by M S C Barnes
But now Aelfric smiled. “Rest,” he said.
Instantly the soul froze and then drifted over the open top of the mausoleum and away above the graveyard behind.
Into the Light
“The blame for any disaster that follows now lies with you Aelfric!” Lesley yelled at him, clenching her fists. “Both you and Henri have misread or ignored a Legacy and endangered us all. What did you see in it? Anger, hatred, vengeance, cruelty, malpractice — all worthy traits for a soul to be sent to rest.”
“We do not require the opinion of the Witan, Lesley,” Henri said. There was a chorus of outrage from the Witan members.
“You have sent a soul, equipped with more knowledge than any simple human soul, and filled with all those dreadful emotions, back to Áberan,” Lesley ranted, “knowing that, one day soon, it will be allocated a new life, a new host body. You are fools!”
Henri ignored her. He gave Aelfric a brief bow before turning away and walking across to the mausoleum wall. Raising his hand, Aelfric made the door appear and Henri, with Dæved and Reynard, passed through it. None of them looked back.
The angry shouts from the Witan members were still ringing through the air and now, in Henri’s absence, were directed solely towards Aelfric. He raised his right hand and lowered his head, as if accepting their criticism and as the shouting stopped he spoke.
“Prefect, Witan members, Seb and I would also like to apologise for wasting your time.” He put an arm around Seb’s shoulders and began guiding him towards the door as the angry shouts started again. The Caretaker, picking up the small Sælen Sword, followed.
“Aelfric,” Lesley yelled over the noise to him and Aelfric stopped and turned. Everyone else fell silent. “What did you see?”
Aelfric smiled kindly at her. “A Custodian’s Legacy, Prefect, as you are aware, is not for those outside the connected groups to know. I am sorry,” he said.
“But you are not within the connected group,” Lesley blustered.
Bending, Aelfric retrieved Henri’s ring, which was near his foot, and toyed with it before answering, “Mm. I find that interesting, don’t you?” In a swift movement, he tossed the ring to Lesley, then bowing to the other Witan members, ushered Seb to the door.
Seb could still hear the sounds of consternation from the crowd as he stepped over the threshold but that stopped instantly The Caretaker closed the door, and then the only sound he heard was fluttering and suddenly he was lifted off his feet and enveloped in a big, leafy hug.
“Seb, you are safe!” Alice said to him, beaming and lowering him back to the floor.
Seb stared at him in disbelief.
“And… and so are you?” he said, looking at the thousands of lush leaves covering Alice’s body. There was not a scorch or burn mark anywhere to be seen. “But how?”
Alice twirled in front of him.
“Something you did,” he said, stopping and looking intrigued. “Every Custodian has a specific gift, Seb and Aelfric believes you are a Drywærden — a warden of trees and plants. Apparently only one Custodian in recent times has had that gift.” He stopped, suddenly reluctant to say any more.
“Aelfric?” Seb asked, hopefully.
“No.” Alice shook his head. “His gift is relieving the pain of others. Seb, it was Heath. His love of the Dryad realm, and everything within it and from it, was well known. He had the ability to tend and nurture vegetation — to make plant life grow!
“When Aelfric was looking after me, when I was,” he stopped, frowning as if the memory was painful, “Well, when I was dormant, he saw you touch my wrist and a small leaf appeared. Then, your tears fell on me.” He cocked his head on one side, “You cried Seb? For me?” Seb blushed and Alice grinned at his embarrassment. “Well, anyway, as soon as that happened, leaves began growing all over my body. By the time Aelfric took me to the caves, I was already so much better and since then, well — look at me!” He twirled in the air again, showing off the magnificent covering of leaves.
And now it dawned on Seb. The day before his Confirmation, when he had run away, trying to avoid the truth that Aelfric and his group had shown him, he had wandered off into the woods, where he had been tracked and traced by Cue. Cue had led him to a tiny brook and Seb, having found a small boat, hidden beneath a tangle of bushes, tried to clear the vegetation away from it. He had pricked his thumb on a thorn. It had bled but he had thought nothing more of it. Later, during the night, when he had gone to hide his own piece of the Shield Knot, while digging in the earth around his father’s grave with his bare hands, green shoots had sprouted wherever his injured thumb had touched the soil. In no time, a full bush had grown. Rushing back to the Hurlers, he had ignored the phenomenon — too disturbed to think about it. He had never considered it since. Now, Alice had given him an explanation — though it meant little to him and it still disturbed him. Heath? Heath had been the only Custodian in recent times to be gifted in the same way? Seb had no desire to follow in his footsteps and struggled to see having the same gift as him as a good thing. But then, looking at Alice, he decided, if it meant he could heal his twin, it couldn’t be all bad. He smiled.
“Well, you look fantastic, Alice,” he said and hugged him.
It was only now that he took in his surroundings. They had emerged through the door below the Endless Staircase in Hellfire Caves. Aelfric, Dierne and The Caretaker had moved further down the passageway, Seb guessed, to give him and Alice a degree of privacy for their reunion. A firefly torch had been planted in the gravel beside the door and threw his and Alice’s shadows up the wall. Seb jumped as he thought he saw a third shadow beside them. He shook his head, blinking and when he looked again, it was gone.
“Are you okay?” Alice asked, looking over his shoulder.
Tearing his eyes away from the wall, Seb nodded. “Yes, just a bit jumpy.”
A chorus of laughter sounded from much further down the passageway.
“Henri said you went to rescue Zach,” Alice said, ignoring the laughter. He looked concerned. “And that it is all over; but nothing else. What happened?”
“It is over,” Seb mumbled. He wasn’t ready to think about the dreadful events, let alone talk about them yet, but Alice was obviously desperate to know. “Is there a way you can look at my memories without making me relive them?” he asked and Alice nodded. “Help yourself then.” Seb smiled.
Alice closed his eyes. After a few moments he opened them again. “I don’t know what to say Seb.” He looked astounded and appalled at the same time.
“I didn’t know,” Seb muttered. “If I had realised that she wasn’t —”
Alice put a hand on his arm, and shook his head. “What she did was awful —actually, beyond awful,” he said. “And what you did was amazing.” He looked at the dried blood on Seb’s clothes. “Are you definitely okay?” he asked.
“Yes,” Seb said as the sound of more laughter echoed along the tunnel. “What is all that?” he asked, glancing down the passageway.
Alice grinned. “Zach!” he said. “He’s been entertaining us all while we waited. Well, entertaining some of us. Trudy is already fed up of his stories about how fantastic he was and has had to take the sword off him because he keeps showing off with it.” That made Seb smile but then suddenly he became serious again.
“Alice, thank you,” he said, and Alice regarded him with curiosity. “For saving Nat. You nearly died —”
“I love her too, Seb,” Alice said, then, looking embarrassed, added, “Not in the same way of course.” He smiled sheepishly and Seb grinned.
“Still thank you,” he said.
Aelfric approached them. “If you are both ready, we will join the others?” he said. “I know Henri is anxious to get back to The Light House.” They nodded to him and as he turned to lead the way down the tunnel, Seb thought he saw a shadow flit past his shoulder. Aelfric checked his pace, just for a fraction of a second, but then continued walking, leading them towards the sound of voices and laughter.<
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They entered a huge, brightly lit cave in which the rest of Seb’s and Aelfric’s groups were gathered. Other than Henri, Dæved and Reynard, there was no sign of the rest of Henri’s group or of the members of Nicole’s.
Instantly Seb stepped out of the tunnel, Nat ran over and threw herself into his arms, nestling her head into his neck.
“I said I would come back,” he whispered to her, holding her close; but the tender moment was interrupted as Zach ran across, wrapped his arms around them both and with a grunt hefted them into the air.
“Big hugs!” he shouted then dumped them back down onto the ground and boomed, “Stories to tell, Seb?” He suddenly took a pace back though and screwed his face up, staring at the blood covering Seb’s clothing. “Look at the state of you, mortal! Surely a shower and a change needed? Nat, put him down.” He prised Nat out of Seb’s arms then put his hands on his hips. “That is just — well, yuck, Seb. Clean yourself up for your girlie.”
Scarlet, joining them, shoved him. “Leave them alone, Zach,” she snapped. “I doubt Nat minds.”
“Okay then,” Zach laughed, scooping Scarlet into his own arms. “Then you stop complaining that I am sweaty and dirty.” He planted his lips on hers and gave her a kiss. She pulled away, giggling.
Aiden joined them, grinning happily, and now Zach spread his arms around them all and swept them up in a group hug.
“We need food,” he shouted. “Celebrations and food!” He turned to look at the others in the cave.
After a brief, cheerful reunion with Aelfric, his group had already assembled by the passageway opening and Trudy, standing a few feet from Zach, frowned at him.
“We are going for a review.” She pointed along the tunnel with the Sælen Sword she had confiscated from him.
“For a review?” Zach said, his shoulders slumping. “No celebration? No food?” he asked.
Reynard, striding over, clapped his hand on Zach’s back.
“Of course food, Zach!” he laughed and Zach threw a triumphant look at Trudy.
“Well that’s more like it,” he said. “Let’s go then.” He looked thrilled as Reynard wrapped his arm around his shoulder and led him into the tunnel. “Come on My Lady,” he called back. She tutted and, with The Caretaker, stomped after them.
“So you’re okay? Everything’s okay?” Aiden asked Seb as Scarlet linked her arm into Nat’s and led her after Trudy.
Seb glanced across at Aelfric and Henri who were chatting quietly on the far side of the cave; again he saw a shadow flit across the wall.
“I think so, thanks, Aiden,” he said, looking back at him. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out the small tin. Smiling, he handed it to his friend. “Though I doubt it would be if it hadn’t been for this.”
“You used it then?” Aiden asked, wide-eyed.
“Yes, but not in the way you would imagine. I may have dented it a bit though; I’m sorry.”
Aiden examined the tin, noting a very small depression in the casing. He popped the clasp and then clicked it shut again; popped it and clicked it shut once more. Looking up he gave Seb a big smile.
“It doesn’t stick any more. I always had trouble opening it and now it opens really easily,” he said happily and slipped it in his pocket. “Thanks.”
Lily, who, Seb noticed, was wearing his jumper, with Greg and Dom now followed the others into the tunnel and Aiden trotted after Dom as Aelfric and Henri approached.
“Seb, I would be honoured if you and your group would join us all at The Light House,” Henri said to him. It was as if, free of the worries of the night, his personality had transformed. The stiff, haughtiness was gone and there was a warmth and genuine friendliness in the way he spoke. “Lotty would love to meet you.”
“Thank you,” Seb said but became distracted as, once more, he watched the shadow sweep along the edge of the cave wall. Aelfric noticed the direction of his gaze.
“Let’s get to The Light House,” he said quietly, and Seb, his heart sad, nodded.
The others were all grouped in the narrow passageway, waiting for one of the Custodians to arrive and open the doorway. They parted for Aelfric who, making the door appear, allowed everyone to go through before him. He remained, looking back along the tunnel for a moment, then he mumbled almost to himself, “This is no place to stay.” As he stepped through the doorway, the shadow zoomed past his head.
Seb’s jaw dropped as he stared at their new surroundings. They had emerged in a vast, hexagonal room, its six walls made up of huge glass panels through which the night sky and rolling countryside could be seen in an unbroken panorama. Light from the thin crescent moon shone weakly through the pane opposite Seb and was captured by five mirrors which were suspended, at an angle, from the ceiling; one above each of the other panes. From these, it was reflected onto a massive, circular, concave mirror embedded in the floor in the centre of the room. As the five reflections struck that mirror the light was shone back upwards onto thousands more tiny mirrors which had all been set at different angles in the ceiling above and they, in turn bounced it around the room. The thousands of different reflections of this one meagre light source served to magnify it to such a degree that it bathed the whole room in an intense brilliance. And through it all, in and out of every single mirror above their heads, fairies flitted. Their shimmering wings captured the light too and shone it around the room, casting rainbow beams everywhere.
In a design that echoed that of The Pytt, around the central feature of the mirror, was a circle of plush sofas and chairs which all appeared to swivel, affording anyone sitting in them the ability to either face the mirrors or turn about and stare out at the fantastic views beyond the windows. And the views were fantastic. This room appeared to be atop a tower and below it, on every side, stretched a night-time world of hills, valleys and plains. Occasional pinpoints of light were dotted over the landscape, shining from the windows of farm dwellings or country retreats, and then on one side there was a splattering of many lights — the street lights brightening the woven criss-cross of roads in a large town.
Zach had already rushed over to one of the glass walls and, his hands pressed against it, was staring down below them, craning his head to see.
“A light house? A light tower more like. How many floors are there? Are we at the top?” He tilted his head, looking up.
“Zach,” Scarlet hissed at him and then nodded her head towards the sombre group of people who were seated, in silence, around the large mirror. Yvette, Jean-Paul, Georges and Emile sat close together on two sofas, looking worried and defensive. Philippe and Jacqueline sat together on another sofa, holding hands and clearly nervous. Beside them, curled up in a large armchair, was Lotty. Seb recognised her instantly, though she looked far healthier then when he had seen her before.
Seeing Henri her face suddenly brightened and she stood up. He rushed over to her and gave her a hug, then, making her sit back down again, he began fussing over her. They looked so happy to be re-united Seb found himself smiling stupidly.
“Right!” Reynard, handing his Sælen Sword to Aelfric, clapped his hands, diverting attention away from them. “Food, Zach!” He grinned.
“Well okay!” Zach said, leaving the window and approaching the seating area.
“This way,” Reynard beckoned him, then pointed at an opening in the floor on the far side of the room which was surrounded by gleaming railings. “It won’t make itself,” he laughed.
“What?” Zach exclaimed. The railings surrounded a set of steps which led down to the floor below. The Caretaker and Trudy, having handed Zach’s sword to Aelfric, were already on their way down them and Reynard followed. Zach, complaining, chased after him. “Really? We’re cooking? Why us? Always the Guardians, never anyone else. Really?”
Lily, Dom and Greg ushered Aiden, Nat and Scarlet over to the seats while Aelfric placed the two Sælen Swords on the floor, shone light on them and muttered a word. They instantly shrank and he retrieved the small objects and
put them in his pocket. Now he approached Lotty and Henri. Bending down he kissed Lotty on the cheek. She regarded him fondly.
“I am glad to see you are well,” Aelfric said to her.
“It’s thanks to Henri and Dæved,” Lotty said, patting Henri’s hand and smiling at Dæved. Then a quizzical look crossed her face. She stared at the vast amount of blood on Aelfric’s clothing. “And you Aelfric?” she asked. “Are you well?”
“I am, thank you,” he said, quietly and then moved to step into the background, as though uncomfortable with her scrutiny.
“Always so reserved, Aelfric,” she laughed and suddenly stood up and flung her arms around his neck. “I am relieved that you are safe and sound and it is very good to see you.” Looking surprised, he smiled and returned the hug. “Now, some of your new group I know,” Lotty said, releasing him and smiling at Nat, Scarlet and Aiden. “We had chance for a brief chat in the caves, waiting for you boys to return — although I do think Zach did most of the talking.” Scarlet raised her eyes and nodded. “But there is someone I haven’t yet met.” Lotty glanced around Aelfric, at Seb. He was standing, with Alice, right in front of the pane of glass through which they had entered the room, though the doorway within it had long since vanished. He blushed on hearing his name. “Gosh, they are making them young these days, Henri,” Lotty giggled and then started coughing. Aelfric helped her sit down and Henri covered her knees with a blanket and held her hand.
“You are still not fully healed, Lotty. It will take time. You must rest,” he said. She turned his hand over, frowning as she saw the injury. “It will be fine,” he muttered to her, placing his hand on Moe’s back as the wolf appeared from thin air behind them. Lotty was about to speak when a clattering sound drew everyone’s attention to the other side of the room and Zach, still complaining, appeared from below, carrying two large trays laden with drinks.
“All hail the conquering hero, now, make the soup, cut the bread, wash the dishes, serve the drinks,” he grumbled. “Oh, everyone comfy?” he said, looking at those on the sofas. “Enjoying a nice little sit down and a chat are you? It’s all right, don’t get up, I can manage —”