by M S C Barnes
Then Seb felt his hair stand on end as Nat whispered, “Can you feel it?” Greg turned, nodding to her.
“What is it?” Seb asked.
“It is an attack,” she said. “But not directed at you; I think it is an attack on Aelfric.”
“Then we should go to him,” Seb said, taking a step towards Trudy, but Alice put a hand on his arm.
“Seb, Aelfric wanted you to stay here —” Reynard said, before Alice could speak.
“Aelfric knew what he was doing when he left,” Greg said. “He knew Nicole would more than likely try this when he read a soul. That is why he didn’t want you going, Seb, and also why he took Zach.” When Seb looked puzzled he explained, “His ‘bubble’! Zach’s belief in his ability to use his ‘bubble’ to protect you and Aelfric is greater than Trudy’s.” Trudy was listening and frowned annoyance at her brother. “Trudy, it is true,” he smiled kindly at her. “Aelfric will have need of it.”
“I can see them!” Scarlet suddenly squealed. She sounded astounded at her own success. “Or, I can see a group of people I think are them,” she said.
“Describe them,” Henri said, looking at the mirror.
“There are six, no seven people. It’s really hard to see. It’s like there is a huge shadow falling across the mirror. One is definitely Lorna.” She glanced at Henri. “So she is Jacqueline!” She looked back down. “There are three other women. One is medium height, athletic-looking, with long, auburn hair, tied in a plait. She has very pale skin and I can see a small tattoo on her neck,” she said.
“Yvette,” Trudy mumbled. When Scarlet looked up she added, “Nicole’s Guardian.”
Scarlet nodded and looked back into the mirror. “There are four men and —”
“What about the other women?” Henri demanded, leaning in further.
“Well, one is quite a short woman, greying, brown hair down to her shoulders, she looks about forty,” Scarlet sounded surprised. “Oh!” she said, “and she is holding something — doing something — I can’t see what.” Frustrated, she shook the mirror.
“That won’t help, Scarlet,” Aiden said.
Huffing, Scarlet stared back into the reflective surface. “Now it’s gone! I can’t see anything,” she said, disappointed.
“Try again,” Henri said. “I need to know if Lotty is all right.”
“Was that her then?” Scarlet asked, still trying to see in the mirror.
“No,” Reynard said quietly. “That was Nicole.”
Scarlet physically jumped. “Okay, I’ve got them again. I can see the other woman. She is very tall, slim, a black lady, beautiful in fact, with a small gold hoop in a piercing over her right eyebrow. Is that her?” She looked at Henri who, nodding, let the cat fall from his arms and held the back of Scarlet’s seat.
“How is she?” he asked. “Have they hurt her?”
“Well, I really can’t see much. Oh it’s gone again,” she groaned.
“Zach says he has used his bubble,” Alice suddenly spoke into Seb’s mind. “He sounds happy. It worked.” Alice grinned.
“You can communicate with them too now?” Seb asked.
“Yes. It seems that in the actual Sanctum we can communicate. It is only below it and while using the lock pathways that there are issues; the barren space Henri was talking about I suppose.” He shrugged. “They aren’t below us, so I can communicate. Zach says they are on their way back now anyway.”
“Can you find them again, Scarlet?” Greg asked. “See where they are?”
Seb, standing beside Nat, felt her slip her hand in his and everyone waited while Scarlet concentrated on the mirror. It was another ten minutes before she gave a sudden small squeak then spoke excitedly.
“Okay, I’ve got them. There are definitely seven of them and where they are is — well, it’s dark and it looks like the place is lit by candles or torches. I can see chalky walls, water, stalagmites and, oh!” she said, suddenly realising. “There’s that sign we saw.” She turned to look at Seb. “It’s where we met Lorna — I mean Jacqueline. The sign says ‘The River Styx’!”
“Hellfire Caves then,” Henri said, satisfied.
Water Gateways and Enclaves
Seb’s palm had stopped aching, so he guessed Aelfric had successfully dealt with the trespassing soul. Zach had told Alice they were on their way back quite some time ago but there was no sign of them yet.
“Are they okay?” he asked Alice.
“I can’t get a response,” he said.
“Nat, can you feel anything? Are they okay?” Seb whispered to her.
“I can’t tell,” she said. “I can still feel the darkness.”
“Yes,” Greg said. “And it’s getting stronger isn’t it?”
Nat nodded and turned to Scarlet. “Can you see what Nicole is doing now?” she asked.
“She’s waving her hands around,” Scarlet said. “Like she is angry. She seems to be shouting at one of the men — he is holding something. But I really can’t see at all what it is or what he is doing.”
As she spoke, Aelfric stepped into the clearing. He looked ashen and was panting heavily. Dierne was discretely supporting him under the arm and The Caretaker, behind them, looked concerned. As they moved towards the thrones, two more figures came into view and Greg gave a squeal of excitement. Zach and Lily stepped into the circle and Greg rushed over and hugged Lily.
“One broken and one decrepit, it’s been a heck of a climb up those stairs,” Zach said and Lily slapped him on the arm.
“Decrepit Zach? I was faster than you up that last bit,” she chuckled, and she certainly looked unaffected by the long climb, especially in contrast to Aelfric, who was now sitting down, leaning to one side and struggling to catch his breath.
“All those steps,” Zach, joining Seb, mumbled to him. “Not good…”
“Are you all right Aelfric?” Henri asked. “Did something happen? You look dreadful!”
“Sorry, Henri,” Aelfric said, turning to Scarlet. “The man you can see, what is he holding?” he asked, urgently.
Scarlett looked momentarily horrified at the state of Aelfric but then stared back into the mirror. “I can’t see clearly, the image keeps getting covered by a black cloud.” She frowned in annoyance. “Whatever it is, though, is small and he keeps lifting it up to his face and then, after a moment, lowering it. When Nicole shouts, he lifts it again and stares at it.” She gave a sudden gasp and, as if the mirror had burned her fingers, dropped it in her lap. “I know what it is,” she said, sounding dismayed.
“A scrying mirror?” Aelfric asked and Scarlet nodded. Aelfric sighed. “Henri,” he said, “Nicole, through Jean-Paul, has been watching you.”
Henri looked shocked.
“So that was how they knew to leave as you arrived,” Reynard said.
“How did I not think of that?” Henri sounded annoyed at himself.
“And Jean-Paul is?” Zach asked.
“Nicole’s Seer, Zach, now don’t interrupt!” Trudy snapped at him. She turned to Aelfric. “Then she has been watching us too!” she said.
“I don’t think so, Trudy. I believe she has been using other ‘Sensing’ means to track us; there was a clear sign before each attack and it seems to have taken them quite some time to locate Seb initially and then re-locate him, or me since. I would guess Jean-Paul’s scrying skills are limited?” He turned to Henri who nodded.
“Since their group’s confirmation he has been challenged in his abilities. I don’t believe I have ever witnessed him attempt scrying before tonight.”
“Well then, I would suggest Nicole instructed him to focus on just watching you, Henri, in order to evade you if the need arose. She could not risk losing the image if he tried to Switch to us.”
“Yes; he may not even know how to allow a Switch,” Lily said.
“Switch?” Scarlet asked.
Lily smiled and sat with her. “When you are scrying you have to relax and let the mirror show you what you need to see.
By being clear in your own mind as to what your priorities are, if something more important for you to see occurs, the image will switch. A single-minded approach will only show you what you think of at the time, not other things that you might need to see. If Jean-Paul is not skilled enough to Switch, he will have had to choose between watching Aelfric and Seb or watching Henri; consciously changing between the two would take time and he could risk not being able to recapture any image at all.
“I would think you are right, Aelfric,” she said, looking at him. “Nicole will have told Jean-Paul to focus on Henri, if she is using her own methods for locating you and Seb.”
Aelfric, nodding, continued. “The Sanctum acts as a shield. When you all entered your lock pathway, Henri, you disappeared from Jean-Paul’s view. Nicole possibly expected that, and may then have instructed Jean-Paul to look for us. They will have been unable to locate anyone until Dierne, Morgan, Zach and I left the bounds of the Sanctum just now. And I know Jean-Paul found us. I didn’t feel any warning that I had been located, instead, the moment I called the soul, an attack occurred. Through Jean-Paul, Nicole knew exactly when to strike. Fortunately, Zach and Morgan were able to fend the attack off. I am not sure Nicole expected that.”
“Bubbles Seb,” Zach mumbled to him.
“We dealt quickly,” Aelfric continued, “and then returned to the entrance to the Endless Staircase where I brought Lily through. As we started our ascent, Jean-Paul will have lost sight of us. Nicole will be aware that we are all together in the Sanctum, but uncertain as to what we plan to do.”
“That’s why she is angry then,” Dom said.
“And what do we plan to do?” Henri asked. “If you are right — and I believe you are — as soon as we leave here, we become visible to them and they will be able to avoid us as before.”
“Henri,” Aelfric said, “if we don’t include our twins, there are thirteen of us.” He smiled weakly. “Jean-Paul cannot watch us all if we are in different places.”
Henri looked curious. “So what is your idea?” he asked.
“Morgan, Trudy, Zach, the Sælan Swords please,” Aelfric said and Henri raised his eyebrows. The Caretaker and Trudy each removed something from a pocket and handed it to Aelfric. Zach hesitated but eventually he fiddled around in his pocket and produced a small, shiny object which he reluctantly gave to Aelfric.
“Oh, that sword,” he said. “Don’t we get to use them?” He sounded disappointed.
“Soon, Zach,” Aelfric said. “But not in the way I imagine you think.” He turned to Henri. “Henri, I believe Nicole has not been using doors at all; she has been using water gateways. That is how she was able to decide where she went.”
Henri was aghast. “Well then she truly is lost,” he said.
“Water gateways?” Zach asked.
“They are openings — like the doorways we use — but in water sources,” Dom explained. “Unlike our doorways, however, they can be ‘forced open’ by a Custodian whenever they choose, taking them to wherever they choose; although it must be to another water source. Their use is forbidden except in extreme circumstances. Because it is not natural for a human body to pass through them, it can have a severe, physical effect on any, other than Custodians, who do. Few Custodians even know how to use them; that information is passed from the Witan to a Custodian only when they believe they are experienced and trustworthy enough.”
Everyone looked at Henri who shook his head. “She was never told,” he said, sounding mystified.
“The day before the last equinox, Heath sent Cue to locate Seb and then followed and tried to take him to the Hurlers,” Aelfric said. Seb remembered that haunting moment, in the woods, after he had walked out on everyone; Cue had suddenly appeared from nowhere and led him to a small stream. Then Heath appeared and tried to persuade him to get into a grounded boat. But Seb, confused and rebellious, refused to go with him and ran off. It turned out later that Heath’s intent was to take Seb to the Hurlers by water, ensuring Aelfric could not track them. “I pondered for some time how he managed to get to that location,” Aelfric continued, “given that his motives were malicious and so he wouldn’t have been able to use a door. I am certain he used a water gateway, and I believe he has taught Nicole how to use them and that is what she is using now.”
“To take such a step means she is really past caring about Nature’s Laws,” Henri said, shocked by the idea.
“What I propose, Henri, is to create a Triadic Enclave,” Aelfric said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Henri looked stunned.
“You came prepared for that?” he said, looking at the small objects in Aelfric’s hand which were glinting in the firefly light. To Seb they looked like the tiniest, most intricately decorated, daggers.
“Henri, we had no idea what — or who — we were dealing with,” Aelfric said evenly. “We had to plan for the worst.”
Henri nodded acceptance. “I have rarely had cause to use a Triadic Enclave though. You?” he asked.
“Four occasions only,” Aelfric said quietly. “An enclave will buy us a limited amount of control, nothing more. As soon as they are prepared, Nicole will strike again. But I believe the enclave will work to prevent them fleeing as before.”
“You guys are doing it again,” Zach moaned. “You know that none of us,” he waved his hand around to show Seb’s group, “have a clue what you are talking about?”
“Zach,” Greg said, looking excited, “A Triadic Enclave establishes a containment that cannot be breached from inside or outside; it contains all those who are within its boundaries when it is formed and excludes all those who are outside.”
“A trap then?” Zach asked.
“A containment,” Dom said. “For all those within it, at the time it is created.”
“By creating the enclave,” Aelfric explained, “we prevent Nicole, her group, Jacqueline and Philippe from going anywhere beyond the limited area of that containment.”
“Well, Philippe isn’t going anywhere any time soon,” Zach snorted and then stopped and gasped. “He wasn’t there! When we came across the water floor just now, he wasn’t there. Where’d he go? Did he escape?”
“The net holds only as long as the Custodians want it to,” Reynard said.
“So you let him go?” Zach, astounded, looked at Henri and then at Aelfric.
“We have no need of prisoners; Philippe chose his own path,” Henri said. “I just hope the one he seeks to be with was seeking to have him with her,” he added. “If not, then my poor friend will be in a — difficult position.”
“Well, how would he open a door to get out?” Zach asked.
“Precisely,” Greg chuckled. “If Nicole didn’t, or couldn’t, open the door for him, he will get as far as the exit to Henri’s lock pathway and no further.”
“Stuck in a stairway, in the dark,” Zach said, smiling.
“It’s a little less comfortable than that,” Henri said. “But enough. He chose his path as I say, and we are set on ours.” He gave Aelfric a small bow. “The enclave is a good idea Aelfric, go on.”
“Firstly,” Aelfric said, “we all have to understand that, as soon as we leave the Sanctum Nicole, through Jean-Paul, will be able to see precisely where we are and what we are doing. She cannot hear but she can see. So be mindful of what you do. Seb,” Aelfric turned to him, “You need to be aware too that it will be at that point Nicole may seek to attack you again. She will not waste time. Focus on your aura.” Seb nodded and Aelfric smiled at him. Then, looking at the others, he showed them the small daggers. “These are Sælan Swords, or binding swords. When they are used, with íwan parchment, to make markers at three points of a triangle, anyone or anything within the area of that triangle is bound to that area. The aim here is to keep Nicole and the others within this geographical locality.” He looked at Henri. “The markers are placed by a Custodian and their Guardian. Once the last marker is placed, the sword can be used by the Guardian, within the enclave, to deal with whatever
threat there may be.”
“Ooo,” Zach said and Trudy huffed.
“As a norm, enclave markers are placed mere feet apart, creating a very small containment area, in order to hold a single — more challenging — threat, such as a shadowtrail,” Aelfric continued, again, shifting awkwardly in his seat. “This will be a considerably larger enclave and I am not sure if that will cause us any issues. We will keep the footprint of it as small as possible but, at the very least, it will need to be big enough to hold all of us and Nicole and her followers.”
“All of us? We will be contained too?” Aiden asked, looking worried. Dom nodded. “For how long?”
“Until the last enclave marker is removed,” Dom said.
“Okay, so which of us will place the markers?” Henri asked.
“Usually, just one Custodian, with one Guardian and one sword, places all three markers, but, on this occasion, I do not believe one of us could get to the three locations and set the markers without Jean-Paul seeing and alerting Nicole. If they realise what we are doing, it will give them a chance to leave before the enclave is established.”
“We need a distraction then,” Reynard said and Aelfric nodded.
“Jean-Paul cannot see more than one vision in the scrying mirror at a time and, if Lily is right, his skills are not developed enough to allow him to Switch. So, while the markers are being placed everyone else will need to act as decoys.” Henri was nodding understanding. “I suggest that each Custodian places one marker,” Aelfric said and now Henri looked surprised. “Nicole is no fool Henri. If a group emerge from the shield of the Sanctum and one of us is not with them, she will get Jean-Paul to try and locate the one who is missing. Even if two of us are with the group, she will look for the third. We could gamble on Jean-Paul being slow to change images, but that may not be long enough for one Custodian to get to all three points. What I propose is that we open four doors. With the exception of us and three Guardians, everyone else will step, one at a time, through the first door. Jean-Paul will see the first person emerge, then the second and the third, in slow succession. He will, I hope, be drawn to watch as each new person emerges, waiting for the Custodians to appear. In the meantime we, with our Guardians, will use the other three doors, each one leading to a marker point. We will arrive simultaneously and place the markers, simultaneously, instantly forming the enclave, before Jean-Paul and Nicole realise we are not with the main group. By the time Nicole has redirected Jean-Paul’s search, in order to locate us, the enclave will be in place.”