The Rumpelgeist

by Fiona McIntosh

  Starling looked thoughtful. ‘The fact that evil Simeon is lying to Grevilya is a crack in their armour.’

  ‘Why lie?’

  ‘He doesn’t want her to know about Davren, I suspect. You know the centaurs and the basilisk are ancient enemies, don’t you?’

  Olof shrugged. ‘Why would I know that?’

  ‘It’s a long tale but I suspect his lie to her is linked with that ancient enmity. He is a faithless creature, has no loyalty to anyone or anything – least of all to Grevilya. His only concern is himself and for now she suits his purposes until he can assume control of Drestonia.’

  ‘Davren?’

  Starling was going to say more but Grevilya interrupted.

  ‘I know you’re out there, Bitter Olof!’ they heard Grevilya yelling. ‘But you’ll keep. As long as I have this,’ she said, clutching the grimoire to her breast, ‘you can’t release your friends and I know you won’t leave without Grace. I’ll be back to find you after I’ve seen to the Princess.’ She disappeared into the house.

  ‘What now?’ Olof said.

  ‘Follow me,’ Starling replied. ‘We have some children to release and they can help us free Gracie and your friend.’

  The sprite queen and Bitter Olof scuttled silently across the rooftops, heading for the barn.

  Davren suddenly held up a hand, as if to silence Flynn. ‘I think I heard footsteps,’ the centaur whispered.

  ‘It’s been a long time, Davren,’ someone said, a few moments later.

  To Flynn’s surprise, Davren laughed. ‘Bitter Olof,’ he said warmly to the newcomer, a dwarf with inkings that he noticed were peeking out from beneath his long shirt sleeves.

  ‘One and the same,’ Olof said, emerging fully into the clearing where they stood.

  ‘This is Duke Flynn Jolien.’

  Flynn did a quick bow. ‘Any friend of Davren’s is a friend of mine,’ he said.

  ‘A well-mannered lad,’ Olof remarked with a twinkle in his eye. ‘I’m glad we found you.’

  ‘Where’s Calico Grace?’ Davren frowned.

  ‘Grevilya caught us attempting to steal her grimoire. She has used a spell on Gracie and Little Thom. They’re trapped. I’m putting some distance between myself and that witch while I figure out what to do,’ Bitter Olof explained.

  It struck Flynn that the dwarf was behaving casually, especially given his personal dilemma regarding his wife and companion. But Flynn didn’t know Bitter Olof. Perhaps this is how he always is, he thought.

  ‘Do you know Grevilya’s intentions, Olof?’ Davren asked.

  ‘She wants to turn the Princess into a ghost in front of the King! She will demand that King Lute relinquish his crown to her. If he refuses, Grevilya will hold Ellin and all the other children she can gather up as ransom until she forces his hand … or his people do. She won’t stop.’

  ‘What makes her think anyone will go along with this?’ Flynn asked, frowning.

  ‘Lo curse that cunning witch,’ Bitter Olof said, but without much heat.

  Flynn stole a glance at Davren and noted his expression was thoughtful too, as though trying to work out a mystery while they talked to the dwarf.

  ‘King Lute will have no choice but to agree,’ Bitter Olof said. ‘He would never risk Ellin’s life, surely?’

  ‘I wouldn’t be so sure of that,’ Davren said, surprising Flynn. ‘King Lute has an iron will,’ Davren continued, turning to Olof. ‘He won’t capitulate so easily. And I doubt he’ll take kindly to ransom.’

  Olof turned hostile. ‘He may have no choice if the people of Drestonia turn on him,’ Olof warned. ‘The parents of those ghost-children are not going to just give them up. King Lute will come under intense pressure from his citizens to agree to Grevilya’s demands.’

  ‘I have to agree,’ Flynn said, biting his lip, knowing he was missing something. There was a nagging thought at the back of his mind.

  ‘You see, King Davren, even the boy agrees with me.’

  Davren reacted first to the wrong note. ‘Flynn,’ Davren said, his ponderous expression turning to one of fear. ‘Run. It’s not Olof!’

  At his yell the dwarf appeared to melt and change in a blink. Suddenly he was huge – and strong. Flynn was shoved roughly backwards and landed with an ‘Oof!’ He blinked, winded and furious to see Wren flapping excitedly in front of him.

  ‘Run for all your life!’ the sprite king yelled. ‘I just couldn’t get to you in time. Olof’s with Starling, not here!’

  ‘What happ–’ Flynn began to say, but Wren tugged at his shirt.

  ‘Run!’ he growled in such a fierce voice that Flynn moved at his urgings.

  Scrabbling to get back on his feet Flynn half ran, half stumbled on all fours before he could straighten and then he was sprinting, with Wren at his ear urging him to hurry.

  His last stolen glance over his shoulder showed him Simeon the serpent, posing in his gaunt manservant guise, smiling at Davren, who had not fought him but let him throw a rope noose around his neck. In the dying light, Flynn saw a forked tongue slip out of the man’s mouth and taste the air before his hideous laugh broke the silence and followed him as he fled.

  32

  Davren moved back slightly on the rope, resisting the serpent’s pull on his neck. They both knew the centaur was much stronger but Simeon smiled, for they both also knew that Simeon had him at his mercy.

  ‘If you don’t cooperate, centaur, we will punish the Princess on your behalf,’ he lisped, and smiled maliciously. ‘But I’m sure you knew that and it’s why you’re so meek.’ He yelled to where Grevilya was waiting by the house. ‘Look at my prize. Come see.’

  Davren became still. ‘Where is Her Highness?’

  ‘I’d like to say walking towards us but I know you don’t mean Grevilya. I’m going to take you to join Ellin shortly. She’s unharmed. For now anyway.’

  The witch arrived holding a lamp. ‘My, my, what a beauty you are. I thought centaurs were creatures only of Drestonia’s ancient legends. But you are a sight to behold.’

  ‘No ordinary centaur either, Grevilya. This is a king.’

  Grevilya chuckled, a high, pretty laugh, and Davren reminded himself that it belonged to Grace. ‘So you tell me. I’m truly enchanted. Well, King Davren,’ and even the way she said it made his flesh crawl, ‘we can’t have you running wild around my forest. Besides, we have another king to welcome soon and add to my series of living royal sculptures.’ She began to say words that Davren didn’t understand but recognised as magical. Immediately he felt a stiffening in his neck and then his limbs began to feel numb and he realised he could no longer move from where he stood.

  ‘There,’ she said, almost kindly. ‘Now you can relax. You don’t even have to wonder how you’re going to aid the Drestonian royals because you can’t. You can just stand here and enjoy the spectacle of the humbling of the Drestonian crown.’

  Davren said nothing but he stood so much taller than either of them that when he raised his chin and looked over their heads, it was like an insult.

  Simeon laughed at him. ‘Tell me, centaur. Why didn’t you run when you had the chance?’ the serpent-man asked.

  ‘Why do you think?’ Davren said carelessly, still not looking at him.

  ‘You wanted the boy to escape. I can’t imagine why. Surely you know what a prize you are for Grevilya … for me. Now we have the King of the Forest as our pet. We’re not interested in a petty noble.’

  ‘He’s not our pet, Simeon. He’s our ornament,’ Grevilya countered.

  Davren ignored her.

  ‘What gave me away?’ Simeon prodded.

  ‘I have never called myself king. And Olof would not address me thus.’

  Simeon nodded. ‘I’m intrigued as to why you would prize the boy over yourself. What can he offer that you can’t, I wonder?’

  Davren ignored them both now, closed his eyes and reached for the Silvering.

  Flynn had run in a wide loop, nearing the cliffs but tracking
for the house where he knew Ellin was. He had to get to her. He stopped briefly behind some bushes, feeling vaguely safe under the cover of darkness although he was nervous about Wren giving them away.

  ‘They can see your bright green light. Hide behind here,’ Flynn urged.

  Wren joined him.

  Flynn began to slow his breathing. ‘Now, tell me what happened?’

  ‘Davren was –’

  ‘I know, but how did I fall? Someone pushed me. It wasn’t Davren. But you surely don’t have the strength to do so.’

  ‘It was him,’ Wren said and pointed.

  He spun around and was shocked to see Lex standing and watching him carefully.

  ‘You?’

  Lex nodded.

  ‘Why?’ Flynn demanded.

  Lex spoke and Wren explained.

  ‘He wants you to know how sorry he is. He said there isn’t time to explain everything but whatever he’s done, he’s done for the right reasons. He is loyal, he does care about the Drestonian crown and especially the Princess.’

  Flynn could see Lex’s lips moving fast, his eyes full of pleading. Wren was speaking quickly to keep up.

  ‘He was trying to save the children. It was an impossible situation. He didn’t think it would come to this but Simeon is too crafty and he knows now he can’t trust either of them to release him or the children.’

  ‘So he saved my life?’ Flynn said.

  ‘Do you forget that I saved it before?’ Wren translated for Lex.

  He stared at the ghostly boy in front of him. He realised he had no idea what colour hair or eyes Lex possessed. He couldn’t tell if he had freckles or rosy cheeks. All he could see was a misty outline of him and in that moment Flynn felt a rush of guilt. He couldn’t know how traumatic Grevilya’s spellmaking had been on Lex. He tried to imagine Lex with the other children, all younger than him, all counting on him to somehow save them. Lex had never really had a choice. And it was true, if not for Lex he might be dying now, slipping away quietly with the help of Physic Merryman’s herbals or writhing under Grendel’s sword-inflicted wounds.

  Training to be a knight was all about chivalry. Within that code, which Master Reeve was shaping his coterie to respect and follow, were the principles of compassion and empathy for another’s suffering.

  ‘I can tell you’ve suffered, that you’re suffering now,’ he said. And gave a sigh. ‘What do you want from me?’

  The answer came swiftly. ‘He wants to help save Ellin and the others,’ Wren explained. ‘But he’ll do whatever you say now. He wants to assure that he’s on our side and will not betray us.’

  Flynn fixed Lex with a hard gaze. ‘Promise?’

  Lex nodded solemnly.

  He took a slow breath and considered. He needed to know what was happening in the house but he couldn’t risk showing himself.

  ‘They can’t see you, right?’

  Lex nodded, a fresh energy entering his expression.

  ‘Go in and find out exactly what’s happening for me. Reassure Ellin. Tell her what’s occurred but that I’m free and I will come for her. Go now! I’ll meet you in those outbuildings I see at the back where you told us the children were imprisoned.’

  Lex smiled triumphantly and disappeared in a blink.

  Flynn looked at Wren. ‘Let’s head for the barn. We can’t do anything for the captives but we should at least show ourselves to them. And tell me, where’s the real Bitter Olof?’

  ‘He was running from Grevilya’s inertia spell,’ Wren said. ‘She has already cast it over the pirate and his big friend. I suspect Davren has suffered a similar fate. Possibly Ellin too.’

  ‘But Olof got away?’

  Wren nodded. ‘Starling will keep him safe and hopefully hidden.’

  ‘All right. Davren believes King Lute will be here with soldiers shortly. Forgive me for giving orders to you, King Wren, but please find my king for me. Tell him everything. He needs to know it’s a trap he’s riding toward.’

  Wren didn’t hesitate. ‘Take no chances yourself. Trust no one – remember, it could be Simeon.’

  He nodded and realised that although he, Ellin and Davren had devised a way of telling each other they were themselves, no one else knew the sign and it was no wonder they’d been trapped into believing Simeon was Pilo and then Olof.

  ‘You be careful too, Your Majesty,’ he said softly as he watched the brave sprite fly furiously into the night, heading for the cover of the trees.

  Flynn ran silently towards the barn and hoped with all his heart that he was unobserved.

  And as he ran, Davren sliced into his mind.

  Davren! Where are you?

  Where you left me. Grevilya has cast her inertia spell upon me. I’m sorry, Flynn, the centaur said.

  But you’re not injured?

  No. I can’t move. Grevilya and Simeon are still here. Talking. Baiting me. Simeon wants to come after you. Grevilya wants him to return to the house because she knows King Lute is coming.

  Don’t worry about me. I can stay out of sight. Just keep watch for me if you can.

  I can do that much. Who else can help?

  Only Bitter Olof and I are free for now. I’m going to see if I can find him. And don’t worry, I won’t fall for that trick of the serpent’s again.

  Ellin glared at Grevilya from the sofa. During the witch’s absence she’d tried everything to free herself but Grevilya had tied her securely enough that she’d only succeeded in burning her wrists further as the rope had cut into her flesh. The witch was now back to gloat with Simeon in his guise as the hollow man.

  ‘Your friend the centaur makes a most impressive statue on the edge of the woods,’ Simeon lisped.

  Ellin felt her heart miss a beat. Poor Davren.

  ‘I must admit, Princess, I suddenly have a fine collection of living sculptures for my garden. Mistress Greenleaf and the beautiful centaur. But I do believe my prize is Grace. Now she can admire me as I walk past her everyday. I shall definitely be taking my statues to the palace with me when we move to Floris. And I am looking forward to adding you and your father to my collection.’

  ‘My father will never willingly put the fate of Drestonia in your hands.’

  ‘Clearly you underestimate the power of my magic, little girl,’ Grevilya said, stroking the grimoire.

  ‘Your magic?’ Ellin sneered. ‘Its magic, more like,’ she said, nodding at the grimoire. ‘You’ll lose it one day, Grevilya, and you’ll lose everything.’ She looked over and sneered at Simeon standing nearby. ‘So will you.’

  ‘You are all the ammunition I need,’ Grevilya replied, ignoring Ellin’s barb. ‘I have no doubt your father would do anything to save his precious little princess.’

  ‘He will do what’s right for his people,’ Ellin said.

  The witch laughed. ‘Spoken like a true queen that will never be. I shall enjoy wearing your crown, Ellin. Now I sense your father’s imminent arrival and we do want to be ready for him, don’t we?’

  Grevilya began to utter words that made no sense to Ellin, but immediately she felt her throat begin to numb, and the sensation rapidly spread through her body. ‘What’s happening?’ she cried, feeling breathless.

  ‘There’s no point fighting it,’ Grevilya advised. ‘Ah, there we are. Now I can add a princess to my sculpture garden,’ she chortled.

  33

  When Pilo had heard the unmistakable shrill of Ellin’s Whistle, he had been speaking quietly with the King and Duke Griff, discussing whether to split up the soldiers into three packs with one of them spearheading each unit so they could be ready for any eventuality in any direction. He had suddenly swung around, alarmed as he heard her magical shriek for help. ‘It’s Ellin,’ he growled at Lute, ‘I know exactly where she is. Saddle up!’ he said, without any care for protocol.

  Pilo rode at the head of the column of soldiers, alongside Duke Griff. Behind them rode the King and Queen; Tria had refused to be left behind. At least King Lute was talking to him.
Pilo couldn’t say the same for Queen Tria.

  ‘We’ll get Ellin back safely and Tria will come around,’ Griff was saying.

  ‘Oh, I don’t know, Griff, I think she blames me for Ellin’s independent ways, perhaps for her defiance. And sometimes I fear she could be right.’ Pilo sighed.

  ‘That’s a worried mother talking, Pilo. Ellin has been stubborn, adventurous and determined since she was an infant and nothing was ever going to change her personality. Not even the mighty Pilo.’

  Pilo smiled sadly, his focus off guard when his horse reared suddenly.

  ‘What in Lo’s Fires –’ he said, startled. ‘Lute, Tria,’ he heard Griff call out in warning as he began to wrestle back his horse.

  ‘What is that?’ Griff said, craning his neck to get a better view of whatever was lurking in the forest they had been skirting.

  Having calmed his horse, Pilo followed Griff’s gaze. ‘I can’t tell,’ he said.

  The ‘thing’ emerged from the bushes and flew directly at King Lute. In an instant, Griff, Pilo and several soldiers drew their swords.

  ‘I am Wren, king of the sprites,’ the glowing creature said, bowing mid-air to the King and Queen. ‘I come as a friend.’

  ‘It speaks,’ Queen Tria said, amazed, as the royals joined Pilo and Griff.

  Lute threw Pilo a slightly bemused glance, but dismounted and approached Wren. He bowed formally. ‘It is an honour to meet you,’ he said.

  ‘Likewise, Your Majesty,’ Wren replied. ‘I bring news of your daughter.’

  ‘Ellin!’ Tria said. ‘Please tell me she is safe, King Wren.’

  ‘She is captured by the witch but I suspect unharmed. Flynn Jolien sent me ahead to tell you about what to expect once you reach Grevilya.’

  ‘Then we are in your debt,’ Lute said. ‘Please tell us everything, but quickly. Queen Tria is anxious to see her child.’

  By the time Wren had finished his tale, everyone seemed to be holding their breath.

  Lute gave a growl of frustration. ‘What does she want from us?’

  ‘That you pay fealty to her. She plans to rule, Your Majesty,’ Wren replied.

  ‘Well, she has to take my crown first,’ Lute said.