by Marc Lindsay
‘Let’s roll,’ Jason said and bolted for the open door with Wendy trailing behind. Jason cautiously entered through the unlocked door, his eyes taking a few seconds to adjust to the darkened interior, but when they did his jaw dropped open in amazement.
Inside the decaying mansion was a rather spartan decorated interior, a ridiculously large room with a single leather chair placed in front of an enormous stone crafted fireplace roaring away, and at the far end of the room a plain timber door. But what drew their attention and took their breath away was the large tree in the centre of the room, glittering and golden like it was the divine spirit of the perfect tree, it’s roots curled up from the ground and reaching up to its branches which were broad and many, they welcomed the roots creating a continual loop.
‘Wow. What is it?’ Wendy whispered in awe.
‘I have no idea,’ Jason replied. They both stepped towards the tree as if drawn by an unforeseen gravitational pull. As they drew closer they could see the leaves shimmering and the trunk seemed to pulsate ever so slightly. It was alive.
‘Can you hear that?’ Wendy whispered. Jason shook his head immediately, then he heard it too, muffled voices, singing, and laughter. It was then that Jason realised that it wasn’t muffled only faint, but the voices were in the thousands, no tens of thousands, possibly in the millions. A million voices all at once.
‘I think it’s the world tree?’ Wendy whispered.
‘The what?’ Jason asked.
‘The world tree. Jason as much as I want to have this discussion I think we need to be looking for the mace,’ Wendy whispered. As if on cue the second of Selene’s explosions went off. This seemed to shake Jason from his daze.
‘You’re right we have to move,’ Jason agreed.
Selene’s second explosion had the desired result. From her vantage point on the hill she could see Vert and his army of scarecrows attempting to get to the centre of the smoke cloud. She shivered as she watched with detached fascination as the scarecrows threw themselves upon the small concentrated fire, their mass extinguishing the flames. The smoke had just started to dissipate when she decided to trigger the next explosive, it went off in the distance, a thick plume of smoke rising up. With a small level of satisfaction, she could just make out Mr Vert swearing and ordering his minions into the fray. Only two more to go. Jason you better be almost done, Selene thought.
After exiting the main room Jason was almost relieved to find that the rest of the mansion was tamer in comparison, but only slightly, ancient tapestries covered the walls and armour lined the halls, fairly stock items for a mansion or a castle. Wendy led Jason through the maze of rooms and halls.
‘Are you sure you know where we’re going?’ Jason asked.
‘It’s been a few years since I was here last and even then it was only the one time. But yes I know where we’re going. They filed through two more doors, the final one was large and green with an intricately carved bearded face covered in leaves. Wendy stopped and gave Jason a brief nod.
‘This is it,’ Wendy said with certainty and pushed the door open.
‘Whoa,’ Jason breathed. The room was shaped in an octagonal fashion, eight walls of equal length, the room held no windows and their entry was the only door in or out. Every wall held glass cabinets containing dozens of assorted weapons, everything from shining medieval morning stars to tarnished scimitars, shields bearing mythical beasts and daggers with uniquely carved handles of ivory and precious metals.
‘So, all of these weapons are magical in design and power,’ Jason said rhetorically.
‘I believe so. And somewhere in here is the Mace of Rostam,’ Wendy whispered in awe.
‘Yes. Start looking,’ Jason instructed. He was kind of hoping that the mace would be sitting front and centre, but he supposed that it was simply one of many. After several minutes of searching Wendy was the one to locate it.
‘Over here,’ she yelled triumphantly. Jason rushed immediately to her side and was slightly disappointed to see a crudely shaped mace bearing only the slight resemblance to a bull.
‘This is what is causing all of this trouble,’ Jason said, then sighed. ‘Well we didn’t come all of this way to start being choosy, did we,’ Jason mused as he attempted to open the cabinet door with poor results.
‘Dammit, why can’t anything be easy? This Mr Vert has some serious trust issues,’ Jason complained.
‘I wonder why,’ Wendy replied.
‘There’s no keyhole for us to pick, so I wonder how he manages,’ Jason said.
‘I’m betting magic is the key,’ Wendy said and immediately consulted her book. Another explosion could be heard in the distance.
‘One to go, we have to hurry,’ Jason urged.
‘SSShhh,’ Wendy hissed. Seconds went by that seemed like hours, Jason felt helpless. He was about to interrupt and ask about her progress when the younger girl closed the book suddenly with a bang.
‘I think I’ve got it,’ Wendy said and before Jason could respond she uttered a phrase and gestured at the cabinet door, like a mime performing on a street corner she went through the motions of unlocking the door.
‘It should now be open,’ Wendy said and pulled on the handle expecting that it would swing open, only nothing did. Wendy tried again several more times but only received the same result.
‘I don’t understand, this should have wor…,’ Wendy was stopped mid-sentence as the sound of shattering glass echoed in the closed room. Wendy watched as the now steel form of Jason reached in past the broken glass of the cabinet and pulled his prize, the mace.
‘It’s heavier than it looks,’ Jason commented in a metallic voice. Jason ran his fingers over the contours of its shape, despite its crude design there was no denying its devastating purpose, this was a weapon crafted to pulverise and crush its enemy.
‘This might sound corny but I think I can feel it humming through the mace, it feels powerful.
‘I don’t doubt it,’ Wendy replied. Just then another explosion sounded in the distance.
‘Crap, that’s five. We’re out of time, we have to get going,’ Jason ordered. Grabbing Wendy, he pulled her out of the room and they ran for the exit.
Selene watched with mounting agitation as Mr Vert and his scarecrows dealt with each of her diversions with increasing speed and efficiency. The last one had barely had time to get going when they converged on it.
‘Dammit,’ Selene cursed as she watched Mr Vert make his way back to the house. ‘Jason, you have to get out of the house, Vert’s coming back,’ Selene spoke into her comms unit only to hear electric static in response. ‘Bugger. Well so much for subtlety.’ Selene jumped to her feet and raced down the hill towards the house, unhooking her bow in the process.
Jason and Wendy raced down the length of the hall and into the main room.
‘We’re nearly out,’ Wendy said with a winning grin, only for her hopes to be dashed as her Uncle burst through their only exit accompanied by a legion of straw soldiers.
‘Who dares to attack my lands and break into my home,’ Mr Vert thundered. Jason was at a loss for words and Wendy simply looked terrified. It only took Vert a nanosecond to see the mace in Jason’s hand and realise what was taking place.
THIEVES,’ Mr Vert screamed, raising a clenched fist a powerful bolt of blue energy crackled and exploded towards the teenage pair. Jason leapt in front of Wendy attempting to shield her from the brunt of its impact, his futile act only resulted in him being struck full force in the chest and flung the length of the hall. ‘You whelps dare invade my inner sanctum and then have the audacity to steal what is mine and attempt to make off like thieves in the night,’ Mr Vert fired off another bolt at Wendy who closed her eyes, resigned to her fate, it exploded on impact, but to the surprise of both parties Wendy appeared unharmed, still kneeling with her arms raised protectively she slowly got to her feet.
‘Impossible, how did you?’ Mr Vert said.
‘It’s me. Wendy, your niece,’ Wen
dy said. ‘Surprise,’ she stammered.
‘Wendy,’ Mr Vert said slowly as if the concept was completely alien to him.
‘It’s not what you think,’ Wendy said.
‘What I think, is that you’ve broken into my home and stolen my property. Correct me if I’m wrong,’ Mr Vert said. Just then Jason let out a long painful groan. ‘Impressive, I just gave your young friend enough juice to knock out a herd of Chimera,’
‘Please believe me, if there were any other way we wouldn’t be here,’ Wendy pleaded.
‘I have a hard time comprehending any truth to that statement. Regardless of its veracity, you have ten seconds to surrender yourselves and I’ll think about your futures. Wendy hesitated, conflicted thoughts of complying with her Uncle and those for her new responsibilities to her team mates.
‘Well, what is it going to be?’ Mr Vert asked, his hands raised in anticipation of her response.
‘Um,’ Wendy said.
‘Um… Is that your answer?’ Mr Vert said impatiently. While Wendy was ruminating over her future, Jason had regained consciousness and was listening to their discussion, all the time thinking that he didn’t want to get hit with one of the sorcerer’s energy bolts again. Struggling to shake off the after effects of Vert’s opening attack, he had somehow managed to get to his feet as he heard Vert issuing his ultimatum to Wendy. ‘So are those going to be your final words?’ Mr Vert asked. Wendy shook her head slowly.
If I thought, it would help my situation I would say…. Duck,’ Wendy said.
‘Duck?’ Mr Vert said looking puzzled. Right at that moment Jason decided to hit Vert in the form of a manticore, the powerful body of a lion, his human head intact except for razor sharp teeth and finally large bat-like wings. Striking the Sorcerer in mid-leap they flew the length of the room. Jason’s large form landing atop Vert’s with a deafening crash. Jason expected his opponent to be unconscious beneath him, he wasn’t expecting to see the bearded magician staring back, a predatory grin coming into view.
‘Excellent, it has been an age since I was able to engage someone physically,’ Mr Vert confessed and with the slightest of shrugs threw Jason, again, the length of the hall. But instead of colliding with the heavy stone wall he simply stopped in mid-air.
‘I didn’t think it would work,’ Wendy grunted under the strain, she was gesturing with her hands as if carrying a great weight and as she lowered her hands so too did Jason lower to the ground. A single clapping sound filled the room. Jason and Wendy turned in its direction.
‘Well done, my little niece, well done,’ Mr Vert said clapping slowly. ‘Within our family has always lied great power, but it has been since millennia that anyone since I, have manifested it. A shame that you have only come to me in such a fashion. So much like your mother have you become?’
Wendy’s face turned to something Jason had never seen before. Rage. Gesturing again with her hands a bolt of electrical energy similar to that used only moments earlier by Vert came streaming out of her hands. Her Uncle countered with his own power the two beams of energy came together in a boom of crackling power. They intertwined as if wrestling for dominance, which they were. Wendy was young and fresh but her Uncle had stamina and experience, using all her might she struggled against the mighty sorcerer but it was obvious that this was no real contest. Their battle was intense but brief, there was an explosive backlash and the energy returned to both combatants. Wendy slumped to the ground the exertion was too much, Mr Vert on the other hand appeared recharged, grinning from ear to ear.
‘That was enjoyable,’ Mr Vert said.
‘Well I hope you enjoy this,’ Jason growled and transformed into a small but fierce looking dragon, silver and green scales adorned his body, four taloned feet dug into the hardwood floor and two black leathery wings sat tucked up tight on his back. Drawing in a deep breath Jason exhaled and a stream of green ethereal flame burst forth and engulfed the aging sorcerer. No sound was made by Mr Vert as the cleansing fire struck him, Jason kept up the pressure for several seconds until his lungs ran out. The two teenagers waited for the flame to clear only to discover that Jason’s attack hadn’t even singed him.
‘Crap,’ Jason muttered.
‘Crap indeed, now lay down and surrender,’ Mr Vert demanded.
‘No, now we leave,’ another voice called out, they turned to see Selene standing at the door, an arrow notched on her bow.
‘Selene, wait, he’s too powerful, Wendy and I have hit him with just about everything and he’s just shrugged it off, I don’t think he has a weakness,’ Jason called out.
‘Everyone has a weakness,’ Selene replied.
‘Listen to your friend, he’s right,’ Mr Vert said confidently but his eyes betrayed him.
‘I don’t think so,’ Selene said and altered her aim, this time her target was the glittering golden tree.
‘NO. You don’t know what you’re doing,’ Mr Vert said in an attempt to calm her down. Selene kept her bow trained on her target.
‘Are you two okay?’ she asked. They both nodded. ‘Did you get the mace?’
‘We did,’ Jason replied. ‘Like Wendy said, we’re not thieves, we didn’t want to do this. Once we’re done with it I promise you we’ll return it,’ Jason said to Mr Vert.
‘Keep it. Because once I track you down, I’ll remove it from your cold dead hands,’ Mr Vert growled and took a step towards Jason.
‘Hold it there, or I swear your tree gets it,’ Selene threatened. Mr Vert nodded and remained still.
‘I’ll get you too girlie,’ Vert warned.
‘Nice,’ Selene said. ‘Let’s get going shall we.’
Jason retrieved the mace from the floor and both he and Wendy made their way over to the door leading out. Wendy first then Jason who tapped Selene on the shoulder letting her know to follow.
‘You’ll pay for this,’ Mr Vert called out.
‘Tsk tsk,’ Selene reproached, then as an afterthought she released her arrow and fled after Jason.
‘NO,’ Mr Vert screamed, he gestured and sent a bolt of energy at the arrow, striking it only inches from it hitting the tree.
Jason, Selene and Wendy sprinted from the sorcerer’s mansion and into the orchard, running for their very lives. In the distance they could hear Vert’s voice echoing into the trees, this was followed by the sound of hundreds of footsteps.
‘We’ve got company,’ Selene said.
‘Something tells me that the seal isn’t going to help now,’ Wendy replied.
‘So keep running,’ Jason urged, looking back over his shoulder he could see a wall of figures in pursuit, it looked like a living wave as it passed relentlessly through the trees. Jason and Selene were running at top speed and it took him a couple of minutes to realise that Wendy was somehow matching their pace, looking down he was shocked to see her feet were set inches above the ground, in fact her legs weren’t even moving, she was simply gliding above the ground.
‘How are you doing th…’ Jason started to ask.
‘Less talking more running,’ Selene interrupted breathlessly, then she too looked at Wendy’s progress with raised eyebrows. ‘I’m sure it’s an elemental thing.’
Despite the speed of their advance, their pursuers were starting to gain on them.
‘How are they managing to do that?’ Jason said.
‘It’s my Uncle, he’s putting everything into the hunt. I can feel his power and anger,’ Wendy replied.
‘Great. Can we piss off anyone else this week?’ Jason mumbled.
‘Well I’m sure Ulysses will be joining the list when he finds out about this,’ Selene said.
‘First up, that was rhetorical and second, job at hand, job at hand,’ Jason replied.
‘Agreed.’They continued to run despite the fact that the demonic looking scarecrows were continuing to gain on them.
‘By my calculations we’re still ten minutes from the boundary fence and at the rate they’re gaining on us, I’d say we’re going to be swa
llowed by that advancing swarm in about three. No two minutes,’ Wendy said.
‘Agreed,’ Selene said.
‘Time for a change in tactic,’ Jason said and transformed, his head and arms took on the characteristics of a full grown stag including wide lethal antlers and finally his legs and lower back become that of a majestic eagle including wings allowing flight.
‘What the hell is that?’ Selene asked.
‘A Peryton, from medieval times,’ Jason said.
‘What’s so special about it?’ Wendy asked.
‘This,’ Jason answered and changed direction and charged the scarecrows, his body caught between a gallop and flight.
‘Jason. No. Wait,’ Selene called out, she was ignored as Jason ploughed into the wall of straw and cloth, his antlers slicing into their numbers like a hot knife through warm butter.
‘Damn, overly impulsive, gonna get himself into trouble,’ Selene grumbled as she notched an arrow and charged back after him, with Wendy close behind. They flipped from the hunted to the hunters, Selene firing arrows and Wendy directing energy bolts, the scarecrow numbers started to dwindle.
‘What now genius,’ Selene cried out to Jason.
‘I haven’t thought about that yet,’ Jason replied.
‘Why am I not surprised,’ Selene mumbled.
‘What,’
‘Nothing,’
They fought on for several minutes until not a scarecrow was standing. Panting and exhausted they looked around at the carnage they had created.
‘Whoo hoo, we did it,’ Wendy cried in triumph.
‘Oh no you didn’t,’ Selene admonished.
‘What did I do?’ Wendy asked.
‘I think she means that you just jinxed us,’ Jason explained. Then as if on cue, the ground started to rumble.
‘I told you,’ Selene said putting her bow over her shoulder and pointed behind them. In the distance they could see another larger wave of bodies approaching. ‘RUN.’
They turned and raced for the boundary fence hoping that it would mean safety for them again. They were nearing utter exhaustion between maintaining their pace battling scarecrow sentries and the mere mental pressure of everything that had happened so far, they were struggling to reach their goal.