by Peter Wilson
Jack pressed his face to one window and saw that particular shop sold clothes, looking very similar to a shop on Earth. The next one he looked into sold food, although he thought he’d have to be starving and nearly dead to eat it their wares. The smell coming through the door was rotten, the food looking like grilled frogs on skewers.
As they walked past more and more shops, Jack began to see how alien this world was.
Eventually Anthrow stopped at a shop and pushed open the door, inviting them to enter first.
“Vonsant’s shop. Don’t let the location fool you, if you need something enchanted or imbued with magic, there’s no better place to go.”
They walked inside and were greeted with a dark dank room, filled with tables packed with dusty old objects and artefacts.
“Imbued? What does that mean?” David asked as he picked up a glass globe the size of a baseball.
“It means that I take an object that isn’t magic and make it magic,” said a tall slender man who had appeared out of nowhere to take the globe out of David’s hands and return it to the table. “You break it, you bought it. Isn’t that a popular Earth saying? I’m guessing young Gregson that if you were to break this particular item you couldn’t afford to replace it. Unless you don’t need your heart or spleen?”
David let go of the globe, and stood speechless at the thought that there was a market for his body parts on this world, and concerned that this man had considered it.
“How did you know he’s a Gregson?” Asked Jack, as he looked the man up and down. His body and limbs were long and skinny, his big nose sitting between eyes that darted around like those of a snake. There seemed to be something reptilian about him, Jack decided.
“I see that you are all wearing some of my work, and I remember ever piece I’ve sold and to whom I sold it to,” he replied as he nodded his head towards the ring on Jack’s finger. “That particular item was an interesting request. A piece of clothing that can allow the wearer to see through even the most powerful of illusions. As long as you’re wearing that, no one can hide something from you via magic means. I must confess, I was sure I had made it into a glove though, not three rings.”
“The curator of our Attic turned it into rings so we could each wear one,” Jack explained.
The tall man shrugged as if it was of no consequence.
“Are you Vonsant?” asked Rosie. At his nod of accent, Rosie quickly introduced herself and her cousins to him.
He again nodded at each of them in greeting. He turned to Anthrow and asked a question in a language they didn’t understand.
Anthrow responded negatively and then said something else in the same language. All of a sudden they were going back and forth, both saying one word each at a time.
Finally Vonsant said something loudly and the conversation was over. He turned and walked from the room.
“Two minutes together and you’re already arguing,” said David.
“Not arguing, bartering,” replied Anthrow.
After a few moments, Vonsant returned saying, “Your rings, please.”
Jack looked at Anthrow who nodded. He took off his ring and passed it to Vonsant, as David and Rosie did the same.
Vonsant closed his eyes and waved his hand over the rings, sprinkling blue dust over them as he whispered quietly. They started to glow as a blue line appeared down the middle of each one. Soon the glow was so bright, Jack had to look away so he wasn’t blinded.
A high-pitched sound started to flow from the rings. It built in intensity, getting so loud the four of them had to cover their ears. Just as it got unbearable, it was gone. The noise and glow disappeared, the rings now having a slight blue tinge.
Vonsant passed them back and waited until they’d put them back on. “Do you understand me now?”
“Yes of course, you’re speaking English,” said David.
Vonsant smiled and shook his head. “Actually I’m speaking Bowlan. I know English but it requires a lot of effort for my people. Much easier to imbue your ring with the ability to understand and speak any language in the Universe. For the right price of course.”
“The right price?” Jack asked.
“A price I will discuss with your grandmother on our return. You three already ask far too many questions. Imagine if you couldn’t understand anyone while we’re here! You’d be asking me all sorts of dumb things all the time.” Said Anthrow.
“But I feel like I’m speaking English,” said Rosie.
“That is how it should be. Thankyou, it means I’ve done a good job,” said Vonsant. “Now. What brings you four to my store? I confess I haven’t seen a Gregson in Bowlandose in quite some time. You are aware there is a price on your heads?”
“What! I thought you were just testing us when you said that!” said David to Anthrow.
“I was! The test just happened to be…based on reality.”
“So we’re wanted dead or alive? By who?” Jack asked.
“Oh by a lot of planets, mainly people who have been enslaved or driven from their homes by Theorden,” said Anthrow.
“But, don’t they know it’s not all Gregson’s?” asked Rosie. “It’s just him!”
“And Maddox,” said Vonsant. “Once he joined with Theorden, all Gregson’s became wanted men and women. Anthrow and myself know the truth, we know you’re not all bad.”
“Maddox? I’ve never heard of a Maddox Gregson,” said Rosie.
Jack kept quiet, as he made eye contact with Anthrow, who was looking back at him questioningly. He shook his head slightly, indicating he didn’t want to talk about it with his cousins.
“Maddox, a distant relation of yours,” Anthrow said lying for Jack. “The point is, we need to be careful. If you recall, the Horde seemed quite intent on getting you as well. I doubt anyone will know you by first name, but perhaps we should avoid the “G” word from now on.”
“The Horde is after you? Again I ask, what brings you to my store?”
“This,” said Jack, pulling out the red stone. “It was put on our property…”
Vonsant rushed forward and grabbed the stone from Jack’s hand and covered it in a black cloth.
“Theorden!” he whispered urgently. “You carry this around? You must go, now! Someone will be here soon!”
“Who will be here?” David asked.
Vonstant looked at David and took a deep breath, trying to calm down. “This stone, I’ve seen one before. Crafted across the sea on the Third Knot of Bowlandose. It would have been a lot bigger when it was placed at your home. Was the Horde there?”
“Yes!” David said. “It had taken over one of our gardens.”
“The stone is a vessel for the Horde. Theorden uses these to start his invasions. He places one on a planet and lets it slowly release the black mist, giving it time to grow, spread and consume all life in its path. But he can’t have placed it on Earth! My father crafted an emerald, preventing anyone from using your portal. Is that not still in place?”
“No. Someone managed to come through the magic seal and steal it. The same person must have left the red stone. That is our true mission, to track down and recover the blue emerald,” said Jack.
“Someone can’t have just ‘managed’ to come through the portal. Someone on Earth must have taken the emerald. Someone that knew where is was and its purpose.”
“Who would do such a thing?” asked Rosie. She seemed horrified that someone in the family could be capable of something like that.
“Someone who wants to see darkness and evil come to Earth. The Horde is just the first stage,”
“How come the Horde isn’t here on Bowlandose?” asked Jack.
“Theorden is powerful, but so are others. He has been concentrating on planets weak in magic, and hasn’t dared attack cities such as this. However if he’s looking for you three, I think that may change very soon.”
“You think he knows they are here,” Anthrow said.
“Yes. This stone is…connected to Theord
en. When I make something I leave a signature within my work. When you walked into the room I knew you held something I’d imbued. It calls to me. Theorden is more powerful…a lot more than I. Where I can feel my work metres away from me, he can reach out and feel his across worlds.”
“So, it’s a tracking device,” said Anthrow. “If we’re being followed, he’d be using it to track us down,” he said as he picked up his bag. “Can you conceal it, break the connection?”
“Yes, but he’ll already know you are here. You must go quickly.”
“But what about the Horde at Gregson manor?” Jack asked. “Is there anything we can do to get rid of it before it spreads more?”
“Here,” he said, returning the stone to Jack, now wrapped in black cloth. “As long as it is covered like this, it can’t be used to track you. Take it to the Diamond Lake on the first knot and throw it in. The Horde on your world is connected to this stone. Now that it is concealed, the mist will no longer spread. Once you throw it in the water of the lake, it will destroy the Horde in your garden completely.”
“Water is going to kill that dark mist? Seriously?” said David.
“The water at Diamond Lake is not any normal water. Its purity will destroy many dark arts.”
“I know the lake, and how to get there,” said Anthrow.
Suddenly the door to the store opened and five men walked in. Unlike humans, they only had one eye, in the centre of their head. They were impossibly large. Their muscles were huge and bulging. As soon as one grinned at them, it was clear to Jack they weren’t there to shop.
“Out of my store!” Vonsant yelled as a wave of golden light left his hand and hurtled towards the leader of the group.
Just as it was about to hit him, the man waved it away with a laugh, a black mist leaking out of his hands to consume the gold magic before it.
“Is that the best you’ve got?” The giant man said chuckling. “Now, where is the Gregson heir? He has something my master wants. Come out little one, and I promise we won’t hurt your friends…much.”
The man’s companions laughed at his joke and Jack was sure that even if he did hand himself over, his cousins, Anthrow and Vonsant wouldn’t be safe from these beasts.
Jack put his hand in his pocket and gripped the Chaos Pixie Orb slowly, hoping the men in front of them didn’t notice his movements.
He glanced over to Anthrow who was watching him with a stern face. He nodded once and then turned to the leader.
“You’ve got the wrong people friend, I know no Gregson,” said Anthrow.
The man in front laughed, a deep disturbing sound that made Jack and his cousin’s cringe.
“Lie to me again small man and perhaps I will hurt you…lots.”
“OK! You’re obviously a smart man. Maybe there’s something you’d like more than a Gregson heir…”
“Enough!” the man boomed. “Where is the heir? Is it that one?” he said pointing to David as he took another step closer.
“Oh damn, now Jack!” Anthrow yelled as he grabbed David and Rosie and dove under the nearest table.
Jack didn’t hesitate and thrust the orb at the feet of the men in front of him.
He turned and dropped to the floor, grabbing Vonsant by the arm as the orb hit the ground. The glass smashed as he scrambled under one of the many tables, wondering what would happen next.
Chapter Eleven
Chaos
Jarl jumped up from the broken glass. She was finally free!
Pixies had no concept of time as they lived forever, so she wasn’t sure if she’d been in the orb for ten minutes or ten years, but as their kind got bored incredibly easily, both options were too long in her opinion.
She used her tiny wings to fly to the ceiling of the room and looked down. It was so boring! Tables and tables of dusty junk littered the room, as if untouched for ages. Five large men stood below, looking up at her and laughing. They all looked the same! Two arms, two legs, one eye. Where was the fun in that?
Jarl stroked her chin with one hand as she checked that she had a full pouch of magic powder with the other. What would make this room more fun?
She decided to start small, and sprinkled a small amount of dust on the large man before her. Immediately wings began to grow out the sides of his head. As they grew, they started to flap, trying to raise the man’s massive body into the air.
Jarl realised her error right away. She’d given him wings that could support his head flying, not his whole body! With another toss of magic dust, she made his body disappear and the head was off! Flying around the room, the funny man screaming the whole time.
What next? The other four men seemed to be scrambling to leave the room, but Jarl didn’t think it would be as fun without them there.
She flew to the door they were running towards and threw some dust on it. There was a loud crack, as big brown eyes appeared through the wood. A mouth with razor sharp teeth, roared open and snapped at the four men. It was big enough to eat one of them whole. Jarl smiled when she saw they had decided to stay.
Now it was time to get things really going Jarl thought, as the flying head screamed past her. She grabbed a large portion of powder in each hand and started flying around the room, sprinkling it everywhere. The room came alive as she used her imagination to bring the boring space to life.
She laughed in joy as the roof lifted off the room as the person she’d turned into a balloon pushed it towards the red sky above.
What was this? There were more people in the room! Jarl hadn’t seen them before, as they were lying under some tables.
The small boy that had been carrying her was one of them and he would definitely want to be included in the fun, she thought as she flew towards them.
She reached for more powder, thinking she could give one of them more legs to run around on.
No! Her pouch was empty! She would have to return home for more.
Once again she flew up, above where the roof once lay and looked down. Things were much more interesting now she thought as she smiled and disappeared in an explosion of gold dust.
***
“We need to get out of here!” Anthrow said, as the table above them began to shake.
Objects had begun to fall on to the ground around them, as they morphed into life. Jack saw that the globe David had held just minutes before had grown what looked like pigeon legs and was stumbling towards him. Some of the other globes had joined together and were now like a snake, slithering across the ground in search of food.
In the distance he could see a one eyed man staring at his arms that had been turned into giant fish like creatures, both of them hungry and trying to reach for the flying head above them. Another one now looked like a massive punkey, howling at the roof floating off into the sky.
It truly was chaos.
“Let’s go!” said Anthrow as he jumped out from under the table and raced towards the door.
Seeing that it now had a giant jaw with sharp teeth, he turned to Vonsant and yelled over the loud sounds of the room “is there another way out?”
“This way!” Vonsant said as he rushed towards the back of the store.
They ran after him, keeping low. The head with wings had worked out how to control its movements and was dive-bombing, hoping to get a bite out of one of them.
They ran through the door to the shops backroom, which somehow had even more objects and artefacts piled upon tables.
“This place is a mess,” said David.
“I know where everything is,” said Vonsant. “Well I did,” he added as he looked back towards the store. “I’m glad we’re alive, but I wish there had been a…less destructive way to escape Theordens troops. It will take a while to clean this mess up.”
“How do we get out?” Anthrow asked, looking back into the front room. “I just saw that flying head leave the place, it could be getting re-enforcements.”
Vonsant walked to the corner of the room and peeled back the carpet to reveal a trap
door in the floor. He pulled the door open to reveal a ladder, leading down to the next floor.
“This will take you down to my storeroom. You’ll find a back door that has a stairwell that will take you to the ground. From there you’re on your own.”
“Thank you Vonsant,” Jack said. “Sorry about getting you involved in this.”
“You can thank me by stopping Theordan invading your world. If he manages to do that…well there’s not much hope for the rest of us. Remember what I said about the stone. Someone from your household had to have placed it there.”
“Will you come with us Vonsant?” Rosie asked. “It’s not safe here.”
Vonsant smiled. “Thankyou for your concern young Gregson but I will be ok. This shop has been in my family for fourteen generations and I don’t plan on being the family member to close it down. Anthrow, please take these.” He said as he passed him a small box. “Use your gifts to determine their powers. Where you’re going, I think you’ll need them.”
Anthrow nodded his thanks and then urged Jack, David and Rosie down the ladder.
Once they reached the storeroom, Jack ran to the backdoor and pulled its large bolt free from the wall and yanked the door open.
“Me first!” Anthrow said as he caught up and took down the stairs. They were old, rusty and clearly not used often, but they held the four of them as they raced to the ground floor.
“This way!” he said as he ran down the alley the stairs had led them to.
They raced towards the end where it met another busy street, and Anthrow held out his hand for them to stop as he peered out, making sure there was no-one waiting for them.
“There are more of those one eyed giants at the base waiting at the front of the building.”
“Why do they want Jack?” Rosie asked no one in particular.
Jack had been wondering the same thing. When they had encountered the Horde at the Grotto, he had assumed that it was there to stop them recovering the blue emerald. But now it seemed that Theorden was specifically after him!