Calgacos

by Aubade Teyal

  Chapter Ten - Calgacos

  They spent the next few days planning their journey. As the map was old, and inaccurate, they had to frequently compare it with the more recent maps hanging in the common room.

  'What do you think will be there?' Lennox asked, for what was not the first time.

  ‘A mass grave.’

  ‘No. Seriously.’

  ‘A mass grave.’

  Mannik had already rehearsed what he would say to his parents. There are mass graves in the hills. The whole place is cursed. And I think I’m next…

  'And do you really think we'll get there and back in a day and still have time to explore?' Lennox asked, tapping her fingers on the table. She said we but actually she meant 'you.' She was sure she could do it.

  'Yes.'

  Mannik scowled and bent back to look at the map. He knew exactly what Lennox meant, and he was determined he would manage.

  As before, Lennox was given the job of asking for permission. The area they needed to reach was beyond the school's boundaries, and out of bounds to them. Lennox wanted to slip out on a Saturday, during Personal Pursuit time, but Mannik cowered at the thought.

  Life at Calgacos was getting worse for him. Lennox’s arrival at the school had been an unexpected boon. She had both diverted attention away from him, and become something of a barrier between him, and the others, as she was almost always at his side. But Gram’s interest in Mannik had rekindled. Lennox’s presence now presented an added challenge, and extra frisson of excitement, in his taunting of Mannik. Several times Lennox had seen, too late, Gram stripping the coat of Mannik's back and wiping his feet on it after fitness had taken them through boggy land. To Lennox it was clear, what Gram enjoyed most was her noticing, too late, that Mannik had been belittled, again.

  So there was no point trying to argue Mannik into going to the mystery village without permission. She had to be clever, instead; which meant not going to Kearns, but trying a different approach. It was Mannik who’d given her the idea. ‘The prefects here have more authority than the teachers. And the Head of House has as much power over you and me as a Master.’ Duncan, she realised, was the answer. After their last conversation, she had the feeling Duncan was on her side.

  She chose her moment carefully.

  She waited until late, when the common room became the territory of the seniors, juniors ousted and in their rooms. It was too late for study, and the seniors were by the fire, talking and laughing, like a medieval court. She slipped inside and saw Duncan straight away, lounging, his long legs stretching out onto the hearth like a harbour out into sea.

  She didn't interrupt, but boldly cut across the gathered circle and stood in front of him, awaiting his attention. He wanted her to prove a point; that was the point of the story he’d told her. He wasn’t interested in Feliformia housing the only girl in Calgacos if she was going to hide in corners and run at the back. He wanted a girl with a point to prove.

  The laughter was cut adrift. The talk died like a gust of wind, fierce then nothing. She was surrounded by silence.

  'Did you want to see me?' Duncan asked, impressed by her impertinence.

  ‘This Saturday, our personal pursuit, Mannik’s and mine, is going to take all day. Do I need permission?' she asked.

  ‘How long?'

  'Back just before dark, I think.'

  Duncan roused himself, gathering his long legs in.

  'I think you'd better show me where.'

  He accompanied Lennox to one of the maps on the walls, and stood close by her side as she pointed to the area far north of the school where a range of hills towered like giants over the land, The Hidden Fells.

  Duncan's eyebrows shot upwards. The Hidden Fells were definitely beyond the school borders.

  'Climbing in The Hidden Fells?'

  'Just in the foothills,’ she said. ‘Training to prove everyone wrong.'

  Duncan smiled, and dropped his voice very low.

  'That's my girl.'

  It was only when Lennox turned to leave, she noticed Kellas in the far corner, staring at them both with a predatory eyes. She left as quickly as she could.

  They waited for Saturday, and their time for Personal Pursuit, with simmering excitement. Mannik was happier than Lennox had ever seen him. They had a purpose; his escape route out of Calgacos was becoming tangible. When Saturday morning arrived, they rose early, ate a cold breakfast in an empty dining room while the boys on kitchen duty were still cooking, then set off early, north west.

  From their calculations, they had an arduous day ahead of them. There were two separate, and considerable, inclines to climb, and a 15km walk in between. The first climb was on Nighten's fitness route; they ran part the way up regularly. It began with grassy track through forest, leading to a long section of exposed and steep rock. As they knew the best paths, and were still feeling fresh, they ran some of the way, and reached the peak in good time. When they stopped, Mannik was sweating and breathing audibly. Lennox was looking as fresh as when she had begun.

  Mannik looked at her puzzled.

  'Aren't you tired?'

  She shook her head and walked away to study the descent and the moorlands beyond.

  The level ground, when they reached it, was easier for Mannik. He ran hard, and was covered in a film of sweat, but kept level with Lennox. When they paused to check their bearings, he was breathing heavily, and took a minute to catch his breath before studying the map. Lennox was careful not to look in his direction.

  They were soon running again through treacherous moorland, uneven and boggy in patches. Mannik dropped behind Lennox and followed her lead; she seemed to know, instinctively, the best path to take, through the reeds.

  The next time they stopped, it was because of Mannik. Lennox noticed, at once, the thud of his feet upon the soft earth had stopped.

  When she turned round, he was sat on a rock, his breathing ragged.

  During fitness, Lennox ran with the others, keeping pace, not at the front or the back. She had never exerted herself. She had never tried to push herself. She had deliberately hidden herself in the middle of the pack. Today, she could not hide. It was startlingly obvious she was well within her capacity, and she there was nothing she could do to hide it from Mannik. It wasn't so long ago, in another school, for this very reason, she had been called a freak.

  But Mannik would never call her a freak. He was her friend.

  'Connel said you were up in the attic.'

  She froze. She’d never told him she’d been at the card game. She’d been a fool to go. She knew he would disapprove because she had taken a risk.

  'Yes.'

  But she didn't have to feel guilty. She didn't have to tell him everything.

  'And Gram gave you a forfeit.'

  She nodded uneasily.

  Mannik was breathing quietly now but his face was still flushed as if he'd been drinking.

  'And all he wanted to do was look at your back,' Mannik's voice peaked. 'But you ran away?'

  There was no way he would be able to understand.

  'Why?'

  She stared at the moorlands ahead, anywhere but look at him.

  'They had me pinned on the floor. He took a knife to my top.'

  It wasn't the reason why she ran. But it was the truth.

  'And why did he want to look at your back?'

  'Why don't you ask him that?'

  She knew that was something Mannik would never do. He shied away from Gram like a cat would a dog.

  'But what is there...'

  Lennox spun round, stopping Mannik dead in his tracks.

  'Are you going to sit there all day asking me questions? Or are we going to find out the truth about Calgacos?'

  Mannik flinched and stood up.

  'Let's go,' she decided, striding away, and hating herself. But she had no choice. Friendship only went so far.

  It was clear that Mannik had run enough, so they kept to a walk as, around them, the moorland dried out.
They followed the ghost of a path through a long, shallow valley using the contours of the land as reference points. As they neared midday, they left the valley and headed up the lower slopes of a considerable peak where clouds of long leaved, soft grass brushed against their knees.

  She knew quite soon they had reached the Hidden Fells. As they climbed higher, the grass became coarser, shorter, and was riddled with tumbledown dry stone walls. Although isolated now, this was an area that had once, long ago, been inhabited. The slope grew steadily steeper, the climbing harder, then the land levelled and ruins came into view. They were built on a col between two hill peaks, and at first glance could have been mistaken for rocks spilled out across the grass.

  But when she reached the col, the ruins proved extensive, spreading out over an area the size of a village. Parts of the stone buildings, though encased in moss, were intact.'

  'See what you can find,' she muttered to Mannik before heading off to explore.

  She wandered among scattered and misshapen stones. She reached a doorway still standing, the only one she had found so far amongst the stones. Behind her, on the far side of the ruins, she heard Mannik call to her. He'd found something, she guessed. But first she wanted to see inside this long forsaken, and ancient house, so she ignored him and ducked inside. It was dark, and damp, and mostly empty apart from a rotten, wooden bed, hung with shredded blankets, picked apart by centuries of animal foragers. She left quickly. There was something about the smell of the hut that made her skin tighten.

  ‘Lennox!’

  Mannik was running towards her, wild hair whipped back in the mountain blast, eyes wide with panic.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Run!’

  ‘Why?’

  But he didn’t answer. He was scrambling towards her, his feet slipping on loose stones, too panicked to think straight, to pick as safe path. As he drew level, he grabbed her hand, and pulled her with him.

  They ran down the far side of the hill, beyond the ruins and into an uneven landscape of patchy woods, bramble and gorse. She ran until they were completely surrounded by trees, out of sight of the ruins, then dug in her heels, turned and confronted Mannik.

  ‘Why are we running?’

  ‘Someone. Someone was there.’

  ‘So?’

  ‘It was a… man.’

  But there was something else. She was sure. Why else was Mannik so spooked? Before she could question him more, she felt a jolt, like an electric shock, as inside her head she heard that familiar whisper.

  Keep running.

  .There was only one person who could do that. Only one person who could speak inside her head. But it didn't make sense. Kellas didn’t even know where she was. She hadn’t told him. Only Duncan knew.

  Run

  This time Kellas was louder, insistent.

  She grabbed Mannik’s hand.

  ‘Come on…’

  They set off again.

  This time she angled east, not liking to head further north away from the school. They still had to get back before nightfall, and Mannik wasn't going to be able to run forever. He was already slowing.

  Maybe they were making a mistake. The answer wasn’t running.

  It was time to hide.

  They ran on down the hillside until Lennox saw just the place. A clump of brambles so thick they curled up and down, shielding the centre of the plant, and like a veil falling low onto the ground, leaving only a small hollow, widened by animals.

  'In there,' she hissed, pointing. She waited for Mannik to go in first, then wriggled forwards on her tummy to join him inside.

  ‘And?' Mannik mouthed, silently.

  ‘Wait’.

  He looked like a feral animal, half buried in the undergrowth, his hair, like bracken, sprouting out in all directions, his eyes a mist of terror. She wanted to ask him what he had seen. But she dared not speak, not yet.

  ‘How long?’ Mannik mouthed, not a sound escaping from his mouth.

  She shrugged, then froze.

  Somewhere on the hillside, she could hear movement. Then voices. Coming their way.

  As she listened, the voices coalesced, and she heard Kellas’ voice, unmistakeable to her now.

  ‘They’ve gone.’

  'Come,' she told Mannik, and scrambled back out the hollow.

  Horace was standing not 10 feet away from the hollow, his back to them.

  He turned as she emerged from the undergrowth, and gave a shout.

  ‘They’re here.’

  Then he beamed at her.

  'Hello.’ It was as if nothing had happened, as if they had met by chance on a sunny day. 'Decided to lie low, did you?' he added to Mannik as he emerged from the brambles.

  Mannik returned a twisted smile, confused. Horace was the last person he had expected to see.

  ‘Why are you here?’ he blurted.

  Horace laughed. ‘Good question.’

  ‘I have a better one.’

  Somehow, unnoticed, Kellas had joined them. He was right behind Horace, and was staring at Lennox.

  ‘Why are you two here? What the hell were you thinking?’'

  His eyes burned like green fire. Though they stood apart, though Mannik and Horace were with them, Lennox felt Kellas addressed her alone.

  'We were hiking, as part of our personal pursuit,' she explained.

  Kellas scowled in reply.

  ‘You know you’ve passed the border, don’t you?'

  'What border?' Lennox asked, a truculent tone to her voice.

  'The edge of the school lands.'

  'I didn't know...' she began.

  'I think you did.' Kellas drew closer. 'I've seen you looking at the map in the common room. I saw you ask Duncan. The border is clearly marked.'

  They were face to face now, their voices wavering, their eyes locked. Kellas was glaring at her as ferociously as the midday sun. 'Don't come here again. It’s not safe. You must stay within school grounds.'

  'Speaking of which,' Horace interrupted, stepping up and between them, his eyes, dappled brown, and, somehow, still smiling. 'We need to get back. We have a lot of ground to cover.'

  'Yes,' Kellas agreed at once. ‘Let’s go.'

  It was a strange journey back. Horace and Kellas did not tire. Horace stayed at the back of the group, and though he did not offer help, showed an encouraging smile to Mannik when he tired. Kellas on the other hand, was visibly chafing at the slow pace. He led the way, and stopped, frequently, frustration creasing his face while he waited for the others to join him.

  Out of loyalty, Lennox stayed close by Mannik's side. She could have run back with Kellas, but she wasn't going to betray Mannik, and the more Kellas visibly suffered, the more patient she became.

  When they finally reached Calgacos, the sky was a smoky black, and the hills had been swallowed by the night sky. Horace joined Kellas, and was muttering under his breath to his friend during the final approach to the castle walls. Kellas, typically, said little in return. They disappeared through the castle walls and into the inner courtyard without a backwards glance at the two juniors who followed.

  Lennox bit her lip and prayed the inner courtyard was empty as she and Mannik followed through the gateway, and onto the cobblestones. Her prayers were in vain. She knew at once they were not alone. The inner courtyard was like a museum at night, eerie, but not empty. Horace and Kellas had stopped at the heart of the courtyard, just out of the shadows, Horace still talking in a low voice. She could see no-one else, but she knew with a stony certainty they were there.

  Then she heard them, in the shadows, by the Aves doorway, whispering.

  'Should we...' Mannik began looking over at Kellas and Horace.

  'No.' Lennox was quite sure. 'Let's just go.'

  Kellas had been right. She had known where the school boundaries were. The best thing to do now was disappear.

  They hurried over to the Feliformia doorway. Horace and Kellas turned to watch them, and in the Aves doorway, Lennox heard
movement.

  She grabbed hold of the door and yanked it open. Mannik scuttled inside, and as she hurried after him, she sneaked a last glance over her shoulder.

  Kearns and Conley had joined Kellas and Horace.

  'Where were they?' she heard Conley ask, in a voice so low most people would have struggled to hear him close by; from afar, it would have been impossible. But Lennox heard every word.

  'Calgacos,' Horace replied. 'The other Calgacos.'

  She let the door shut behind her, then grabbed Mannik by the arm. She could not wait any longer.

  ‘You knew who it was, didn’t you? The man at the Hidden Fells. Who was it? Tell me.’

  Mannik froze like prey stalked.

  ‘That’s the thing. I can’t be sure but…’

  ‘…but?’

  ‘I think it was the Baron McTarn.’