The Trespassing of Souls

by M S C Barnes

hopefully. “They respect … well, care for you that much.” He didn’t know what else to say.

  Mr Duir rubbed his face and then, sitting up straight, took a deep breath.

  “Thank you, Seb,” he said. Standing again he waved a hand in front of the bushes beside the bench. A door appeared. Seb smiled at how normal that seemed now. “Let’s rejoin the others. I will need to speak to Scarlet. Your mother will want you all together for Adam’s birthday and Scarlet needs to— ”

  “Accept that he’s our brother.” Seb nodded.

  Seizing the door handle Mr Duir paused one last time. “Seb, you cannot tell your mother, your brother – anyone – ever.”

  “I know.”

  Mr Duir gave a satisfied nod and passed through the door, Seb right behind him. They stepped into the cheery cave, the warmth of the fire a contrast to the chill afternoon they had left behind. The Dryads swooped to hover at each of their shoulders the instant they appeared. The group circled around the fire were chatting and laughing but they fell silent when they saw Mr Duir.

  “Do you always have that effect when you enter a room?” Seb laughed.

  “I’m afraid so,” Mr Duir chuckled back. “Morgan, may I have a coffee please,” he said, walking over to join everyone.

  “You need rest is what you need, Aelfric, not coffee.” Mr West jumped up.

  “I couldn’t possibly rest, Greg; I can’t stop worrying about what Mrs Reeves is going to say about five children and five teachers being absent from school without a sick note!” As the teachers laughed he turned to take the coffee cup from The Caretaker. “And as for you Morgan, big trouble I fear.”

  The Caretaker with a small laugh said, “Now I won’t rest!”

  Seb had never seen Mr Duir crack a joke or engage in any sort of fun chit-chat and as he took a seat amongst them all by the fire he seemed a different person, as though a weight had been lifted from him. He laughed as Zach recounted weird and fantastical stories about the Guardians’ exploits which put him as the pivotal character and gave Miss West and The Caretaker only bit parts.

  After a few minutes spent in companionable chatter Mr Duir asked Scarlet to join him at the lakeside. She threw a worried look over her shoulder at Seb, but he nodded at her to go on.

  He watched them stand in front of the statue-like Knight Sentinel. Mr Duir bowed his head as he spoke to Scarlet and Seb saw her reaction. She flung her arms in the air and he heard her voice raised in protest, though they were too far away and the crackling of the fire along with Cue’s snores obscured her words.

  A couple of the teachers glanced over and then looked away.

  “What’s going on down there?” Zach asked.

  Seb shook his head. “She’s having to come to terms with the fact that Adam is our brother.”

  Zach raised his eyebrows. “You can say that?”

  Seb leaned nearer to Zach. “Yes I can, Zach. Whatever led to that soul being in that body, he is our brother. And you all …” he looked from Zach to Aiden and then Nat, “… need to see him as that too. Scarlet will see the truth of it, but we’re going to need you to accept it as well.”

  Zach sat, open-mouthed. It was Aiden who spoke first.

  “Technically nothing has changed from a few days ago, except that we know how he came to be your brother. I don’t see any difference.”

  Seb smiled gratefully at him. Nat was nodding too. Zach stared at them and then shrugged.

  “Okay,” was all he said and then glanced over to see what Scarlet was doing.

  Mr Duir’s head was still bowed and eventually Scarlet hung her own head and then, finally, gave a nod. Mr Duir put his arm around her shoulders and the two stood, facing the sentinel for a few minutes longer before Scarlet returned to the fire.

  She gave an almost guilty look to Seb and then, sitting beside him, said, “He’s right, of course.”

  “Yes he is,” Seb agreed. “And just a few days ago we knew no different. He’s our brother, Scarlet, and I intend to treat him like that.”

  She squeezed his hand and stared at the flames.

  “For this lifetime,” she said. And he nodded back.

  Seb sat quietly, mulling over the events of the past weeks and found it impossible not to be grateful for the gift he had been given of being part of this group. His life had changed so dramatically and although a small part of him hankered for the ignorance and quietude of a few weeks ago, he knew he wouldn’t go back, even if given the choice. He was thrilled at this new beginning, at peace with his role and happy in the company of all these amazing people.

  Looking around the cave, trying to spot Mr Duir, he saw him standing with Dierne by the doorway. They were both looking back at Seb and Alice, as if waiting. Only now did Seb notice the ache in his hand.

  He spoke to Alice. “I think we have work to do …”