The Wizard's Promise

by Cliff McNish

  ‘Bright skies! Bright skies!’ the Essa cried, staring at the colours.

  ‘Oh, so that’s what you like,’ Heiki said to the Essa. She made her own eyes dazzling, trying to persuade a few of the Essa to join her.

  Serpantha had been peering beyond Orin Fen, into the emptiness of space. Rachel noticed his uncertainty. ‘What is it?’ she said.

  ‘Oh, many things,’ he answered. ‘I will not delay your return home, or any of the other places you wish to go, but it would honour me if you could find another reason in your heart to join me on Ool. Calen and the last of the High Witches are still imprisoned. I would like you to be there with me when they are released.’

  ‘Didn’t they … betray the Wizards?’ Heiki said. ‘Especially you.’

  ‘Betrayed? Yes, I suppose they did. There have been so many betrayals. But whose was the first? Who is to say what set the High Witches down their terrible path? Were the Wizards entirely blameless? In those ancient days, when there was no threat to our supremacy, did the Wizards do everything they could to persuade those first Witches? When they wanted to leave Orin Fen, who asked them to stay? Larpskendya and I made a promise to each other: that no matter what happened, we would never lose faith, not in you, nor in the Witches, wherever their hatred had taken them.’ Serpantha smiled sadly. ‘In any case, does one betrayal deserve another? Would you have me leave the Highs in their chains?’

  ‘No,’ Heiki answered. No. I … I wouldn’t.’

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ Rachel said. ‘Of course I will.’

  She held Serpantha’s robe, for a while lost in its silken feel. Then she looked up. Strangely, while almost all the other children were now on Orin Fen, Yemi had stayed behind. He stared longingly down at the surface, but he did not fly towards it. Instead, he clung to Fola while looking at Rachel, waiting for her.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, flying over. ‘Yemi, what’s the matter?’

  ‘He doesn’t want to leave you,’ Fola said. ‘I told him you no mind, but he never listens to me, you know that.’ She half-laughed. ‘He says he’s always leaving you, and he doesn’t want to, but –’

  ‘I know. It’s all right.’ Rachel brought Yemi into her arms and held him tightly. Several of the Essa naturally crossed over to him; they couldn’t help themselves. ‘You’ve got something you have to do, haven’t you?’ Rachel whispered to him.

  Fola smiled. ‘Yes! He tried before, but it was too hard. No more. Oh, no!’

  Forests flashed in Yemi’s eyes: the plants of a purple-skied world: Trin.

  ‘Yes, go now,’ Rachel said. ‘Don’t wait for me. I’ll come when I can. Go to them.’

  Yemi’s gaze took in the miraculous colours of Orin Fen lighting up the children below him. There was no need for him to say anything. Rachel understood exactly how he felt. He glanced at her one more time. Then, amid a flutter of wings and a giggle of wonder, he, Fola and all the Camberwell Beauty butterflies vanished. They left behind a trail of yellow sparks that faded only slowly.

  Rachel’s eyes were moist. Below her, Witches beckoned with their elegant arms, inviting her down. ‘If we’re going to Ool, we should go now,’ she said to Serpantha. ‘But I wish I knew Morpeth was safe.’

  ‘He is,’ murmured a voice. ‘He is.’

  Larpskendya had returned from the shadows of Orin Fen. ‘I heard you planned to leave, and I thought you might do so before saying goodbye. My spells would not allow that!’ He held her shoulders, his eyes shining. ‘Ithrea is safe, Rachel. The Griddas never discovered it, but even if they had I wonder how they would have conquered it. Trimak, Fenagel, Leifrim, Morpeth – there is a dedication amongst them, as amongst you all, that I cherish.’ He stared at her. ‘Before you leave for Ool with my brother, may I ask you to accompany me on a short journey? I would like to show you my world. It seems only fair, as I have had the privilege of knowing yours.’

  ‘Orin Fen is … so beautiful,’ Rachel said, gazing down.

  ‘Yes, but no more so than your own world,’ Larpskendya replied. ‘There is beauty everywhere. On Earth I have seen such wonders, and not only from the most magical. I have never seen tenderness or resolve greater than that shown by the parents of your world. Nor have I seen more courage than that shown by children, or should I say one child: you, Rachel.’

  Rachel lowered her face. ‘Oh, I … I didn’t do so much,’ she said. ‘I haven’t got as much magic as Yemi. I can’t do what Eric can do. They were more important in the end.’

  Larpskendya gazed at her. ‘No. That is not true. And even if it were, do you think I would love you any the less for it?’

  Rachel buried her face in his robe.

  Larpskendya lifted her face and kissed her. He laughed. ‘Will you follow me, or do you want to lead?’

  Before she could answer the prapsies started chasing the Essa. They had wanted to do so ever since they first saw them, and even the Essa could not out-dodge a prapsy. ‘Behave, boys,’ Eric said, winking at them. He stared down at Orin Fen. ‘Where shall we look first, then, Rach? Those cities look good.’

  The Essa whispered in Rachel’s ear. She laughed.

  ‘Well?’ Eric said. ‘Decided yet?’ He waited. Heiki waited. Serpantha and Larpskendya, all of them.

  Grinning, Rachel flew towards Orin Fen, not towards the cities, but the quieter places, higher up, the mountain peaks of that lovely world.