The Shadow of Nisi Pote

by H C Storrer

  Tristan paused at the portal and turned to Jack. “We’re going to fix this, Jack. Everything will be made right again, you’ll see.”

  “We’ll make it so this never bothers us again,” Jack agreed.

  Tristan paused just short of the portal, Jack’s phrasing didn’t sound right.

  “No time to waste!” Jack caught Tristan off guard, shoving the fairy through the liquid stone.

  Within a fraction of a second the flowing black portal returned to rock. Jack threw back his head, “Arr-ara-arooo”, a mighty crow of victory rending the stone in a grand echo. He knew that his words had sounded a bit too cheerful. With Tristan on the other side, it didn’t matter; he had sold it well enough. Reaching down to the small tweed satchel laying against the wall, he pulled it open. Running his hand through the precious stones he had retrieved from the island, he couldn’t help but throw his head back and crow again. Taking a handful of rough rubies, he stuck them into a purse strung to his belt, a particularly large sapphire finishing his portable hoard. Return to the island? Give it back? Reminiscing over his fortunes, he stood, a world of possibilities beginning to open before him. “I’d sooner cut off my arm.”

  Chapter 39

  T ristan whipped himself about, the hard stone unresponsive as the glowing runes began to flicker and dim. “Peter!” Tristan slapped the stone in disbelief, his hands frantic to find a semblance of the portal. “Jack… Jack! JACK!”

  “Tristan,” Belle’s voice chimed through the hole in the moss. “Are you down there?”

  Tristan silenced, his mind reeling from the betrayal. He didn’t know how he was going to explain this to the council. He was the guardian. He had trusted Peter—Jack, more than anyone. He had fought for the betrayer. Now he risked sharing the dark one’s fate. Hiding his head in anguish, Tristan let his golden aura dim.

  “Tristan?” Belle slipped down into the shaft and then stopped just above the grotto. “I just saw you come in here. It’s about Peter. He cannot be trusted. Is he down here?”

  Tristan opened his eyes and dropped his hands from his face, defeated. “I was in… it doesn’t matter.”

  “I don’t see him. Is Peter here, in the tomb?” Belle whispered into Tristan’s musings.

  Tristan shook his head.

  “Peter is not who he says he is,” she warned.

  “No, he’s not,” Tristan stated flatly. “Come, we must go to the council. They will know how to recover the shadow.”

  Belle remained silent, unable to find the words to utter.

  “What is it?” Tristan could feel the despair in her aura.

  “You really don’t know, then?” Tears started to roll down her cheeks. “It was Peter. He destroyed the tree, the council, they’re all gone.”

  “What?” Tristan shook his head, confused.

  “He killed them, Tristan.” Belle’s eyes filled with tears.

  “No… no.” Tristan took a step backward. Even after everything, this was a journey too far. He couldn’t believe that Jack could be so cruel. Bursting through the opening in the moss with enough force that the greenery followed him halfway up, he paused high in the air. In the distance, the billowing smoke and flame of the once great council tree pushed ever higher into the blue of the sky. “I should have listened to you. He killed them, Moremore, Rata, Fering… the council.” Tristan’s chest filled with despair. “He killed them all. I couldn’t see it; I didn’t want to see it.”

  Belle held out her hand, trying to console him. “He used lies like men. We trusted him.”

  “AHHH!” Tristan screamed out with the cry of a thousand cymbals, tears streaming down his face. “No! I trusted him. You were right; we should have thrown him back to the sea.” Instantly, the guardian shrunk to fairy size as he drifted slowly back to earth. Belle held him tightly in her arms as he mourned for the destruction that weighed him down.

  ***

  Jack stepped into the cool evening air. He had avoided seeing the priest again, although it burned him just a little that there was a bit of truth to what John had said. He was finding it difficult to separate himself from the ageless shadow, there was a trove of knowledge at his disposal. Facts and images appeared within his mind’s eye on a whim. It was as if every conscious thought that had ever been in contact with Pan was now Jack’s to relive. Their memories and thoughts were his to share, an endless library of experience. Freezing in his tracks, Jack watched in his mind as the shadow called up flash after flash of images of a much younger Latavius as he burst through the tomb, a bronze fairy in tow. He could feel the shock and anger of the shadow as it sent a fountain of water from the pool to stop the intruder. Suddenly from Latavius’s hand shot a fistful of glittering green dust that collided with the rune-covered wall, activating the portal. With a thunderous growl, the shadow charged as the man dove through the liquid rock, and at the same time the bronze fairy dashed towards the grotto opening.

  Fascinated, Jack watched memory after memory as he sauntered through the dark London streets. Though his feet were following the familiar lanes that he had walked so many times before, he could feel himself becoming lost as he and the shadow grew more connected.

  “Oy there, fine gent!” Three street toughs emerged from a side alley and circled him like wolves, their interruption bringing Jack to the present.

  “Yah, give us yur coin!” another menaced with a knife.

  Jack grinned. “Now, boys. Who’s running the grift these days? Do you not have a shilling to purchase a better idea?”

  “Ahoy, we ’as a proper philosophizer, men.” the leader mocked with open hands.

  “An’ what right you ’as calln’ us ‘boys’. We ain’t much, but we ’as you by a year or two,” the second growled.

  “Give us yur coin o’ we is goin’ to cut ya.” The one with the knife edged closer from behind.

  In a flash, Jack ripped his gladius from his belt and slashed the leader across the face, forcing him to his knees, the next second the sword hung immobile in its sheath. Simultaneously, the shadow shot out, gripping the one behind him by its unseen arms, removing the knife from his grip and flinging it through the air, pinning the third one by the arm of his coat against a wooden shutter on the building behind. “There are a few simple facts, gentleman. Firstly, don’t confront your whales. Take their coin without suspicion. You never know when you’ll have met your match if you burgle a gent out for a walk. Secondly, London is an expensive place, and since I haven’t a penny—”

  “I only knows of one fief that called them whales.” The leader looked up into the moonlight. Instantly, Jack recognized the eyes. His face was older, hard, but Jack knew the boy in a glance.

  “Gags?”

  “Jack?” The young man squinted, ignoring the blood as it streamed from his cheek. “Jack!” Gags scrambled backwards on his knees with the revelation, tumbling into the muddy cobbles of the road with a condemning finger. “You… you… is dead, Jack!”

  Jack’s lips cracked in a grin as he crouched in front of Gags. “So I’ve heard.”

  “What ghostly magic ’olds Tom?” the man behind him yelped as he struggled with the dagger to rip his coat free.

  Jack looked over his shoulder; he could feel the shadow crushing the man in its grip, his face blue. With a thought, he was released, the shadow gleefully ready for another assault. “Trust me, lads, I am not dead. In fact, I am very much alive.” Jack reached out his hand and flicked the cowering Gags behind his ear.

  “But you ’asn’t changed.” Gags trembled from behind his soiled arms. “I means, you is just as you was when last I laid me eyes on ya.”

  “It’s a long story,” Jack started to explain.

  “No, mate, I means, you ’asn’t aged a day since we last saw ya.” Gags, finding courage, started up, and reached a shaky hand out to touch Jack’s shirt when at the last moment he recoiled so as not to be struck down.

  Jack rubbed the side of his cheek, trying to form a good lie. Faced with the choice, he wasn
’t sure if he wanted anyone to know the truth. The ring and shadow were best kept as secrets. “Are you boys ready for a tale?”

  ***

  Jack looked up from his pint, “Well?”

  “Well what, Jack?” Gags nursed the cut to his face. “You was slathered up in coconut paste for ’ow many weeks?”

  “You‘s was pickled?” Tom asked.

  “Right. But I also have been given the power of the island people.” Jack spun his yarn. To prove it, the shadow relieved a coin purse from a drunk at a nearby table. Jack took it in his hand and then slapped it on the table as proof. All three men nodded, it was undeniable. “But that’s enough about me. It seems you lot are nothing but street thugs now.” Jack shook his head sadly in mock judgement, a smile playing at his lips. “Remember the good old days, when we had fine suits and bread all around?”

  “Like anofer life,” Gags mused, his eyes far off

  “Well let’s take that life back!” Jack grabbed Tom by the shoulder. “This time, there will be no more Runners and magistrates. We’ll make the law.”

  “How?” Gag’s asked.

  “We’ll take to the sea, of course!” Jack was standing, pointing out the window. “Her depths are filled with all manner of riches to pack our coffers.”

  “I’m in.” Tom didn’t hesitate.

  Gags blinked a few times at his mate, and then agreed, “Yah, me as well.”

  The third man, Scales, shrunk from the gaze. “I fink you is all bonkers. But if there is coin and wine, I’ll go.”

  “Excellent!” Jack tossed the satchel of ill-gotten shillings to Gags. “Is our old hideout still around?”

  “A little worse for wear, but yeah, it’s still there.”

  “Good. Round up as many of our lost boys as you can. Meet me there in three days.”

  “An where would ’is royal ’ighness be off to for free days?” Scales pressed.

  “Where I was heading before I saved you three: Anna.” Jack was matter of fact as he gathered himself. “Oh and by the way, make sure you find Bill if you can, nothing like a trustworthy friend.”

  “You is ’eadin to Anna’s?” Tom asked with a knowing glance.

  “Yes?” Jack asked slowly. “Why?”

  “Well enough of that.” Gag’s pushed his compatriots towards the door. “We will try an’ find Bill, lessen you stumbles over ’im first.”

  Jack followed them out of the door and watched as the three split up. He couldn’t catch the meaning of that last exchange, but as he turned back onto the familiar path that led to Anna it was quickly forgotten. The shadow began to thrum with curiosity as Jack’s thoughts filled with his memories of her. He’d known his boys would fall for any tale he tossed at them. Anna, on the other hand, would see through him as she always did; he was sure. He knew he needed to tell her everything if he was going to do this right.

  Every king needs his queen. He spun to face Lord Cunningham’s manor, his hand clenched around the large blue gem he had pulled from his pouch. There would be nothing that could keep him and Anna apart.

  Chapter 40

  “‘E e’s never comin’ back, love. Don’t ya see it? I’s been there. Tis a sailor’s worst fear. I don’t mean ye harm, love, but like ’undreds before ’im, ’ee was lost to the deep,” Bill sighed, running a nervous hand over his head. “Look, I ’as enough to buy us a small ’ouse. I’ve been made first mate of a merchant vessel. It’s not an easy life, but it’s ’onest work.”

  “Captain Benning survived the attack, William! I can’t give up ’ope. You’ve been kind ta me, and for that I will be forever grateful, but I can’t accept you. It would be little repayment for your compassion to marry you, whiles me ’eart is locked away for ’im.”

  Jack lithely jumped over the garden wall and lowered himself to the ground behind a tree, unseen. To hear her voice was like hearing heaven.

  “I love you, Anna, but yer a fool.” William’s voice was louder now, frustrated. “I don’t want to cause you pain you ’asn’t already felt, but you ’as to move on. ’Ee would want you to move on. You ’eard Benning’s tale yerself, ’ee was the only survivor. I miss Jack as much as anyone’s got a right ta, but I don’t see any o’vers trying to break down your door. Ya need to understand, I’m yer only prospect. You’ll be working as a bit’er ol’ maid if you refuse me!” Years at sea had made William hard—without realizing it, he had gripped Anna by her arms tightly, trying to force her to understand.

  “Let go, William.” Anna’s voice was shaking as she spoke “You’re ’urting me!”

  “I would do as the lady suggests,” Jack warned, stepping from behind the tree.

  “Who do you think—?” Bill stood over Anna, his grip slacking from her arm when his voice faltered.

  “Jack?” Anna’s gasp cut through the air. She recognized his voice immediately and spun to meet him. Like looking through glass, Jack’s gaze bore past her, directly into the object of his contempt.

  “Jack?” Bill was dubious at first. Leaning forward, he tried to peer through the moonlit shadows to be sure. When Bill did decide to take a step forward, his feet slapped into each other as the shadows unseen hand swatted them out from underneath him.

  “Jack,” Anna said, her voice dripping with bewilderment. “Jack… Jack!” It was this third time, when she realized it was really him, that the syllables of his own name cut through his hateful concentration.

  Bill, having picked himself up, and a bit confused by his clumsiness put out a friendly palm. “Well you are the last person—” Instantly he was back on his face as his feet tangled together.

  “Jack, is it really you?” Anna held out her shaking fingers to touch him though she was still feet away.

  “Yes.” Jack couldn’t hold back the laughter as he took her hand. “It is me, love.”

  “Jack,” Bill started up to his knees. “How did you… where did you come from?”

  Jack flicked a perturbed glance at him with half a mind to unleash the shadow again but held back at the look in Anna’s eyes. Swallowing against his contempt, Jack monitored his tone, “Gags and a few others are gathering the boys at our old hideout in a few days. I think it would be best if you joined them in the hunt.”

  “But…” Bill slowly put his feet beneath him. It had been years, but the last time he had seen Jack so stern was the night he broke Talmage’s nose. Bill knew an apology was in order, even if he didn’t feel at fault. “I’s sorry. I got carried away, but things ’as changed Jack. You ’as to understand it’s been more than seven years an… an…” His arms outstretched, he hunted for words. This was not possible. He had always thought Anna was the prettiest thing, but they all knew she was Jack’s girl. When he had disappeared, Bill had seen his opportunity. Turning his head between Anna and Jack, he finally tucked it in shame. He never stood a chance. Somberly he mumbled at the gate, “I’ll not be bothering you again, miss.”

  Tentatively, Jack reached out his hand and brushed it against Anna’s cheek. “It’s okay. It’s me.”

  All at once, she rushed the last step between them, flinging herself into his arms. With tears flowing unabashedly down her face, she wrapped herself against his chest tightly.

  “I knew it,” she spoke through her sobs. “When Benning came back, I knew you ’ad survived too.” Anna looked up, her eyes red and puffy. “You look just as I remember. Where ’ave you been, Jack?”

  “I’ve been getting that a lot.” Jack hesitated; his earlier urge for honesty now seemed foolhardy. “I washed up on an island, marooned.” He stopped again, trying to come to grips with how much he wanted to tell her. He didn’t regret a thing he had done on the island, it was all necessary. He just wasn’t sure anyone else would understand the freedom that his actions bestowed upon Nisí Poté.

  Jack wove a grand tale, sharing his battle and triumph over Moremore and the near worship of the wild natives. He told her about Tristan and the others but omitted his vengeance on the council’s betrayal. Through his tale
, he could see that Anna was hanging on every word, gasping and laughing at all the right places.

  “It took me years, but I built a boat, filled it with provision, and came back. For you.” It was close enough to the truth. Jack pulled the large, rough sapphire from his pocket and held it out to her. “I love you, my dearest Anna. I may no longer have the honor of my youth, but everything that I am and everything I have belongs to you, if you will have me?”

  “I don’t want any of those things, Jack.” Anna smiled through the tears that fell rapidly. “I just want you!”

  Jack placed his hand on the back of her neck and brought his lips gently to hers while Anna, abandoning all sense of propriety, wrapped her arms around his neck and crushed herself to him, knocking them both to the ground. “My Jack,” she said through their kiss.

  Jack’s skin pricked with joyful bumps. He felt as if his heart was about leap from his chest and fly. With restraint, he held back a crow that was building in his chest. Suddenly, her grip tightened, and he could feel her heart thumping wildly, the shadow’s senses making him hyper aware of their proximity. “Jack,” she said, her voice filled with fear.

  Jack looked around for the danger that was frightening her, then relaxed with a laugh. They were floating well above the rooftops of London, the Thames glittering from the moon and stars in the distance. Anna looked at him with a startled expression. “I am happy you don’t care about my fortune or any of those things, though to be honest I am far wealthier than my parents could have even dreamed.” He floated back to Lord Cunningham’s garden. “You must think me mad.” Jack smiled with mirth. He retrieved his pouch of jewels, then held out Anna’a hand and poured its contents into her palm, the rainbow of stones shimmering in the dim light. “I brought these back for us, to start our life together. I also brought something else back…” Jack took a deep breath, his hand worrying the ring on his thumb.