‘What are you talking about?’ she asked, jutting out her chin in disdain. She feared him, loathed him even, but deep down she knew he was the key that could unlock the dark secrets that would tell her who she really was.
Tremlon looked into her beautiful blue eyes and saw raw hunger.
‘I believe it is your wish to visit my world, is it not?’ he probed, watching a pulse twitch at the side of her temple. ‘After all, didn’t Gzhel advise you to seek out the Elders?’
She hesitated, unsure of herself, and that moment of delay sealed her fate.
‘I have come today at the request of the Elf King Gamada,’ Tremlon explained, exchanging glances. ‘You’ve heard me speak of him before,’ he reminded her with a toss of his black head.
She nodded; feeling her own curiosity ignite she peered over at Matt and noticed he was looking rather fractious.
Tremlon followed her gaze and frowned. He sensed Matt’s devotion to the princess for it was clear he adored her and this made the shape-changer all the more cautious.
‘It would appear the king needs your help and he thought he could perhaps strike an unlikely bargain with you. You help the king and in return he will take you to speak with the Order of the Elders so you can learn whatever your heart desires regarding your actual birthright,’ he said, leaning his shoulder against a marble column. Crystal looked at him in surprise.
‘How could I possibly help an elf king?’ she asked, forcing her eyes to connect with his.
‘Well, I’m not sure, I’m just the messenger,’ Tremlon stated, shrugging his shoulders. ‘However, the king must believe you can do something to help him otherwise he wouldn’t have wasted my valuable time sending me here to find you.’
‘You’re messing with her head,’ Matt snapped, rushing towards him, his fists raised in readiness to punch him. His eyes glared dangerously at the shape-changer, his body taut with expectation.
‘Hey, calm down,’ said Tremlon, backing away and showing the palms of his hands in surrender. ‘I’m not here to cause any trouble.’
‘Don’t leave!’ Crystal begged, fearful Tremlon was about to vanish, and Matt turned to see the look of panic in her wild, blue eyes and immediately lowered his fists and rushed to her side.
‘I’m sorry if you think I’ve just made matters worse,’ he said, putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. ‘I was only trying to protect you.’
He felt the electricity from her skin rush through his body, sending a strange sensation to register in the pit of his stomach.
‘Calm yourselves,’ said Tremlon, when the atmosphere crackled with uncertainty. ‘There’s no harm done, I never meant to intimidate either of you.’ Matt saw Crystal attempt a weak smile and he, in return, smiled back.
‘Look here,’ said Tremlon, trying to lighten the mood, ‘let’s start over.’
He held his breath, allowing a gentle current to fill the atmosphere and he transmuted his body into another shape. He changed so quickly that Crystal’s heart, like her eyes, filled with alarm. Her legs buckled and Matt grabbed her, her fingers digging into his flesh when she clung to him for support.
The elf changed into the figure of a woman; not just any woman, but that of Beatrice, her mother. Crystal noted she was dressed in the wrong era of clothes, making her look strange and out of place, but there was no mistaking the remarkable resemblance to her mother: the greying hair, the plump yet firm body. It was all much too real.
‘No way!’ Crystal gasped, taking a step back. ‘You’re not my mum, you freak!’ Her mind swam with suffocating confusion. Did this mean that the shape-changer had been part of some terrible conspiracy against her all these years? Had Beatrice only been make-believe, a person created through Tremlon’s ability to change into a human being?
‘It’s just an illusion!’ Matt yelled, trying to reassure her. ‘It isn’t real, it’s just a trick of the mind,’ he insisted, covering her hands with his own and trying to make her see sense.
‘It looks real enough to me,’ she cried, pushing him away. ‘Tell me, is this some kind of sick joke?’
There was a mumble in the air, a whisper of words and Crystal saw Tremlon change back into his human form. He tweaked at his clothes as though preening his feathers, unaware of the distress he had just caused her.
‘That wasn’t bloody funny!’ she roared, and her eyes filled with tears. She started to cry and Tremlon lowered his gaze and bowed to her in apology.
‘Forgive me, Crystal,’ he said in earnest; ‘please, dry your eyes, for it was not my intention to upset you.’ He reached inside his trouser pocket and walked over to a spare table. Crystal could see his fingers were curled securely into a fist. It was obvious he was holding something tight in the palm of his hand and she strained her neck to get a better look. She watched him open his fingers and release golden particles no thicker than a grain of sand onto the surface of the table. The sand moved when he swept his hand away, moulding themselves together into a type of soft pyramid. A blue flame ignited on its very peak and lazy wisps of smoke trailed into the atmosphere. Tremlon bent his head and pursed his lips, blowing out the flame and the sand scattered like rain to reveal to them an incredible miniature, winged dragon.
Crystal’s tears vanished.
Tremlon looked up and was pleased to see her face was filled with wonder and he let out a sigh of relief. Crystal took a hesitant step towards the dragon, her confusion and fear of Tremlon momentarily forgotten whilst she peered in fascination at the tiny creature. Its beautiful dark wings were stretched with a bat-like skin and its body was dark green with scales of silver-grey woven into a hard membrane running down its back. On its head sat five horned peaks of flesh. Its eyes were the colour of amber, giving an effect of hot, bubbling lava floating around the cornea.
‘Is this dragon for real?’ Crystal gasped, her troubled eyes lighting up with newfound curiosity.
Matt appeared at her side, peering with disbelief at the remarkable creature. The dragon was so tiny yet perfect in every way; a real piece of magic.
‘Yes,’ said Tremlon with a smirk. ‘It’s as real as you and me.’
‘It’s truly amazing,’ Matt said, almost lost for words. ‘Why, it’s beautiful.’
Tremlon opened his mouth to speak, but a short snort came from the dragon’s mouth and an energetic flame of fire left its nostrils, taking them all by surprise. The flame only narrowly missed their clothing and landed on a pile of abandoned books left by a previous reader on the opposite table. The books exploded into flames and smoke bellowed towards the ceiling, and Tremlon was startled when the fire alarm went off.
‘Oh no, we need to turn it off,’ Crystal cried, grabbing a magazine and wafting the air above her head. ‘You’ll have the fire brigade here in minutes if we don’t get these flames out.’
Tremlon reacted by pressing his thumb gently against the dragon’s back. The creature let out a wail of protest and was forced to transmute. Tremlon stood back; the dragon was gone but in its place stood a perfectly formed white stallion. The miniature horse snorted and whinnied in panic, kicking out its legs and its front hoof caught Matt’s hip.
‘Ouch!’ Matt said with a jerk. ‘Tremlon, will you stop messing about! Just forget the party tricks and concentrate on getting rid of this smoke before we end up in trouble!’ Tremlon nodded and then took a long, deep breath, before blowing cold air into the direction of the burning books. Ice and snow flew from his mouth, and like a fire extinguisher the white mixture concealed the flames, putting out the fire. His lips had turned blue and he wore a white, icy moustache just above his top lip which in Crystal’s opinion made him look like Jack Frost.
‘Will that do?’ he asked, wiping the ice from his lips with the back of his hand. Crystal and Matt smiled with relief when the alarm suddenly fell silent, their fear of him for the moment relinquished.
‘I am willing to take you to my world if you’re ready?’ he said attentively, assessing the situation. Time was moving swiftly and
if he failed to bring the princess back the consequences were something he wasn’t ready to think about.
He moved towards her, trying to coax her to come with him.
‘I promise you, no harm will come to you whilst you are a guest in my kingdom,’ he said, extending his hand. ‘If you agree to come with me, then we must hurry and make our way to the Kingdom of Nine Winters,’ he cajoled.
‘Why does the king want me of all people?’ asked Crystal, hearing the urgency he was trying to hide in his voice.
‘All I know is that the king fears an uprising from another realm,’ Tremlon explained, looking slightly shifty, and she noted he was unable to look her in the eye.
‘But that still doesn’t explain what that has got to do with me,’ she argued, realising she still held the rolled-up magazine she had used to waft away the smoke.
‘I don’t know,’ Tremlon admitted, lowering his gaze and looking at his feet, ’but the king has made it clear to me that he needs you and I’m sure you would benefit from a visit to our land, of that I am certain.’ Crystal looked torn and threw the magazine onto the floor.
‘It’s the chance of a lifetime!’ Tremlon pressed, pulling his lips into a tight smile, ‘and you won’t get another chance like this again.’
‘But how will I get there?’ she asked, glancing at Matt and shrugging her shoulders. ‘It’s not like I can just vanish into thin air!’ A sudden bustle of noise brought them back to reality.
‘Where’s the fire?’ shouted the librarian from somewhere down the hall. ‘Can anyone see any flames? We’ll have to evacuate, I can smell smoke.’
‘Quick! We haven’t much time,’ Tremlon hissed, realising his mistake with the dragon. ‘Crystal, are you ready to come with me?’ He grabbed the white stallion and slapped it between his hands, causing sand to spray out of his fingers and all over the floor.
‘We must leave now before I am seen,’ Tremlon said, backing away towards a dark corner, unable to hide the fear in his eyes. Matt looked down at the table and noticed a pile of manure left by the horse and he screwed up his nose when he saw it steaming.
‘That’s disgusting!’ he said, appalled. ‘Why don’t you clear that up as well before you leave?’
‘Are you coming with me?’ Tremlon asked Crystal, ignoring Matt’s outburst. ‘It’s now or never.’
A prickling at the edge of her senses warned Crystal too late.
‘Yes, we’ll come,’ she said, looking at Matt for a sign of encouragement.
‘We!’ said Tremlon, taken by surprise. ‘There is no we.’
‘I’m not going anywhere without Matt,’ she stomped, turning stubborn.
‘Hey, do I have a say in this?’ Matt interrupted with a grin spreading over his face, clearly pleased that she wanted him by her side.
‘No, you don’t,’ she said, giving his hand a quick squeeze. ‘We’re in this together.’
‘So be it,’ said Tremlon, closing his eyes in concentration. He whispered words in the old language, creating a spell. Crystal shuddered and something shifted inside her; excitement, expectation. She felt a rush and then at her feet dropped two thick animal skins, landing with a thump on the floor. Surprised, Matt picked up the one closest to him and stroked the thick pelt; it felt soft against his skin.
‘Why the hell do we need fur coats?’ he asked, sounding confused. He bent down and retrieved the second coat before offering it to Crystal.
Tremlon winked and gave them a huge grin. ‘Why on earth do you think it’s called the Kingdom of Nine Winters!’ he said, bursting out laughing. ‘Come on now, isn’t it obvious?’
Chapter 5
The wagon was rickety and the horses in need of rest and a decent meal. Crystal and Matt sat huddled together inside the wagon for a shred of warmth and a slice of humble security. The wooden wheels, worn from many years of use, wobbled dangerously upon the road and each bulky stone they went over rattled their bones.
Tremlon had somehow catapulted them all into the extraordinary world and when they arrived, the group had been greeted by five elf warriors who wore black livery and dismal expressions.
‘Nice welcoming party,’ said Matt, eyeing a threatening warrior with a sideward glance. He turned his head and caught the attention of a black, beady eye and gave a shudder.
‘Remind me to never bump into one of those guys on a dark night,’ he mumbled aloud, ‘why I’ve seen friendlier faces on death row.’
‘These are good elves,’ Tremlon interrupted, annoyed at hearing Matt’s unfounded comments. ‘And they have been sent by the king to protect you.’
‘Why should we need protecting?’ Matt asked, throwing a suspicious glare towards the distant hills in search of sinister shadows. ‘I thought you said we would be safe? You never mentioned anything about being in any danger and how come we have to travel so far to meet the king? I’d assumed your spell would take us straight to him.’
Tremlon’s hand gripped the leather reins.
‘We have a long ride ahead of us and we don’t know who or what we may encounter on the road. These are dark and troubled times and we must stay extremely vigilant. The soldiers are here to help defend us should we meet anything untoward. You may think our magic can shield you from harm, but it doesn’t work that way here. You see you have to understand, strong magic is forbidden outside of our kingdom, but not everyone abides by the rules.’
‘Where is here?’ Crystal interrupted. She was beginning to take more notice of the lush green countryside and wide-open spaces that surrounded them, suddenly aware of how vulnerable they could be to an attack.
‘This is the passageway known as Cleric’s Ridge,’ Tremlon explained, flicking his head towards the horizon. ‘Once we arrive through the gates of our kingdom our magic is no longer bound and we will be safe.’
‘So why aren’t you allowed to use strong magic outside of your kingdom?’ Crystal asked, wishing to understand the strange restriction a little better.
‘Our laws tell us we should only use magic in our own kingdoms so as not to dominate the weaker realms,’ Tremlon explained with a sigh.
‘Well, what about our world, do the same rules apply there?’ Matt asked, setting his face in a hard scowl, ‘I mean, let’s face it, you were about as subtle as a brick back there!’
Tremlon’s eyes narrowed and he flicked the reins hard, causing the horses to almost jolt him out of his seat, and when Crystal turned to look at him, she thought Matt looked quite angry.
‘I’m sure we’re going to be alright,’ she soothed, holding his hand and trying her best to ease the glare in his eyes.
‘What were we thinking coming here?’ Matt gasped, his anger still simmering. ‘We’re virtually prisoners and it’s all our own doing.’
Crystal let her hand fall, the truth hitting her like a slap in the face. Matt was right, they were at the mercy of these mystical beings; how could she have been so stupid to come here so willingly? It was too late to turn back now; she knew Tremlon would never let her go. She had inadvertently put them both in great danger and a hard lump filled her throat.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she whispered, causing Matt’s glare to soften. ‘I should never have asked you to come here with me.’
The sun was already showing signs of setting when one of the guards made his way to the side of the wagon and suggested they stop for the night.
‘There’s a tavern just north of here,’ he told them, pointing ahead. ‘We can stop there and carry on again in the morning.’ Crystal grabbed hold of Tremlon’s arm, forcing him to look at her.
‘How long are you expecting us to stay?’ she asked, looking at his face for a sign of a clue.
‘Don’t worry about that,’ he replied, shrugging her hand away. ‘Time has stood still in the earth world; so when you return, it will be as though you have never left.’
‘Are you sure?’ she pressed, her voice wavering with un-spilled emotion. ‘Because I don’t want my mum frantic with worry, thinking I’ve been kidna
pped or worse …’
‘You’re going to have to learn to trust me and listen to what I say,’ said the shape-changer, drawing his lips into a tight line. He pulled at the reins and slowed the horses. ‘You’ve got a lot to learn, little one, and it will take much time for you to understand our ways. Do not fear your destiny for it is your fate that you should come here.’
‘Don’t say stuff like that,’ Crystal snapped. ‘Why, here I am, in the middle of God knows where, with God knows who, with creatures out there that would willingly hurt me, and you’re telling me it’s my destiny!’
‘Listen to me!’ Tremlon suddenly hissed. ‘You are unique, the only one of your kind; without you, we could all be lost.’
‘So it’s true, you do know more than you’re telling me,’ she retorted, her eyes flashing with hostility. ‘I damn well knew it!’ Tremlon glanced away.
‘Perhaps we can talk later,’ he said, staring ahead. ‘Look, we are approaching the tavern.’
As the sun finally set, Tremlon stood at the side of the wagon, his hand resting on his leather hilt.
‘Men, inside!’ he shouted, directing the elves towards the main door of the tavern. He turned to take Crystal’s hand to help her from the wagon. She took it and slid down by his side. She felt uncomfortable being so close to him, sensing his fearful mood.
They entered the tavern as weary travellers, and Matt was relieved to find it was warm and cosy inside. Crystal felt the heat enfold her body and she let herself relax a little.
A huge log fire burned in a large, open grate, filling most of the back wall. The heat soared from the orange and red flames that licked at the wood with a devilish madness and Crystal hoped they would be seated close by. A young girl soon approached them. She was dressed in simple clothes but there was an air of sophistication about her that caused Crystal to wish she was dressed a little smarter.
‘Good evening, my lady,’ the girl said, before welcoming the others each in turn. ‘I believe you are in need of a room and a hearty meal this night?’ Crystal nodded and then followed her to an unoccupied table. Tremlon pulled out a chair and gestured for Crystal to sit down, and Matt slipped into the seat next to her, forcing Tremlon to sit on the opposite side of the table. An angry glare left Tremlon’s hooded eyes but his sign of hostility was wasted on Matt who simply pretended not to see his furious stare.
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