14
Ellin wanted to pinch herself to check that she really was venturing beyond the palace grounds without any guards or soldiers. Not that she was enjoying much opportunity to admire her surrounds, for Davren ensured a rapid pace. He paused only for Ellin to consult Lex, or more importantly, to check on Flynn.
Finally, as the light began to fade, Davren called a halt. ‘We will overnight here.’
‘Don’t stop on my account, Davren,’ Ellin said. ‘I’ll gladly travel through the night.’
‘I’m not stopping on your account,’ Davren assured.
‘Well, it makes no difference to Flynn.’ Ellin rubbed her face, dusty with the grime of the day’s travel. ‘I’ll never forgive myself if we don’t save him.’
‘I’m not stopping for your comfort or for Flynn’s sake, Your Highness. I’m stopping because your two horses need to be rested, watered, fed.’
She blushed. ‘Of course,’ she said, leaping off Flaxen, dismayed at such an oversight.
Davren smiled kindly. ‘I believe we will reach Grendel tomorrow morning. Now you must rest and eat too, or your father will have my hide.’
‘But Flynn –’ Ellin began, shaking her head.
‘I will take care of Flynn. I will stay awake with him, I promise. We will rest for a few hours only, so make the best of it.’
Ellin crouched next to Flynn. She put saddlebags beneath his head and covered him with the spare cloak she’d brought along.
‘He looks very ill,’ she said, sadly.
‘He looks peaceful,’ Davren commented. ‘His chest rises and falls evenly, he has no fever, his heartbeat is steady. You must trust me.’
‘I do,’ Ellin nodded, surprised how reassured she felt by the centaur’s soft but wise counsel.
‘Lex, are you listening?’ Davren said. ‘Do you think Grendel will sense you?’
‘Probably not,’ Lex said to Ellin. ‘Tell Davren that Grendel and Grevilya are both powerful magicians, but their skills are different. I overheard Grevilya talking to Starling one day about Grendel. Their jealousies and rival magic have made them enemies.’
Ellin conveyed his words to Davren.
‘This could be helpful to our cause,’ Davren said. ‘Lex, I presume Grevilya can see you?’
‘She can’t,’ Lex replied and Ellin relayed this, sounding as surprised as Davren looked. ‘She’s like you, Ellin, and can only hear me. She can’t see the other children because she was lazy when she conjured her magic against them.’
‘So the children she’s stolen are also affected by her wicked spellmaking?’ Ellin asked, further shocked. ‘Why didn’t you say this before?’
‘I didn’t really get a chance,’ he said but his excuse sounded hollow, and as Ellin told Davren her tone couldn’t hide her disbelief.
‘My father should have been told this,’ she pressed. Although Lex claimed differently, it felt as though he’d chosen not to mention the children’s wellbeing. Until now, everyone had understandably assumed they were prisoners; no one had an inkling they had been changed through magic.
‘Don’t worry, Your Highness,’ Lex soothed, ‘Grevilya has been having problems with her mind. I’ve overheard her saying she feels her memory is failing and as a result worries that her spellmaking powers are waning. It’s why she has written everything down into one big book – her grimoire, she calls it. She can’t rely on herself to recall her spells any longer and that’s why she can be beaten.’ Ellin could hear the glee in his voice. ‘She was lazy with the others. If she can be distracted, her hold on them will falter.’
Ellin explained to Davren what she’d heard.
‘But her hold on you is stronger, is that what you’re saying?’ Davren asked.
‘Yes,’ Lex replied through Ellin. ‘Because she formed my spell more completely. But it wore her out. I’ve heard her tell Starling that her mind was hurting after she’d changed me.’
‘Thank you, Lex, that’s all helpful,’ Davren said. ‘There is much for me to think about before we meet Grendel, so Ellin, please rest. No more can be achieved tonight.’
After assuring herself that Flynn couldn’t be made any more comfortable, Ellin made preparations to settle in for the few hours Davren promised. She built a small fire as Pilo had taught and dug into the sack of food, only now realising how famished she was, marvelling at how mealtimes – previously routine and part of her day – were no longer important. Cook had packed plenty of food for this journey. There was cold chicken, a thick chunk of apple pie, bread, some of her famous oat biscuits, a wedge of cheese, a fresh pear and even a few boiled sweets made from last year’s raspberries. She wished she could share it all with Flynn.
Davren drifted quietly away, deeper into the forest, to assure himself they were alone and safe. As Ellin chewed quietly she realised that despite her grave fears for Flynn, she almost felt content. His life was in the balance and children were in danger, yet she couldn’t help feeling a little thrill of pleasure at being away from the palace. She tossed the chicken bone into the flames and the pear core into the forest for some lucky animal to come snuffling around and find. She could hug herself that no one was going to tell her it was time for bed or that she should brush her hair one hundred times to make sure it gleamed.
As if he sensed her glee, Davren returned, clearly channelling her mother. ‘You can wash your hands in the stream, if you wish. It’s not far and all is safe.’
‘I’m fine, Dav,’ Ellin replied. ‘I think I’ll try to go to sleep now. Lex, tell me while I drift off about the ghost-children. Tell me their names and what they’re like.’
So Lex began to tell her about the children, one by one. She laughed when he told her about Beng offering Dilly his thumb to suck when she was frightened.
‘We’re going to save them, Lex. I give you my promise,’ Ellin said, sleepily.
‘Sweet dreams, Your Highness,’ Lex murmured.
Ellin grinned in the darkness. With Davren’s reassuring presence, she was unafraid. He was a creature of the forest who understood its noises and rhythms. The trees were also like dark sentries, guarding her, and their leaves formed a shadowy canopy through which she could glimpse a clear, starry night.
‘I envy you, Davren, and your freedom,’ she said, wistfully, as she yawned and turned on her side to find a more comfortable position. ‘When this is over, I’m going to insist I be allowed to walk freely in the forest with you and Flynn. Lex, you might have to come along in case we cut ourselves or need one of your potions.’ She sighed.
‘Peaceful dreams, Your Highness,’ Davren murmured.
Crouched by a tree, Lex watched the Princess sleeping. No matter how much he tried to convince himself that he was only acting to save the lives of the children, he could not shake his guilt that he was leading her into a trap.
Bitter Olof stood on a crate and leaned against Silver Wind’s railings, allowing the stiffening night breeze she’d turned into to gently part and blow his beard behind his shoulders. The moon was fattening and hung low and yellow in the sky.
Little Thom stood alongside him and spoke close to his ear. ‘If Hellion’s Hole turns out to be a dead end, I’m getting off this ship at the next opportunity, with or without you.’
‘Bah!’ Bitter Olof said and waved an angry hand at his companion. ‘I’m right this time, you’ll see.’
Both men watched as a pigeon in the dying light negotiated the swell of the ship and used the buffeting wind to land on the ship’s railing. ‘Aha, look at this, Little Thom. King Lute’s found us,’ Bitter Olof said, sounding happy for the first time in days.
Little Thom untied the message from one of the pigeon’s legs and handed it to Bitter Olof. ‘This little fellow deserves a big meal,’ Little Thom said. He carried the bird below deck, as Olof unravelled the note.
When Little Thom returned, Calico Grace was with him.
‘So, what does the note say, Olof?’ she demanded.
‘It seems we’re no longer al
one in our search for Grevilya,’ Olof yelled. ‘Princess Ellin and Davren are also on their way to her. Oh ho, listen to this! They’re journeying with the guidance of the magical Rumpelgeist. They’re headed south to somewhere close to Collymoor and then further southwest.’ He looked up, astonished.
Little Thom whistled. ‘So their directions match up with our suspicions of Hellion’s Hole.’
‘I told you we were onto something this time!’ Bitter Olof crowed.
‘Princess Ellin,’ Little Thom said. ‘But she’s just a baby.’
‘I think she’d be thirteen, maybe fourteen summers by now,’ Grace shouted, turning her back to the breeze. ‘But why would she be looking for the witch? And why would King Lute allow her to?’
Bitter Olof held up the note. ‘It doesn’t say, but I guess we’re going to find out soon enough.’
15
‘What are we going to do if Grendel refuses to help us?’ Ellin asked, as they skirted Collymoor and found the milestone marker to Newton-Mead.
‘I’m sure he will be too intrigued to pass up the opportunity to speak to us,’ Davren said, with a reassuring smile.
‘What if he tries to use his magic on us?’
‘Then you get out of there as fast as you can. Don’t worry about anyone else. Promise me.’ Davren pointed to the ribbon around Ellin’s neck. ‘And then you blow that Whistle.’
Ellin didn’t want to think about summoning Pilo to this place. She hoped if it came to that her father would refuse him access and send the soldiers instead.
‘Lex?’ Davren called. Ellin confirmed that Lex was listening, and Davren continued. ‘I can feel Grendel, or rather I can feel the pulse of his magics.’ He sniffed the wind. ‘Just past that copse ahead. It’s time for you to go on without us, Lex. Be careful until you know for sure that Grendel cannot see or hear you. Once you have established that, gather as much information as you can. The more we know in advance, the less likely he will be able to trick us.’
‘Pilo said to look for the gilka tree,’ Ellin reminded.
‘Over there,’ Davren pointed. ‘I suppose we have to stand alongside it and from that angle we should be able to see the crevice and the opening into Grendel’s place,’ he said.
‘I see it!’ Lex said, excited. ‘But as I can’t point you to it, you have to –’
‘Oh yes, there it is,’ Ellin said to Davren. ‘Lex’s seen it, too. How cleverly disguised it is.’
‘Go ahead, Lex,’ Davren said. ‘We are now in your hands.’
‘Be careful,’ Ellin warned.
The voices of his companions faded as Lex neared the grey rock formation, which was covered in clinging mosses and concealed behind a small stand of trees. He ducked beneath an overhanging branch, which had hidden a split in the rock, just wide enough for a person. Lex could have approached from above but wanted to check the way for the others and make sure there were no dangers. He slipped through the opening and was surprised to see a wide clearing on the other side of the dull, grey facade. The clearing was encircled by rocks in the form of a tiny amphitheatre.
Lex was briefly grateful for his soundless invisibility. A normal person’s footsteps would be magnified by the acoustics of the amphitheatre, serving to warn Grendel of intruders.
A set of stairs had been hewn into the rocks and led up to a cottage, hidden by bushes and vegetation. Lex paused halfway up the stairs and looked anxiously back towards the entrance. The view was obscured, so Grendel could not have seen Davren’s or Ellin’s approach from the forest. They were wise to have chosen the rougher pathway instead of the road. Lex took a moment to marvel at the prettiness of the small spring running down one side of the rock formation. He wished he could taste the deliciously fresh water.
As Lex neared the top step he was startled by a small commotion. The cottage door was flung carelessly open to reveal a man, whom he assumed was Grendel, holding a small pail. The wizard was so old it was hard to guess his age and his face was set in a terrible scowl and was covered in sores and flaking skin. He stomped through the doorway and filled the bucket with water from the spring before heading back inside.
Lex seized his opportunity and sneaked in behind the wizard. Once his eyes adjusted to the gloom, he saw the room contained floor-to-ceiling shelves that held all shapes and sizes of jars filled with plants, herbs and seeds, as well as unidentifiable globular, fleshy things suspended in liquid.
Flying around these shelves was a tiny sprite. It appeared to be busy checking things off a long list, stopping every now and then to dust and straighten jars.
Lex noticed a silvery thread looped firmly around the sprite’s ankle. He followed the thread and traced it back to a heavy weight of iron on Grendel’s workbench. It was the same kind of magical bond Grevilya used to restrain the children. Lex felt his throat catch with sympathy. He’d thought Grevilya’s spell was unique but here was Grendel, using an identical imprisoning tool.
Lex thought the sprite bore a startling resemblance to Grevilya’s assistant, Starling; he’d felt sorry for her, and had suspected she was just as much a victim of Grevilya’s evil ways as the children were. Lex marvelled now at the industrious sprite as it flitted about the shelves. Like Starling, it appeared to glow from within, but with a far brighter green light. It was only when Grendel suddenly shouted that Lex dragged his gaze back to the wizard, who was still scowling.
‘Not a speck of dust, mind me, Wren!’ Grendel warned.
‘I promise you won’t find a single mote, Master,’ the sprite answered, fluttering and glowing brightly amidst the gloominess of the cottage, illuminating all the dust being disturbed around him as he cleaned.
‘Have you checked on that Virry seed yet?’ Grendel demanded, impatiently.
‘The store is low, Master Grendel. I will seek fresh supplies soon,’ the sprite answered.
‘Don’t you leave me without it when I need it or I’ll choke your scrawny neck,’ Grendel snapped.
‘Yes, Master,’ the sprite twittered nervously.
Grendel was pouring liquid from one glass flask into another, which he then heated over a flame that seemed to hover in the air.
Perhaps it is a magical flame, Lex thought, recalling his studies. It burned brighter than other flames and it had the telltale golden colour of magical flames.
Oh, but what does it matter that I know this? he thought, vowing to waste no further time. Until I’m free of Grevilya’s curse, nothing matters.
‘Grendel!’ Lex called timidly at first. He didn’t think the wizard could hear or see him, but he figured he’d better check just to be certain. ‘Grendel! Don’t you see me? Hear me?’ he tried again.
The wizard didn’t so much as blink at Lex’s outburst.
‘Let’s see if I can adjust the strength of this brew,’ he said, clearly in the habit of talking to himself. ‘Mistress Teal will pay me handsomely if I can make this potion work on Master Bail.’
‘So only Master Bail sees the difference?’ the sprite asked.
‘Yes, that’s the savagely good bit. Mistress Teal remains as big as a house, but Master Bail sees only a slim-hipped woman before him.’ Grendel laughed with glee. ‘But that’s enough idle chatter. Get back to work,’ he added, recovering his customary bad humour.
Wren fluttered back to the shelves.
And Lex, convinced he was silent and invisible to the pair, stole away to find his friends and put their plan into action.
16
Bitter Olof had persuaded Calico Grace to pull Silver Wind into a cove a few leagues out from Hellion’s Hole. The crew was now assembled on the main deck.
‘All right, so you have our attention,’ Calico Grace said. ‘What is this about, Olof? And why are we here at Seagull Landing instead of out there?’ She waved a hand at the open sea. ‘Making for Hellion’s Hole?’
The dwarf cleared his throat. ‘We need to discuss our plan for sneaking up on Grevilya. My plan –’
‘If she’s even there,’ Grace inte
rrupted.
Olof nodded. ‘Is to –’
‘If she’ll even see you,’ Grace added, sucking on her pipe.
Bitter Olof gave her an indulgent smile before continuing. ‘Is to –’
‘She’s evaded us all these years and it’s not as though she won’t see you coming,’ Grace interrupted again, raising her eyes to the skies.
‘Captain Grace!’ Bitter Olof said.
Gracie gasped at her husband’s unusually harsh tone, causing her pipe to fall from her mouth and clatter to the deck. The ship seemed to sigh and grumble in response.
‘There! Now look what you’ve done. You’ve offended Silver Wind with all that shouting,’ Grace said, recovering herself.
Bitter Olof gave a resigned sigh. ‘Firstly, I hope Silver Wind forgives me – I meant no offence. She is the most beautiful and generous of ships and I am grateful for her help.’
Everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting, until they heard a sound like tiny bells in a light breeze tinkling around them. Olof smiled tightly. ‘Thank you, Silver Wind.’
Calico Grace retrieved her pipe, placing it back between her few teeth with an indignant groan. ‘Get on with it, you old rogue. What is this plan of yours?’
‘Well, if you would just keep quiet I could tell you,’ Olof said.
Calico Grace opened her mouth to protest, again causing her pipe to clatter to the deck. Once again the ship sighed its displeasure and this time Little Thom closed his eyes in exasperation.
Once he’d again appeased Silver Wind and silenced Calico Grace, Bitter Olof finally outlined his surprising plan to the captain and her crew.
‘So you mean to take the Silver Wind in alone?’ Little Thom said.
The dwarf nodded. ‘This fight is mine – and Gracie’s. I’d rather not put anyone else at risk of Grevilya’s magic.’
‘And do you think to leave me here with the rest of the crew?’ Little Thom asked.
The Rumpelgeist Page 11