by F M Andrews
Trixie caught her breath, feeling his pain through their connection. “Look, I can try and ask my Da if I can have the day off. I am sure he can cope without me.” She smiled hesitantly, before she vanished down the hall leaving him standing in the doorway clinging to a thin thread of hope. He left the door open and quickly packed their belongings and then sat down to wait. Every moment felt like it went on forever. Impatiently he found Errin’s parchment and gloomily noted that there was only a little less than a third of a stroke left that equated to just under a day on this world. Sitting back he stared up at the ceiling, assessing his situation. Selfishly, the fact that Eva would recover outweighed the fact that he would never be able to return home again but deep down he knew that he would never be able to forgive himself for letting Errin and the universe down.
Another quiet knock on the door frame brought his attention back to the here and now, and amazingly Trixie, dressed for the cold, dangling a set of keys in her hand, stood there smiling. She came forward and gently touched his hand. “Ready to ride?” she quipped, excitement lighting up her face.
“Pardon?” Myssan was not quite sure what she meant.
“Da has let me take the car, a miracle really, but he took a liking to you two for some reason. He is not sure if public transport will be running yet, after the storm,” she explained, then added, “There might be snow on the tracks”. She chuckled quietly to herself. [CL30]This was obviously a joke of sorts. Myssan still stood rooted to the spot, uncertainly. “Come on then. Let's go!” Trixie was definitely in charge now and he couldn’t be happier. Quickly he showed her the address, stressing the need to hurry.
This was Myssan’s first ride in a car but he was getting used to this world now and the thing he found most amazing was how comfortable the seats were. “I think our best bet will be the A364 and then the M4. They are the most likely to have been cleared of snow but the first bit to Marlborough might be a bit tricky. But, I have come prepared! “Trixie finished flourishing a shovel, which she placed in a compartment at the back of the car.
That whole conversation meant absolutely nothing to Myssan; however, he was grateful that she seemed to know what she was doing so he smiled and nodded as he deposited the still unresponsive Eva into her comfortable seat and strapped her in, as per Trixie’s instructions. As she had predicted the first leg of the journey was slow going as they followed the track that had been worn through the snow by other vehicles, dual dark lines that cut through a silent, deserted landscape made soft with the covering of white. Myssan anxiously watched the sun as it journeyed across the pale blue sky. By midday they had reached a larger road with more traffic and less snow and gratefully they began to progress more swiftly.
Myssan checked regularly on Eva, his concern growing as she still remained unresponsive. He could not understand it. Was it something he had done? Had he missed some damage or was she just healing herself? He sat staring out at the passing vehicles, deep in thought. Eventually they joined an even bigger road with even more traffic. “The M4,” Trixie informed him. “We should be in London about four-ish.”
For the first time Myssan actually believed that they might just make it and, leaning back in his seat, he gave into his exhaustion and slept. He woke to find Trixie gently shaking his shoulder. “Are we here?” He blinked, sat up and peered out at his surroundings. They were stationary in a car park that in no way looked familiar.
“Not quite yet,” Trixie admitted. “But I figured it would be quicker if we caught the underground from here to avoid the traffic.” He turned hopefully to look at Eva but there was no change. This was not good. Reaching out to touch her he tried again to see why she would not wake, but he was tired and they were a long way from any source of power and nothing was clear. Carrying her carefully he followed Trixie across the road and down the steps. Fortunately there were not a lot of people around, although the few they encountered only gave them quizzical glances and carried on with their lives.
The underground ride was warm and it felt good to have Eva cradled back in his arms. “I want to thank you for all you have done,” he murmured to Trixie as he held her hand. “I could not have done it without you.”
She beamed up at him. “It’s been fun, an adventure. I don’t know who you are and how you can speak into my mind but it has been kind of exciting. Life can get quite boring in Avebury, you know, but I think we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves, we are still not at,” she stopped and pulled out the piece of paper with the address out of her pocket and squinted at it, “Arlington Way, just yet.”
Myssan fumbled in his own pocket and retrieved Errin’s parchment, catching his breath in concern. The last line was now just an elongated dot. Yes indeed anything could still happen and it was certainly going to be a very close run thing.
“The next stop is ours,” Trixie warned some time later and Myssan once more gathered Eva in his arms and stood, swaying slightly as the train came to a stop. As soon as the doors opened, they rushed out, quickly climbing the stairs out into the early darkness of a spring evening. The air was frigid after the warmth of the train and it made his eyes water. The street lights and shop windows were aglow, their light reflecting off piled up banks of snow and the wet pavement but he still did not recognise the scene before him, causing his stomach to knot. “This way,” Trixie called, dragging him by the elbow down the street and round the corner. He followed, his eyes on the path, careful not to stumble carrying such a precious cargo.
“This is it, I think.” Myssan nearly collided with her as she stopped dead in front of him, holding up the address. “Yep. I think we are here.”
Needing to sit in order to compare his sketch with the vista in front of him, he made his way over to the seats at the bus stop. As soon as he had Eva settled, he surreptitiously pulled out the drawing he had made the first moment he had arrived on this world. Was it really only seven and a half earth days ago? And to his immense relief, apart from the snow, everything matched. Thanks to Eva and Trixie he had made it. Slowly he released the breath he had not even been aware he had been holding and let his tense shoulders drop for, what felt like, the first time today.
Tenderly, he stroked Eva’s cheek. She was warm and she had more colour in her cheeks than he had ever seen before, yet she was still far away. He had hoped with all his heart that she would wake before they had to cross over but it was not to be. The fates had only been so kind. He supposed it would have been too much to ask for it all. He had no idea what was going to be waiting for them in Feld – there were just too many unknowns. However, he knew that whatever happened, saving Eva would be his sole focus. He was her only chance of survival and he had to be ready for anything. He took a deep breath, his attention returning to the here and now, the busy London Street and Trixie sitting quietly beside him.
“Trixie, I don’t know how to thank you,” he said stumbling over his words. “I think Eva will be okay now. We are here in time to meet the healer. You have saved her life,” he finished holding on tight to her hand in gratitude. “We will be fine now,” he reassured her. “You better get back before it gets too dark and the roads became too treacherous.”
Trixie sat huddled in her coat, nose buried deep in her scarf, her eyes fixed on Myssan’s face. “I feel stink leaving you before your healer arrives, but,” she hesitated and looked up at the darkening evening sky, “I do think I should get back.” She stood uncertainly, looking down at them. “Promise me you will be okay. Let me know how things go, yeah?” she pleaded. Myssan could only nod. “Bye, then,” she said, then on an impulse she bent down and gave Myssan a hug. “All the best,” she murmured before she turned and made her way back towards the underground entrance, giving one last wave before disappearing.
Myssan sighed. It was a relief that Trixie had left. He was not certain how she would have reacted when they simply vanished, but her absence made him shiver. It was all up to him now. Taking out the parchment of strokes with a shaking hand, he saw that there was only a t
iny dot left. Panicking he picked Eva up and began to scan the area, trying to remember the exact spot he had arrived. A flash of a vision passed through his memory. A hand on his shoulder and a warning. He had arrived on the road side, but where? Frantically he tried to remember his first vision. Nothing came. Maybe if he walked down the path he would recognise the spot when he saw it. He began to pace.
It happened in a heartbeat. One moment he was immersed in the hum of traffic, Eva heavy in his arms, and the next he was alone floating in darkness. An incredible feeling of bereavement overwhelmed him. This was the first time they had been separated since they had touched hands in the library and he felt as if he had been ripped in two. She was part of him now. She had been so brave, willing to give up everything and everyone she knew to help him and the thought that she may yet pay the ultimate price for his decisions cut deep. There was no turning back, their path was set and it was now up to him to make sure her sacrifice had not been in vain.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lutex flinched.
Brack’s grasp on his shoulder was painful, forcing him to refocus his attention away from the princess and the lure of the shard, back to the conversation with the king.
“As you can see,” the king said, pointing to a large map spread on the high table in front of them, “we are in a vulnerable position. The closest army camp is a full day’s hard march away.” He paused to rub his temples with one large hand and let out a tired sigh. “It is certain that the Krax will have made sure that no one escaped. No one knows we are under siege and no help will come, not even the army, which means that, essentially, we are on our own.”
Pausing, he scanned the grim faces surrounding the table. “I have faith that we will be able to hold them back for a short time but without support we are still vulnerable and although there will be enough water and food to last for several moons, our weakness lies in the lack of fighting men we have to man our walls. We simply are no match for this Krax army,” he concluded, placing his knuckles on the table top and leaning on them, hunching his shoulders.
A murmur rolled around the onlookers and the king waited for it to subside before beginning again. “Our only hope is to get a message to the army, and the quicker we do this the better.” Reaching across the map he traced a line from Haktara out towards the forest. “Long ago there was an escape tunnel built for situations such as this. The secret of its existence and whereabouts was handed down from one ruler to the next. I have no idea what condition it is in or even if it is still passable, yet it is an option that we can’t ignore.”
Looking up he turned towards the princess. “The fewer we send on this mission the greater the chance of its success. We need to be stealthy, not forceful, to get this job done. I have asked Jeveran to go as he is one of my most trusted advisors; however, to ensure immediate help I feel it is vital we send my daughter as well.” A collective gasp greeted this statement and all heads turned towards the princess who stood glaring at her father, murder in her eyes. He had obviously ambushed her.
“I suppose this has nothing to do with the fact that uncle Savox and aunt Junea live in the camp and that they will keep me, safe and sound, well out of all harm’s way.” She sounded sarcastic and bitter all at once. Seeing that this line was not getting her anywhere she changed tack. “Why would you want to send me away? Don’t you see that I am needed here? There are healing stations to be set up and food to be organised for the fighters on the wall. Who is going to do all that if I am not here?” she demanded, chin held high, fists clenched at her side.
The king walked towards his daughter until he was standing right in front of her, staring down at her defiant, upturned face, using his height to intimidate her. “This is not up for negotiation, Lifen. You are going with Jeveran and there will be no further discussion entered into.” He paused, looking stern in an attempt to erode her resistance. It didn’t work.
“You are impossible!” the princess stormed. “Can’t you see that by sending me away you are, in a sense, saying to everyone in Haktara that you believe we will not win, that you think we will be defeated?” Her eyes swept the room pleading for backup. None was forthcoming; in fact, everyone was suddenly very interested in the map.
“That is precisely why no one will know that you have gone,” the king countered.
“You can’t force me to go!” she cried, almost stomping her foot. “What are you going to do? Tie me up and have Jeveran carry me? Good luck with that!” she snorted.
“No, but I can place you under guard in your room and let people know that you are too much of a coward to come out and help or, if you obey me, I could let it be known that you can’t be spared because I need you here with me to help coordinate the healing stations and food distribution.”
The princess’s face cycled through a range of emotions that ran from shocked to outrage to defeated and finally to resigned. She seemed to fold in on herself, deflated. “Fine! You win! I will go,” she sulked.
The king smiled, patting her shoulder condescendingly, before adding almost as an afterthought, “Oh, and one more thing. Don’t think, for a moment, that you will be coming back with the army to fight because Jeveran will have sealed orders to hand to their commanding officer that will strictly forbid it.”
“You are a monster! That is so unfair!” Lifen cried, actually stamping her foot this time before turning and storming out the door.
Everyone in the room watched her go in silence and it wasn’t until the king cleared his throat and announced, “Time to get on with it,” that they visibly relaxed again and the murmur of conversation resumed.
Lutex’s mind was racing. Suddenly there was hope. There was a way out of the city and the princess and the shard were leaving. Somehow he had to go with her. This was their chance. Silently he put his hasty plan to Brack and Tubble but he could sense that the young troll was feeling overawed by the forceful presence of the king and that for him to blurt out a request would go against his very upbringing. Brack dithered, shifting from one foot to the other, caught in the angst of indecision. If they were not careful, the moment would pass and they would be ushered out of the room. They would not get another opportunity as good as this and Lutex was almost screaming at Brack, putting every speck of persuasion he could into his plea but still he hesitated.
“Fine I will just have to reveal myself to them and take my chances,” Lutex thought at Brack in exasperation.
Brack visibly jumped and a look of horror crept into his eyes. He knew through the mind link that Lutex meant every word and he forced himself to take a step forward. “Excuse me, your Highness,” he muttered so quietly that the king took a moment to realize he had been addressed. “I would like to offer my services.” Brack’s voice was now just audible and all eyes were on him, everyone silently waiting to hear what he had to say. “You said it yourself, ‘knowledge is power.’ If I go with Jeveran and the princess I would be able to give the army any detail that they might need.” He paused, taking a deep steadying breath. “It would make good sense to send someone who has seen the Krax, someone who can give accurate information about their numbers and their weaponry. I would be honoured to go,” he finished lamely. The king’s gaze was calculating but Lutex was pleased to see that he had not dismissed the idea out right, he even appeared to be considering it, his hand absently brushing through the thick beard on his chin.
“You know, boy, I think that you have hit on a good idea. I was only sending the two of them in the hope that they could slip through undetected more easily than a squad of noisy oafs, but you look like you are used to the woods and it would be good to send an extra sword along,” he concluded before an afterthought obviously struck him. “Are you any good with a sword?”
Brack shook his head. “More of an axe man, really,” he replied.
“Good. Glad to hear it. I am an axe man myself, you know.” The king smiled before addressing a waiting courier. “Palin, see that the boy is fully kitted out ,will you.” Turning b
ack to Brack once more he added. “Be sure to be back in this room as soon as possible. I hope that we can get this expedition on its way before moon set,” he commanded, adding as an aside, “You can leave your little brother with Lifen’s maid. She is a good girl and will look after him until you return.”
Panic grasped them both, freezing them in place. Brack was the first to recover.
“Your Highness, he is all the family I have left in the world and I promised our mother, on her deathbed, that I would look after him. I really don’t want to be separated from him if possible, as he does not speak and relies on me totally.” Lutex though that he was laying it on a bit thick but hoped the king would feel sympathetic. He did not.
“Good grief, man, the last thing I want is for this mission to be jeopardized by a child. He will be perfectly safe here until you return. Lifen’s maid can take care of him,” the king exclaimed before turning back to the table and his advisors, effectively dismissing both Brack and Lutex.
“Tubble will help me. We will escape and come and find you,” Lutex thought desperately at Brack. It was the only plan he could think of. Brack quickly agreed before Palin briskly escorted him to the armoury, leaving Lutex and Tubble standing in a room full of large trolls.
Unobtrusively the boy and the invisible cat made their way to the fire, climbed into one of the big, soft chairs and huddled down into the deep shadow it provided, waiting for the maid to come for him. Sometime later, peering from beneath his hood, he noticed a young woman open the door and hesitantly scan the room. Seeing the small figure hunched in the chair, she made her way towards him. Lutex was terrified. He could not risk being discovered. There would be no mercy shown to a ‘baby eater’ found spying in their midst. He could not let the maid see his face. Frantically, he wracked his brain trying to think of a way out of this situation but the only thing he could come up with was pretending to cry and he had to admit to himself that there might not be a lot of ‘pretending’ involved.