The Trespassing of Souls

by M S C Barnes

low, apparently deep in thought. Dierne flitted towards Seb.

  “You must leave him be, Seb. He will return to instruct you when he is ready. There is time.”

  Seb stood his ground. “I’m not leaving. I need to speak to him. I need to speak with you,” he called past Dierne.

  Mr Duir didn’t move and Dierne repeated, “You must leave him.”

  Seb ignored the Dryad.

  “I have seen enough,” he called. “I have seen enough of your actions and what you are, what you were willing to sacrifice in order to keep the balance of everything. I do not believe that what happened to my father’s soul could have been your fault. But I do need to know it isn’t mine!”

  Slowly Mr Duir raised his head.

  “Dierne, thank you my friend. Can Seb and I have a moment?”

  Dierne frowned at Seb and in the slightest whisper he said, “He is the most honourable— ”

  “I know,” Seb cut him off and smiled reassuringly.

  Dierne gave a short bow and disappeared.

  “Alice … sorry.” Seb shrugged to his twin who had followed him across. Alice nodded and zoomed after Dierne.

  Mr Duir waved him over. Under the broad stretch of the overhanging branches they sat in semi-darkness.

  “Seb, I am not in the game of self-pity or self-deprecation. I have always tried to be honest with myself and those around me about my motives, my achievements and my failures. There is no point being any other way.”

  Seb looked at his profile. “I understand that,” he said.

  Mr Duir turned, his features shadowy in the dim light. “Seb, the solstices and equinoxes are the most amazing times for a Custodian. You will see in winter the unique circumstances of the solstice when you will conduct The Restoration of Souls and the Elders will Slow Time and open The Well and you will be busier than you ever thought possible, returning or banishing many, many souls.” He paused and looked away into the distance. “The equinoxes, however, are different: as with the solstice, the space between realities narrows, but not to the same degree. There is no special provision made, no slowing of time. And for these events the Custodians must stand guard, must be ready for the higher numbers of souls that will trespass.

  “For every equinox since I was confirmed I have worked with Heath. Although the equinox is only one second in time, the numbers of souls who flood through is high and we spend hours in its wake, dealing with them all.”

  He sighed. “Five years ago, Seb I deserted my post. An hour before the minute of the equinox, Heath had travelled to the Dryad reality to deal with an errant soul that had managed to cross into that realm. In his absence, which was protracted, I waited and as the equinox approached I became concerned. Dierne was unable to communicate with him. So I went in search of him.

  “I found Heath, safe and well. He had been …” he paused as if trying to find the right words, “… waylaid.” He turned back to Seb. “The reasons are not important, but by the time we got back I had missed the start of the equinox and the damage to your father’s soul had already been done.” He rubbed his face, as if working his way from dream to reality. “I arrived just in time to witness the overthrowing of your father’s soul, but not in time to prevent it.”

  His last words were mumbled. “Seb, the blame is mine and mine alone.”

  Sitting in the darkness beneath the boughs of the tree Seb watched the water lapping around its roots.

  “So what waylaid Heath?” he asked.

  Mr Duir shook his head. “It is not important.”

  “Did he often do that?” Seb asked. “Heath? Did he often disappear and not come back and not communicate?”

  “It doesn’t matter, Seb,” Mr Duir insisted.

  “Well I think it does. If it wasn’t normal behaviour then that would be concerning.”

  “I am experienced enough to follow the signs, Seb. There was nothing, no sign to indicate that Heath was in trouble and my role was to stand guard, not go searching for him. I have questioned my motives many times, wondering if I used the excuse of worrying about Heath’s welfare when in actuality it was curiosity that took me to the Dryad Realm that day.”

  “What is wrong with that,” Seb said. “Did he do that sort of thing often?”

  “Never.” Mr Duir dropped his head. “He was as resolute as me. He was my mentor, Seb and, until recent events, I had never doubted his devotion to this role.”

  “Well that’s your answer. Why would someone who never missed an equinox suddenly not be there for the start of it? I’d have gone looking for him too.”

  Mr Duir smiled sadly. “Seb, you miss the point. We are all responsible for our own actions and Heath was an experienced Custodian who knew more of the ways and lore of Nature than any before him. I should have known he was fine, trusted the signs. I went against them and the result was the torture of your father’s soul. That is something for which I will never forgive myself.”

  “Well what did waylay him?”

  “Seb, we are labouring the point now. It doesn’t matter what kept Heath away that day – I should not have followed him. The event is done, the blame mine and today I will try to help your father find a resolution of sorts.”

  “Why are you protecting Heath?”

  Mr Duir looked surprised but said nothing.

  “So he wasn’t up to some noble Custodian act, then! If he was, you wouldn’t mind telling me.” Seb frowned then stood up. Looking down at Mr Duir he said, “For someone who doesn’t believe in self-deprecation you seem to have been your own judge and jury. I have no idea why you are choosing to protect Heath, especially given what happened last night. What you did I am sure was because you were concerned about Heath – even if partly out of curiosity too.”

  He stared into the water.

  “The words my father and I said to each other the night before he died were said because her cared enough to make his son feel happy and I cared so much I didn’t want to lose him.

  “The soul, however, that took my father’s place, did so knowing it was ruining the life of another soul and, not caring, did it anyway.

  “I think Mr West said that to you the most important thing in a Custodian is to care. Out of the four souls – yours, mine, my father’s and the trespassing soul – that was the only one that didn’t care.

  “Heath has to take a share of the blame for tearing you away from your post. And since you won’t tell me what he was doing I am going to guess that it was something he shouldn’t have been.

  “Judge yourself for missing one soul if you will. But you are wrong. I judge that soul as the one to blame. Not you, not my father and also, not me. The blame lies with the soul currently in my brother’s body … and Heath.”

  With that he walked away, back across the water and sat with Scarlet. Quietly he explained what Mr Duir had told him. At first she looked sad and then outraged. For a second he feared she saw it differently to him, but then she shouted, “And because he went to look for Heath he blames himself? Really? And doesn’t blame Heath?”

  Mr West had been hovering nearby and said to Scarlet, “Aelfric is the hardest taskmaster you will ever meet. But he is hardest on himself and yes, he believes that he should never have gone after Heath that day. He fundamentally believes your father’s soul was trapped in its current guise because he was not there to prevent the trespasser from taking his host.”

  “He’s wrong, of course,” Scarlet said.

  “None of us would say that to his face.” Miss Angel sighed and then flinched as Mr Duir said,

  “Lily, effectively Seb did just that!” Standing behind Seb, no one had seen him approach. Seb spun round and was relieved to see a smile on Mr Duir’s face. “I confess he was rather wordy in his approach, though when he did reach the point he was very blunt!”

  Miss Angel was speechless and Greg West took her hand.

  “We all think it, Aelfric,” he said.

  “I know,” Mr Duir replied. “Morgan my friend, can I beg a coffee?”


   

   

  Things to Come

  Mr Duir placed a hand on Seb’s shoulder.

  “It will soon be the time of Confirmation.” He looked at Scarlet and Seb’s friends before taking his seat by the fire. “During The Elder Passage, all except Seb and myself shall sleep. Once the Channelling Stone is prepared and the Elders are in position you will all be asked if you accept your roles.”

  “I take it you’ll wake us up then?” Zach said. “It’s just that I can sleep. I can! And since we’ve already been up all night I am pretty damn knackered and, well, may not wake up in time. If you’ve got something you need me to do …”

  “You’ll wake,” Miss West said and dunked a biscuit into her coffee, grinning.

  “So long as you all know. I warned you, I am good at sleeping!”

  “Shut up, Zach,” Miss West and Scarlet said together.

  “The Confirmation of the new Custodian and the Custodian’s group is a very quick and simple matter. In fact, I barely remember my own.” Mr Duir smiled and took a sip of coffee, raising the cup slightly to The Caretaker in thanks. “And then commences the Question to End …” He paused. “You must all remain silent. No matter what is said, you do not speak. No matter how long a silence, do not speak. This is the chance for each of the old members to commit completely to their decision. Once made, it is irrevocable and none have the right to disturb. Are we clear?” He looked at each of them, waiting for a nod. He held Zach’s gaze for a second longer.

  “Yes, clear!” Zach protested.

  “Just checking.” Mr Duir