by Gavin Neale
‘You know the drill,’ Nora said, holding out a hand to Abby. Abby was led through the gap into their second garden in a different world.
‘Who are they?’ asked Abby, pointing to Einion and Rhiannon who were bustling around the camp they had made at the end of the secret garden.
‘Why don’t we go meet them so you can find out?’ replied Nora, letting go of Abby’s hand and striding towards the camp.
Abby hesitated, not sure if this was such a good idea.
‘Come on, girl! You survived in the Land of Fairy. Dwarves are a lot easier to deal with.’ Daphne gave Abby a friendly push and they walked across to the camp together. ‘Rhiannon, Einion, this is our friend Abigail.’
Despite her misgivings, Abby was proud to be named as a friend by Nora. She gave the two dwarves a friendly wave and said hello, as if this were the most normal thing in the world.
‘Well met, young human,’ Einion said. ‘Would you like some ale? It’ll put hair on your face.’
‘Er, I think I’ll stick to tea, if you don’t mind.’
‘Ah yes, perhaps for the best,’ Einion replied. He looked wistfully across at a barrel with a pair of tankards beside it. ‘Although Daphne has drunk plenty of our ale and sadly still lacks a beard.’
‘We tend not to introduce our children to alcohol when they’re quite so young,’ interrupted Nora, with a frown.
‘I’m not so sure about that these days, but we’ll put the kettle on,’ Daphne said. ‘Why don’t you explain what happened to Einion and Rhiannon whilst we get things ready? Then we can make a plan. Come on, Abby.’
As they walked away, Daphne heard Nora begin to explain what had happened to Thomas. She would be interested to hear what questions the ever-practical dwarves would ask; she certainly had some of her own.
‘Daphne,’ Abby said, hesitating to interrupt the woman’s train of thought.
‘Yes, dear?’
They were nearly at the workshop before Abby finally said what she was thinking. ‘What is going on? Why are there dwarves camping in your garden? You said that magic was rare, and we haven’t seen anything since we rescued Mum. Then out of nowhere I see Erykah looking like a human, and now there are elves and dwarves here and Tom has been kidnapped. It’s beginning to feel like a story Chris and I made up.’
‘It has been an exciting couple of days, hasn’t it?’ Daphne laughed. She ushered Abby inside the workshop. ‘It’s probably best if we wait until we are all gathered before we explain, but there are definitely things going on.’
‘What do I need to know?’
‘I’m not sure. I don’t know what Nora is planning yet. I wasn’t expecting her to introduce you to the dwarves.’
‘Oh,’ said Abby. She started to organise the crockery as Daphne set about the fire and put a kettle of water on to boil.
8
Two Children, Two Tests
The king looked down at Morgill Olkeyr and the boy he’d brought back from the human world. The pixie chief Bryonny had led the way and it had been the work of moments for Morgill to kidnap the boy.
‘He doesn’t look like a mighty warrior.’
‘No, your majesty, but we all know that fairy magic can have strange effects on those with talents.’ Morgill said this with all the contrition he could manage. Despite being a favourite at court, he was worried. The boy didn’t seem to have any particular talent and Morgill could not see anything in his soul, either. Out of the corner of his eye he could see his great rival Actaea sneering, enjoying his discomfort.
‘Bring him closer,’ the king hissed. ‘And the rest of you be gone. You have jobs to do.’ The magic with which the king infused his dismissal seared the nerves and even Thomas winced as he was dragged towards the beautiful creature who had ordered his kidnap.
‘Hello, young man. I am the Malevolent King Richtus the Gaunt. And you are?’
‘Thomas, Thomas Thatcher.’ Thomas’s voice was shaking but he was trying not to show how scared he was.
‘You don’t look like much of a warrior, Thomas. I was told you had defeated a spirit that enslaved this entire land.’
‘What’s it to you?’ asked Thomas defiantly. He didn’t understand what was going on, but he knew how to deal with bullies.
‘Speak with proper respect when you address the king,’ Morgill said, shaking Thomas by the top of his T-shirt. ‘Shall I punish him, your majesty?’
The king of the Ruined Elves looked carefully at the boy. He saw not only defiance, but sadness and anger. He could use them. Maybe the boy wasn’t the warrior he had been promised but he could still be turned into a useful weapon – particularly if some of the things he had seen written about humans being more resistant to the decaying metal than elves were true. ‘No, leave us. I think we have a lot to talk about.’
‘As you wish, my liege.’ Morgill bowed deeply and stalked off, wondering what possible use the human boy could be. Perhaps Morgill’s own opportunity to usurp the throne was closer than he thought. His first act would be to make sure Actaea was in no position to challenge him and then he would stamp out the treacherous pixie chief who had sent him on such a useless errand.
‘So, Thomas, I sense a great sadness upon you,’ the king said. ‘I won’t enquire why, but you should keep it hidden. It is unbecoming to be sad, particularly when you have so much useful anger.’
Thomas stared at the king properly for the first time; the king’s face was almost beautiful and he looked powerful. Not strong, like one of the big wrestlers, but he moved with grace and fluidity. Thomas could see him flying round the ring and dealing with a bigger opponent.
‘Mum says I shouldn’t lose my temper.’
‘A mother is supposed to say that but anger, when harnessed properly, can be one of the most powerful tools you possess. Fighting, competing, all the things an elf or a man needs to succeed in life, are not things that come from a place of calm. To be a great warrior you must harness the power that anger and hate give you. A warrior cannot love his enemy. He must wish them the swift end they deserve.’ As he spoke, the king gently used magic to harmonise the words with Thomas’s existing anger; he did nothing to create more, just emphasised that which already existed.
‘I’m not a warrior, I’m just a boy,’ Thomas replied. But he wondered if he could become a warrior.
‘Have they not started your training yet?’
‘Training?’
‘Surely you are being trained in the military arts? The sword, the bow, how to lead men, how to position an army?’ The king feigned outrage and used a hint of magic to sell this idea to the human boy.
‘No, I’m not. We don’t do that at my house.’
‘What kind of household does not prepare its young men to defend its honour? I shall speak to the head of your household to ensure that you are properly trained.’
‘I don’t think Mum would know how…’
‘And what of your father?’ the king asked, sensing the cause of the young human’s sadness and anger.
‘He’s… He’s…’ Thomas couldn’t find the words.
‘I understand,’ said the king, laying a hand gently on the boy’s shoulder. ‘I shall train you myself. You will bring great honour to humankind on the battlefield.’
‘I will?’
‘But of course! A strapping young man like you will learn in no time.’
‘Thank you.’ Thomas wasn’t sure how to continue, or when he could go home, but the king seemed to have an answer for everything
‘You will be granted a place in my armies and repay my gift with victories written in my enemies’ blood. Your actions will represent me, so do not fail.’
Thomas looked up at the king and believed what he heard. All thoughts of his mother and home were banished from his mind by the king’s charisma and magic.
***
Abby sat in th
e workshop with a cup of tea, waiting to be told what was happening. It had been a while before Nora and the dwarves had come inside but so far they had said nothing of importance.
‘What’s going on?’ Abby said quietly. Nobody heard her so she banged her fist three times on the workbench. This quietened them down so she could repeat her question. ‘What’s going on?’
Everybody turned to Nora, deferring to the old witch. She got up and moved round the workshop, touching various objects and muttering words of power. When the secrecy spell was complete, she spoke. ‘So you want to know what’s going on?’
‘I think we’d all like to know that,’ said Pedir, stepping out from the shadows.
Everyone was startled by the elf’s appearance except Nora, who greeted him with a curt nod. ‘Made it in time, I see.’
‘I had far to come. There are two here, however, that I do not know.’ Pedir looked at Rhiannon and Abby and waited to be introduced.
‘Well,’ said Einion, speaking carefully as if making a great effort to be polite, ‘I have only been introduced briefly to the young human.’ He paused and held out a hand towards his dwarf companion. ‘However I can vouch for Rhiannon, Child of Alwen, who will assist me in making sure that we dwarves uphold our responsibilities to the Accords.’
‘Well met, Rhiannon. My name is Pedir. I am a world walker and am here to uphold the elves’ responsibilities to the Accords.’ Pedir bowed slightly to Rhiannon. ‘And thank you, Einion. I hold your work in the highest esteem. However, now the puzzle of the human child’s presence needs an explanation.’
Abby was surprised when everyone looked at her. She expected Nora to speak but she was waiting with everyone else. Abby looked to her for reassurance and the witch nodded. This was a test. Abby wished Chris were here; he was better at all this. But the memory of magic was hard for him. She knew he missed it although he never said so.
‘My name is Abigail Cromwell. I’m a child but also a friend of Daphne and Nora’s. I have been to the Land of Fairy. I have passed two of the tests of a true hero and helped free it from a false king by chopping off his hand in combat.’
‘But you are still a child,’ Nora said firmly, though not unkindly. ‘However, you have twice been involved with magical beings of great power from another land, so I want you somewhere that is safe. If nothing else, you are a witness to a second possible breach of the Accords.’
‘A second breach before I have even heard of the first,’ Pedir remarked with a smile. ‘That has to be a record! But I feel we are approaching things wrongly.’
‘Aye,’ said Einion. ‘Much as it pains me to agree with an elf, I have only the vaguest notion of what is going on.’
Nora looked sharply at Einion, who looked apologetic. She explained what had happened, starting with the sudden appearance of Erykah, the fairy queen, two days earlier, the official request for help and the invasion of the Ruined, and finishing with the apparent kidnap of Thomas that morning. Nora mentioned that Erykah had asked for Abby to be part of their efforts to repel the Ruined.
‘I see why you want her to be safe,’ Pedir said, looking thoughtfully at Abby. ‘Young lady, you have attracted the attention of some very powerful magical beings.’
‘Aye, but she’ll be safe here with us,’ Einion said. He spoke to Nora. ‘I assume you will investigate first with Pedir’s help and have us prepare whatever tools you need. Do you know how many heavy blades they have with them? I can make the decaying metal safe again, but it is a complicated process that requires the right tools and time.’
‘We do not know how many of them will be armed with them but, if the invasion is real, some of their number will have access to such blades. It is in their nature.’
Daphne shuddered at Nora’s words. The heavy blades were justly feared; they slowly poisoned their bearers as well as any who came into direct contact with them, and they were deadly in combat. A heavy blade would slice through almost any weapon or armour unless specially prepared to face them. She was glad that they had a runesmith of Einion’s skill on their side.
‘I did not think I would live to see such weapons,’ said Einion.
Nora nodded but it was Pedir who continued. ‘How much treachery do you suspect? If it were only a matter of keeping the girl safe, she could be sent away to far safer places than here. Do you suspect the fairies are involved in the kidnap of the boy neighbour?’
‘Right now I suspect everyone outside this room,’ Nora replied. ‘And I should warn you that Erykah stepped back to the Land of Fairy from within the secrecy spell when we finished talking. Even away from their own world a fairy is very skilled with magic.’
‘Impressive.’ Pedir thought about how Erykah might have found her way home from within the middle of a secrecy spell that was meant to contain those within it as well as repel those outside the circle.
‘Yes, if my focus was on holding us all prisoner,’ Nora said, frowning as she looked at the impassive elf. ‘My point is that we must be mindful of the treacherous nature of all creatures in the Land of Fairy once we officially begin our investigation. Abigail, you are to take instructions from no one other than the five of us here until I say so. That includes any members of your family or anyone in a position of authority. As you know, fairies are experts in magical glamours and I wouldn’t put it past either side to try to involve you in some way.’
‘But how will I know if they’re pretending to be one of you?’ asked Abby, worried by what Nora was telling her.
‘I’ll take care of that, dear,’ said Daphne. ‘Don’t you worry. ‘Now, can we stop feeding the child information that will make her an even bigger target for everyone who wants to know our business?’
‘I was just about to suggest the same thing,’ Nora said. ‘If you will set her up in your camp, Rhiannon, then we can plan our next moves.’
9
Camping with Dwarves
‘How can you be so calm?’ asked Abigail. She was sitting by the dwarves’ campfire watching Rhiannon across the crackling flames. She felt frustrated; she knew that there were dwarves, elves and an invasion in the Land of Fairy but she was expected to do nothing to help.
‘I am not a Guardian of the Accords. I am here to aid Einion in any way possible and to do as I am told,’ Rhiannon replied.
‘But don’t you want to know more about what is going on? The plan?’ Abby could not understand how anyone could bear to be left out – but then she had never met a dwarf before this afternoon.
The day had slipped into evening while they waited. Rhiannon had hardly said anything since they had left the workshop, although she now muttered something Abby could not understand. ‘What was that?’ Abby asked.
‘I’m sorry,’ replied Rhiannon. ‘I did not mean to be so rude as to address you in a manner you could not understand. I simply said in Dwarfish that you are young.’
‘Not you as well,’ Abby replied, hanging her head. ‘Adults are always saying that.’
‘I know,’ Rhiannon said. Abby looked up in surprise as she continued. ‘There is another decade before I come of age, but in this case I mean “you” as in humans. Only your witches have a life span that lets them understand what life is like for us slower species. The brevity of your human existence gives you energy, allows you to adapt – but it is a blessing and a curse. You lack long-term perspective.’
‘I … I didn’t know. How old are you? If that’s not too rude a question,’ Abby hastily added. She suddenly realised that she was talking to a virtual stranger from another world; asking the wrong question could be very rude, or possibly dangerous.
‘No, little one. A child is expected to ask many questions and no dwarf would take offence. I shall let you know when what you ask is unacceptable. I am sixty-five years old.’
Abby was shocked. ‘You will spend seventy-five years as a child?’
‘Aye. As I said, we are a slowe
r species.’
‘But that’s mad. I could be retired by then.’
‘Yes, but do I not look much younger than a human of the same age? I have my full strength and soon will have to pick a path,’ Rhiannon noticed the confusion written across Abby’s face. ‘I need to pick what I will do with my life. If I want to work in a mine, as a blacksmith, or even become a runesmith like Einion.’
‘You’re still at school?’ asked Abby, horrified by the thought and staring wide-eyed at Rhiannon. ‘Wow, decades at school.’
Rhiannon laughed heartily. ‘No, little one. We learn our basics much as you do. We try various vocations until we find the right one to follow. There is no hurry because we have time. Act in haste, repent at leisure, as Einion is fond of saying.’
‘That sounds like something Nora would say.’
‘There is every chance that he got it from Nora. I’ve only ever heard it in human language.’ The pair fell silent again, although it was a more companionable silence.
It wasn’t actually much later when Einion walked up to the fire, although it felt like forever. ‘Well, little one, it is probably time you went to bed.’
‘Where are the others?’ asked Abby, looking behind Einion towards the old workshop.
‘Elsewhere, little one.’
‘You know I am taller than both of you,’ said Abby, standing and bristling. ‘So you could at least use my name.’
Rhiannon looked horrified at the way the ancient runemaster was being addressed but Einion simply roared with laughter. ‘Aye, there’s the fierceness Daphne warned me about. I’m sorry, Abby. To us slow old dwarves even your adults often seem like children. Let me get you a nightcap before you go to bed. I have just the thing to make you feel a little better.’ Einion wandered over to a rack of barrels and carefully filled a half-size tankard.