.” He bent down, placing Kat back over his shoulder again and they walked forwards as fast as they could.
They walked down narrow streets lined with abandoned shops full of shadows and anytime they saw an alleyway they ducked down it to keep away from the roads.
After thirty minutes walking, including the last ten being uphill they emerged at a road junction. Justin put Kat down, leaning her up against a wall. “I can't keep walking like this,” he said, trying to catch his breath.
Darren looked around them. Not too far a wooden sign was just visible above a large wall which ran along the road. “Jones’ B+B.” “Look! Let's try that place.”
Justin took a deep breath, when they both heard the unmistakable sound of a car coming their way.
“Come on, we need to get to the entrance,” said Justin, picking Kat back up and staggering forwards through the snow.
As they both stumbled forwards the vehicle’s engine could be heard struggling up the hill they just walked up.
Justin tried to move faster but his lungs burnt and he felt like he was about to drop at any moment.
Darren quickly pushed the small iron gate open and they all ducked inside, Justin dropping Kat to the ground as soon as he could. As the car drove past they moved to the side, away from the view from the road.
“I don't think anyone saw us,” said Darren.
Justin looked up at the old Victorian house which sat at the top of some snow caked steps. He then took a deep breath. “I really hope they have vacancies.”
The snow begun to let up slightly as he struggled up the steps finally coming out to a wooden porch and front door a few yards inside a small garden. They got to the entrance and rang the bell. There was no response.
Justin let Kat down and rested her against the inside of the porch. He looked at the door. Come on.
Movement became visible through the glass panes. The door opened with a little old lady with reading glasses resting on her knitted jumper, looking back at them. “Yes?” she said in a thick Welsh accent.
“We need a room, my girlfriend and her brother,” said Justin, trying to hide his breathlessness.
The old lady looked him up and down, then switched to Kat who looked like she was sleeping standing up, and Darren holding the dog.
The old woman munched on something. “No pets.” She pointed to a sign on the wall behind her.
The disappointment hit Justin at the same time he realized he had no money to pay for any room. He was just about to turn away, when Kat opened her eyes and waved Darren towards her.
“Bag, my bag,” she said gesturing for the medium grey backpack he was holding. He gave it to her, and sluggishly she opened it, pulling out and opening a small purple cloth bag. She pulled out two gold coins, and handed them to Darren, then pointed to the old lady.
“Err, OK,” said
Darren, stepping forwards and holding out his hand to the lady, who was frowning at all of them.
The woman looked at what he was holding, then took them from him. “How do I know these are real? Could be Christmas money for all I know!”
“Real solid gold, but if you don't want—” Kat went to move forward.
“Hold up there, young lady, what you want for them?”
“Three nights, all of us, including Chip, I mean the dog.”
Justin was relieved to see her more alert.
The old lady looked again at the coins. “OK fine, three nights. Come in, I'm going to get pneumonia standing out here.”
They all bundled inside as the lady took a key off the wall behind a small counter.
An equally old man with red cheeks appeared from a door. “Who are these people? I thought we didn't have any bookings.”
The old lady handed Justin the key. “Three nights. They paid with these,” she handed the coins to the old man, whose eyebrows raised. She then turned back to Justin. “First floor, second door on the right. It’s our family room, that’ll have to do. I’ll bring you up some of my homemade soup if you want. Breakfast is at 9 a.m. sharp. She looked at Chip, any damage he causes you pay for, OK?”
Justin gave an exhausted nod.
“Good, then.”
Kat, Darren, Justin, and Chip slowly walked up to their room. It contained one double and one single bed, a chair and table, a few drawer units, an en suite shower and toilet, and a flat screen television.
Justin walked over to the window and looked out. They were high up, but the snowfall was still so thick outside that he couldn’t see more than a few hundred yards. The street below was just visible through the tree tops and was devoid of people and vehicles. He closed the curtains.
Kat had already collapsed onto the single bed and was sleeping. Darren and Justin looked at each other.
“What happened back there?” shouted Darren, pulling his gloves and coat off, leaving both on the double bed he was sitting on.