Darkwhispers

by Vashti Hardy

  The leaves around them stirred in the breeze.

  “I’m sorry. I was teasing too much. Are you hurt?”

  She shook her head and pressed her lips tightly together. Crouching down beside her, he gently examined her arm. “Bruised but not broken. What’s your name?”

  “Maudie. I’m a Brightstorm,” she said proudly.

  “I’m Florian.” He observed her. “Rest here a moment.”

  In a flash he was scurrying up a nearby tree.

  “What are you doing?” she called after him.

  “Getting you something for the pain.”

  He pulled off a piece of bark. “Here, chew this, it will help.”

  She looked at him strangely, then decided to give it a go. It was horribly bitter.

  “Where are your family?” he asked.

  The words brought a lump to her chest. She pulled her shoulders back.

  “Did you come past the angarii on your own?”

  “Not quite, we crashed and…” Again she quelled the explosion of worry in her stomach. “And I don’t know what happened to the others yet. We don’t want any trouble. We’re just looking for a missing explorer. He was coming this way and, well, we thought he was dead, but we found out he wasn’t. Well, I didn’t, my brother…” She paused for a long breath. “At least he was certain there was more to it, and I, well, I didn’t listen, and we left him, and then this awful woman,” she stared into the large green eyes of the boy. “I mean, really awful woman, well, she stole our sky-ship and Arthur was still on board and they were coming here, and I don’t know what happened to him and—”

  The boy moved a bit closer. He half smiled in a way that indicated he felt bad for her. “I’m sorry.” He thought for a moment. “I need to take you to the city. I’ll be going against the rules if I don’t, and perhaps they can help.”

  Maudie nodded. Presuming that Eudora Vane and Arthur had made it through the darkwhispers, they would likely head for the city, or have been found and taken there.

  “We can search as we travel. I have a stop to make on the way, and it’ll be a good place to stay for the night.”

  “Will we be in awful trouble for being here?”

  He shrugged. “We’ve only had one other come from your lands recently.”

  She frowned. “Not Wrigglesworth?”

  “Yes, that’s him.”

  She couldn’t believe he was alive, and in this land after all!

  “We head east. The town I need to visit will be safe if the rains come.”

  They walked through the forest for many chimes until it was late in the afternoon and they reached a place where Florian stopped and simply declared, “Here we are.”

  Maudie looked around. There was nothing apart from the usual forest tree trunks. “I don’t see a town,” she said dubiously.

  “Look harder,” he said.

  CHAPTER 25

  EVIDENCE

  The wardrobe in Arthur’s room contained some of the green trousers and tops he’d seen many Erytheans wearing. They looked too tight for him, too hot to wear; perhaps the Erytheans were just used to the balmy temperatures? But he decided to give them a try as his own clothes were tired and ripped. After a bath in the most enormous tub he’d ever seen, it was time to explore the city and see what Eudora was up to, and blending in would be the best way.

  Arthur put the trousers on; he was amazed to find that the fabric was strangely cooling as it touched his skin. He rolled up the right sleeve of a green smock top and put it on. Again, it was incredibly refreshing to wear and comfortable to move in. He ran his fingertips over the intricate leafy pattern. He wondered what Lontowners would make of this new fashion!

  He knocked for Ermitage next door, but when he answered, Arthur barely recognized him. His beard was trimmed, his mossy coat had gone, and he wore smart, green, embroidered smock and trousers.

  “My dear old thing, you’re like a new pin!” Ermitage said, slapping Arthur on the arm.

  “Er … you too! I’m going to look around and see if I can find Eudora. You’ve been here before, so I thought you might help me look around? Cassea offered, but I don’t want him to suspect anything yet.”

  Ermitage nodded. “I don’t know the city well, but they gave me a good tour when I arrived, so I’m sure I can get us about.”

  They moved through walkways of intricate latticework between buildings, and along corridors where small rivers twisted the length.

  “The library sector is down here.”

  Arthur wondered what sort of books they would have here. Stories of their history, of the plants, of the storms, the darkwhispers…

  “I should say libraries,” Ermitage corrected. “They span five levels.”

  “Five levels of libraries?” said Arthur in amazement.

  “Their whole society values learning above everything. They believe that the only true wisdom is in knowing you know only a little and striving to learn more, so yes, libraries are an important feature of the city.”

  It would be the place that Arthur would love to explore first, but possibly not the most likely place to find Eudora Vane.

  They took an ivory spiral staircase upwards; it opened out above the lake before going back inside again. Now that they blended in with their new clothes, the city people that they passed smiled at them as they did at other Erytheans.

  “This is the intelligence arena, where people come to share advancements and knowledge from around Erythea and further afield.”

  It was a large space with a fountain in the centre, with views through pillared archways to the mountains and forests all around. Groups of Erytheans sat on benches or stood chatting in groups.

  Ermitage paused and leant in towards Arthur. “I know this because I was quite the talk of this room for some time, and the agents tend to congregate here when they return.”

  “Agents?”

  “Erytheans who go out into the Wide. Agents make it their business to blend in and integrate, and they report back all the time.”

  There were white butterflies resting on the walls of the intelligence room. He wondered what messages and secrets they had heard.

  “Let’s go to the market area,” Ermitage tapped his stomach. “It’s just through here. Ah, I almost forgot, we need to go down a layer and along. Follow me. There’re a huge sector devoted to schooling on the east side, and…”

  Arthur pulled Ermitage to a stop. He’d heard a voice. A voice that chilled him, the honeyed tone masking so many heartless intentions.

  Eudora Vane.

  “…Wonderful, yes that’s almost the correct shade. It needs to come down a tone.”

  Slowly, Arthur crept towards the door where the voice was coming from and paused outside.

  “I believe that these are the fabric technology rooms,” whispered Ermitage.

  Arthur cautiously peeked through a crack in the door. The room was busy with people stitching and working.

  “But, Miss Culpepper, the traditional colour is green for a reason; it not only acts as camouflage in some of the more dangerous areas of the forest, but it also symbolizes our unity with—”

  “Malarina, that is your name, isn’t it?” said Eudora sweetly.

  “Marinya,” the woman corrected.

  “You must remember that things are different in the Wide, and that it is time to embrace something new. What harm can it do to try it, Malarina?” said Eudora.

  The woman smiled awkwardly.

  “I’m sure there must be something you can do to enhance the colour. Perhaps a plant of the forest with the correct pigment? Or a beetle?”

  Arthur rolled his eyes. He couldn’t bear the thought of the Erytheans thinking this was Harriet Culpepper. The real Harriet couldn’t care less about the shade of what she wore.

  “Now, would you point me in the direction of the Erythean map archives? I should very much like to acquaint myself further with the geology of the land. It’s an absolute passion of mine.”

  “Of cou
rse, Miss Culpepper. It is in the library sector, in the geology rooms.”

  “Wonderful. Now where is my assistant, Smethwyck?”

  Quickly, Arthur retreated from the doorway as Eudora turned his way. He pulled Ermitage down the corridor just as the Smethwyck’s smarmy tones sounded from around the corner.

  “In here,” Arthur said, pulling Ermitage into the closest room. It had high arched ceilings and the walls were filled with stone shelves.

  Inside, a young man approached and spoke in Erythean to them. Arthur smiled and nodded.

  The man frowned and said something else in Erythean, then pointed to Arthur’s feet.

  When Arthur looked blankly, Ermitage said “Methia, etia.”

  “What did you say?” Arthur whispered, as the young man crouched and studied Arthur’s feet.

  “I’ve picked up a few words in my time here and I believe that means, shoes, please.”

  Ermitage nodded towards the shelves where numerous pairs of different green and brown shoes were neatly stacked.

  “Oh … right.”

  As they made their way to the library sector, Arthur couldn’t help but feel rather thrilled at his new footwear. “They feel like a second skin!” he said. “And so grippy. As though I could climb a horizontal wall. They’d be great for Lontown roofs!”

  “Here, I believe this is the geology room.”

  The room was huge, with rows of stone shelves holding large books, some as tall as Arthur.

  There were people studying at various tables. They caught sight of Eudora sitting at one of the large tables with Smethwyck, so Arthur hurried down one of the aisles close by. Carefully, he parted some books so that they could spy on them.

  Eudora flicked absently through the pages of an old green book. “There must be gold here. We know that the agents have gold rings, and if we could find the source and retrieve as much as possible before we return, it would both be worth a fortune and give the people an appetite for what is possible here.”

  “I’ve tried to investigate the source, but no one here seems to understand our word for gold, Eudora.”

  She tutted. “You’re not trying hard enough. Find ways of persuading them. Pay them if you have to.”

  “I’ve tried. Sovereigns hold no value to them. It’s not how it works here.”

  “Everybody has their price. And if they won’t be persuaded then we’ll return with enforcements. They won’t know what’s hit them.”

  Smethwyck hushed his voice. “We’ll need to get back through those creatures. It’s not going to be easy.”

  “It will be in the Aurora. We got past on the way here.”

  “Barely.” A bead of sweat trickled down Smethwyck’s forehead.

  Eudora narrowed her eyes. “If you’re too scared, then I’ll leave you here and promote someone who isn’t.”

  Miptera took flight from Eudora’s shoulder and gnashed her mandibles at Smethwyck.

  “Oh, wipe that distressed look from your face.” She lowered her voice a little. “I’ve been asking questions. The Erytheans are very obliging to one of their own; the long-lost relative has returned, and they’ll bring me anything I ask for. All I have to say is how wonderful it is here, and how I’d like to stay for ever, and they answer all my questions. It turns out that there is a creature here that protects Erytheans from the darkwhispers. A fire-bird.”

  “From the myth?”

  “It’s the largest bird on the planet, and no one knows how old it is. We’ll need the right equipment to catch it, of course … and a suitable cage. Put it on the list for when we return.”

  Smethwyck began scribbling in the pages.

  “We could use it to help protect us on the way back, perhaps. We could take an Erythean with us as back-up – that seam-master, perhaps. She could at least be useful to me in Lontown.”

  One of the books on the shelf clonked forward. Eudora whipped her head up, but Arthur was swift to duck.

  “Let’s get out of here!” Arthur whispered, pushing Ermitage ahead. They hurtled up the shelf aisle.

  “This way,” Ermitage said in an urgent hiss, pulling him towards a different door and into the adjoining language library.

  From there, they hurried back to Ermitage’s room.

  “We need to expose her. You heard what she’s planning. And if they catch on to her, they’ll believe it’s Harriet responsible.”

  “But we have no proof that she’s not Harriet. It’ll be our word against hers and her crew’s.”

  “We do have proof!” Seeing Miptera was just what Arthur had needed. “Her tattoo. Did you notice how she keeps her sleeves long?”

  Ermitage thought for a moment. “Yes … I daresay, that could work.”

  “Cassea said they’ll all be dining with Tauria Verada this evening – that’s when we’ll do it.”

  Arthur and Ermitage left early for dinner and made their way up rounded stairways to the large, open hall, where arched windows let in a welcome breeze.

  Arthur styled his hair differently to remain as inconspicuous as possible, and he wore both sleeves of his shirt long to try and disguise the fact he had one arm; if Eudora’s crew saw that, it could be an instant giveaway. Ermitage wore a green, brimmed hat.

  “It’ll draw attention to you, Mr Wrigglesworth.”

  “Nonsense. It keeps my face in shadow,” Ermitage said, tipping it to a rakish angle and admiring himself in a window’s reflection.

  There were already some professors in the dining area chatting in groups, but there was no sign of Eudora Vane yet.

  “Come on, let’s sit here.” Arthur smelled Eudora’s sickly-sweet perfume before he saw her.

  “Harriet, won’t you sit beside me?” said Tauria as she walked into the room, closely followed by Eudora. “I’d like to tell you some more about our secrecy pact and perhaps a little more about your heritage.”

  “That would be an honour,” Eudora said brightly.

  The numerous professors and crew began taking seats. Arthur had persuaded Ermitage to remove his hat and store it under the table, but they tried to stay locked in conversation so that their faces were hidden.

  Soon, dishes of food were brought into the room: coconut rice, fragrant vegetables, and an array of colourful fruit. The room became a thrum of eating and discussion, but the sound of Arthur’s heart beating echoed in his ears. When would be the moment? It had all seemed like a great plan, but now they were here, it seemed too big, too much to do on his own… He had Ermitage beside him, but usually Maudie was there. And he thought back to Nova and what Eudora had planned to do to them, and before he knew it, he was on his feet, pointing.

  Soon, everyone in the room had stopped what they were doing and was looking at him.

  Eudora’s eyes widened.

  Before he could question himself, the words tumbled from him. “This woman isn’t Harriet Culpepper. She’s an imposter!”

  “I’m sorry?” said Tauria. “Did you just say that this isn’t Harriet Culpepper?”

  Eudora laughed breezily. “How ridiculous.”

  “That’s exactly what I said.”

  Tauria looked at Eudora then back to Arthur. “But you’re a member of Captain Culpepper’s crew?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you flew in on the Culpepper sky-ship.”

  “Yes, but they didn’t know I was there.”

  “So you are a stowaway?” Tauria said, narrowing her eyes.

  “No … it wasn’t like that. Harriet Culpepper, that is, the real Harriet, is back on Nova. Her sky-ship was stolen by the woman you believe to be Harriet. That woman.”

  Tauria’s frown deepened and she looked back at Eudora. “Do you know this boy?”

  Eudora nodded. “I do. But you mustn’t blame him for his confusion. The boy lost his father last year and he has never been the same. He doesn’t know what he’s saying.”

  Arthur suddenly realized that Ermitage hadn’t said a word. “Tell them who she really is, Mr Wrigglesworth.”
>
  Eudora’s mouth parted widely at the realization that Ermitage was also in the room.

  “Well, er, yes … the boy came on the ship,” he stuttered, “and … I helped him get here, and he’s right, she’s—”

  “She’s not Harriet Culpepper!” Arthur said fiercely. “The Culpepper symbol is two swallows in flight. This woman doesn’t have it – she’s Eudora Vane of the Vane family! Show them your tattoo, Eudora.”

  “This is quite ridiculous. I shouldn’t have to prove who I am in such a humiliating way. And on the accusation of a stowaway boy.” Eudora stood up.

  “See, she won’t show you!” Arthur said, starting to feel triumphant.

  Tauria put a gentle hand on Eudora’s arm. “Captain Culpepper. Surely it would be a swift way to quash this accusation so that we can all carry on with our meal?”

  The beginning of a grin spread on Arthur’s lips. His heart raced.

  “Very well,” Eudora said, thin-lipped, not taking her eyes from Arthur’s. She rolled up her sleeve, and…

  There was the tattoo – two swallows in flight.

  CHAPTER 26

  TREETOP TOWN

  Maudie’s attention was caught by more unusual shapes around the trees, spiralling upwards.

  “Is that a staircase?” she breathed.

  Florian smiled. “In the forest you must always remember to look up.”

  The stairways twisted above as high as she could see, disappearing into the canopy. Florian pulled her towards one and hopped on to the first step. “Come on, we can rest here for the night, and there is someone I’d like you to meet.”

  “What is this place?”

  “Althuria, or some call it the treetop town.”

  They ascended the spiral stairs, formed from intricately twined branches, into the understory and upwards through archways of vines.

  “It’s incredible. Like natural engineering,” Maudie said dreamily.

  Shortly, light began piercing in larger spears through the canopy and structures became visible in the upper layer of the trees. Her father had made a treehouse in the garden of Brightstorm House back in Lontown when she was young. Her skin still prickled when she remembered him letting her use the tools from her mother’s toolbelt that had been left to her; how their hands had sawn and hammered and crafted the small house in the garden tree. She laughed to herself; how that tree would look like a miniature sapling compared to these great trees. The whole grand parlour of Brightstorm House would’ve fitted inside one of these trunks!