by Glen L. Hall
Sam and Emily sat on a bench with a remarkable view, a light wind brushing their faces.
‘Alice talks a lot of sense,’ observed Sam. ‘Why didn’t Professor Stuckley just bring me here in the first place?’
‘What? With the Shadow and those things in the wood in hot pursuit? I think he did what was right under the circumstances.’
‘Why didn’t you know that you’d been coming to his family home as a child?’
‘I was so young, Sam! I hardly remembered it at all. And later I was always told Brennus and Drust were from Bamburgh. That’s where they live now.’
‘Hmmm…’ Sam was thinking it through. ‘Well, it seems as though now they’re at the Dead Water anyway.’
The man was now gently tapping his boat with a small hammer.
‘And where does this leave you?’ Emily turned to look at Sam.
‘Me?’
‘There is something going on with you, Sam. After all, you stopped the Grim-were, and if you hadn’t helped Oscar, we’d all be dead.’
The man working on his boat stopped banging nails into it and turned to look at them.
Sam flushed. ‘Keep your voice down, Emily, and stop spooking the locals.’
Emily fell silent and the man turned back to mending his boat.
‘I know it does sound very weird,’ she muttered.
But Sam wasn’t listening. ‘Look over there,’ he whispered.
Back in the direction they’d come from, several specks were on the horizon. The black dots stood out against the white clouds. Long before they could see any shape to them, Sam and Emily knew what they were. They both stood, straining their eyes to see the crows flying out of the dark rim of Birling Wood.
The man stood too, putting down his hammer and gazing in the same direction. Without warning, his black Labrador began to growl.
‘I think we should be getting back to the house,’ Sam said, trying to remain calm.
Emily turned to him and he could see the fear in her eyes. ‘We are close to the wood, aren’t we, and I don’t know why we’re risking it – not after what we saw last night. Do you think the house is protected?’
‘If you mean protected like Oxford, or the bookshop, I hope not – look at what happened there. Let’s hope Jarl turns up before nightfall and tells us we can all go home.’
Sam gave Emily a reassuring smile, but she wasn’t to be comforted. ‘You know we can’t go home.’
Sam felt his stomach knot. Her words brought back the harsh reality of their situation. Only days ago Emily hadn’t believed a word about Shadows, Druids and letters that kept changing. And now here she was, determined to persuade him to keep moving forwards, when all he really wanted to do was go home.
‘Why can’t we go home?’ he asked, suddenly defiant. ‘I’m not Oscar, I’m not a Druid, and I don’t want any of this. The Shadow could be caught in a paradox. The Forest Reivers may have sent the crow-men back to their Underland, for all we know. Those crows could be perfectly normal birds.’
Emily turned sharply. ‘Didn’t you hear what Alice said? The Fall is dying and without her this Otherland joins with ours and then the Ruin comes through and then…’
‘And then what?’
Emily opened her mouth to say something, but Sam’s question had thrown her. In fact, it had thrown Sam too.
‘Let’s just get out of here,’ said Emily, standing up.
Sam stood too. ‘All right, but when we get back to the house, let’s at least talk about the possibility of going home. I came to see Oscar and I saw him. He locked the Shadow in the Otherland. So that’s it. Brennus, Drust and Jarl will just have to go on without me.’
‘And you think that the Shadow is going to forget all about you? And that those things over there won’t pay you a visit one night? What about that shapeshifting thing?’
‘Come on, let’s get moving,’ Sam said, anxious not to answer any of those questions. ‘There’s something not right here. Listen to that dog.’
The dog was now standing on the edge of the small sandbank, hackles raised, barking loudly.
‘Jasper, calm down.’ The man joined the Labrador beside the estuary.
‘I hate this,’ Emily whispered, looking across at them.
Just as she spoke, several figures appeared beyond the wide gaping mouth of the river. Even at that distance their stance gave them away.
The dog was now standing rigid next to its owner, who was squinting into the distance, trying to make sense of the figures.
‘Come on. It’s not safe.’
Sam took Emily by the hand and they moved quickly back onto the paved path and headed back up to the top of the hill.
‘Where are they now?’ Sam turned to look down on the estuary to see if the figures had started to cross the river, but it was no longer possible to see the stretch of river where the shapes had been.
Back at the house, they both found themselves knocking on the door a little too vigorously. As they stepped back and waited, it seemed to Sam that he noticed the door for the first time.
‘Look.’
‘What is it?’ Emily moved alongside him.
With the sun beginning to wane, there was a vague outline on the door. It was as if the grains in the wood had looped around a knot, a knot that looked oddly like a tree.
‘The emblem of Cherwell College,’ Emily said wonderingly. ‘Although it isn’t the emblem of Cherwell College, is it? It’s all to do with the Circle from Oscar’s message. Even I can see that, Sam.’
Just as they were both staring at the patterned wood, the door opened, revealing the pale face of Eagan, looking sombre in the low afternoon sun.
Sam pushed Emily into the large hallway before following her quickly and heading for the kitchen.
‘What’s happening?’
‘The crow-men from the wood are down by the river,’ he answered, moving swiftly to the orangery to look across the estuary.
Emily and Eagan joined him, scouring the southerly banks.
‘Are you certain it was them?’ Eagan asked.
‘We noticed the crows first and then several figures appeared at the water’s edge. It had to be them,’ Sam replied. Tension was knotting his stomach. The day had been so peaceful, but the appearance of the figures had reminded him just how close danger was.
‘Don’t worry,’ came a voice from behind them. ‘They can’t easily cross the river or enter the village.’
Alice had returned.
‘Are you sure?’ Sam turned towards her anxiously. ‘I’m sorry,’ he added quickly, ‘I never meant to bring trouble to your door.’
‘I know you didn’t, my dear. Now listen. I spoke with Eagan at some length while you were out. We think you should stay here until my sons or Eagan’s father returns. They may have news from their journey that will help you decide your next move.’
Alice sat down, holding her walking stick in one hand, her smile never leaving her face.
‘You have been through much pain these last few days – the least you should offer yourselves is a little kindness. Why don’t you go to the Red Lion? The landlord there will look after you.’
‘Those crow-men attacked my uncle’s bookshop. They attacked Eagan – poisoned him. Are we really safe here?’ asked Emily nervously.
‘The river will not let them pass, not if its master is again walking these lands.’
‘But what if the Shadow comes here? Are you sure the river can stop it?’
Sam sometimes wondered whether Emily meant to be so rude. But the old woman seemed untroubled. ‘Let us hope it is never tested,’ she said calmly.
‘If we stay here, will it be tested?’
‘I see your fear, Emily,’ Alice replied, ‘and I understand that fear. But I don’t think you can leave just yet. The road may well be watched. You cannot
go back south, and going north or west will become more dangerous in the days ahead. And I can say that Oscar made his home here for many years and nothing ever breached its defences.’
With that, Alice leaned back in her chair and seemed to doze off, making it clear that the talking was finished for the evening.
* * * * * *
The Red Lion had an enviable position in the middle of Alnmouth village. It had been a pub since the eighteenth century, serving the port of Alnmouth until freight moved to the railways, and was now serving villagers and visitors in equal measure.
Sam, Emily and Eagan entered the pub through a side door and walked into its twilight interior almost unnoticed. The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming, and instantly Sam began to feel more relaxed. He sat down and began to wonder what was on the menu.
Emily sat directly across from him and looked around her.
The oak floor groaned beneath Eagan’s feet as he crossed to the bar. He came back with pints for himself and Sam and a soft drink for Emily.
She looked at it in disgust. ‘Don’t you think I deserve something a little stronger after today?’
‘No,’ came Eagan’s short reply. ‘Besides, you are only seventeen.’
Emily scowled. ‘I feel about ninety after the last few days.’ Then a slight smile softened her face. ‘Or I did until I fell asleep at Alice’s.’
‘I wouldn’t mind a few more nights there,’ Eagan admitted.
‘Neither would I,’ said Sam, reaching over to a nearby table to grab a menu. ‘What do you recommend?’
‘Everything!’ Eagan laughed. ‘And the portions are huge.’
‘Let me have a look,’ Emily said.
Sam passed her the menu. He was starting to feel very at home here.
Eagan, however, was feeling uneasy. ‘You know,’ he said, ‘I’m beginning to wonder whether it’s a good idea after all to wait here.’
‘Why?’ Emily put down the menu, suddenly alert.
‘We’re too close to the wood. If what you saw were crow-men, then the road south is being watched. And I’m concerned that no news has come from the Forest Reivers. If Brennus and Drust are really at the Dead Water – and, okay, it probably wasn’t a dream – I don’t think we can rely on anyone coming here.’
There was silence for a moment. Sam felt a shiver run down his spine. ‘The letter said as much.’
Eagan took a long drink from his glass. ‘Where is it now?’
‘I don’t think we should read it.’
‘Why not?’ Eagan lowered his voice and took a swift look round the interior of the pub.
‘It told me that Brennus and Drust wouldn’t return and it looks as though it could be right – what if it tells us that one of us will be next?’
‘He’s got a point,’ admitted Emily.
‘We don’t have an option,’ retorted Eagan.
‘What do you mean? You’ve just said the road south is being watched and we can’t stay – doesn’t that mean we should go north?’
Eagan sat back in his chair. ‘I know we have to go north, Emily, but I need to understand what path to take. The letter may help.’
‘It might give us information we don’t want to know.’
Eagan turned to Sam. ‘It has been given to you for a reason. I suggest we use it.’
Sam found himself reaching into his back pocket. Across from him, Emily had stopped sipping her drink and Eagan’s eyes were fixed on him. He could sense their apprehension and their excitement. Just like the nights at the Eagle and Child and the old school house, his mouth went dry as he thought about reading the letter.
Taking it from his pocket, he placed it on the table. It was looking more bedraggled than ever.
‘If it tells you anything about me,’ Emily said nervously, ‘I don’t want to know.’
Sam nodded. He knew how Emily felt – his own anxiety was building second by second. As he took the letter from the envelope, Emily looked away, but he could feel Eagan’s dark eyes burning a hole into the torn and yellow paper. He found himself staring at it, unable to bring himself to unfold it.
His attention was caught by the door opening and the man from the beach entering the pub, dog in tow.
‘Go on,’ Eagan whispered.
Sam watched the man buy a drink and go and sit in the far corner of the pub, his dog settling close by his side.
‘Do you really want me to do this?’
‘Like I say, we have no option.’
Without any further hesitation, Sam unfolded the letter.
Instantly he could see that the handwriting was no longer either Jack’s or Ronald’s. Their elegant calligraphy had been replaced by a scrawl he could barely decipher. He found himself taking a deep breath and starting to read the letter out loud:
Dear Sam,
You are in grave danger.
‘I don’t think you should read another word.’
Emily was interrupted by a low growl from the corner of the room. Eagan looked over his shoulder, his eyes taking in the tables where people were quietly talking and drinking, enjoying a night out.
‘It’s just a dog. Keep going.’
Dear Sam,
You are in grave danger. The Grim-Witch is coming after you. Her crow-men attacked the Forest Reivers in Birling Wood. The Reivers were hard pressed and the wood is lost.
The enormity of the words didn’t sink in at first. Then Eagan said, ‘The Reivers … I asked them to come down from their homes. I called them together. I can’t bear to think of what has happened to them.’
He sank back into his chair, placing his hands over his face.
‘What is this Grim-Witch?’ Emily’s eyes were growing wider.
‘I don’t know.’
‘She’s the leader of the Grim people,’ said Eagan in a muffled voice. He dropped his hands and raised his head. ‘She’s supposed to be asleep in the Underland. Sam, you need to keep reading. We need to know what we must do next.’
Sam turned again to the letter.
Make for Bamburgh, for it is the home of the Marcher Lords and they will again protect the heir of the Druidae. Go quickly and do not look back. The roads out of Alnmouth are watched…
He stopped reading and sighed. ‘I was hoping the running and hiding would come to an end.’
Eagan was leaning forwards, his face pale, the dark rings under his eyes a touch deeper. ‘Does the letter say anything else?’
Look to the river for your escape and do not despair.
Charles
‘“Look to the river.” Great – the only way out of Alnmouth is by boat,’ Emily said, throwing herself back in her chair. ‘And does anyone have one?’
‘Bamburgh is only twenty-five miles north,’ Eagan said slowly. ‘We could make it in a day.’
‘Please don’t tell me we have to row all the way to Bamburgh – I don’t fancy getting caught out at sea at night.’
‘I don’t fancy rowing all the way there either, to be fair. I think we come ashore at Craster and make for Bamburgh on foot.’
‘What do you think, Sam? Couldn’t we wait for news after all?’
‘No, Emily, I think we’ve already delayed too long.’ Sam was feeling even more worried now. ‘We should pack some provisions and then borrow a boat.’
‘Just remember who is at the centre of all this,’ Emily muttered, picking up her drink.
‘If only she knew the truth,’ thought Sam. ‘Come on,’ he said, ‘that dog’s spooked and that makes me nervous.’
On the far side of the room, the dog was growling steadily.
‘It’s the man we saw earlier!’ Emily exclaimed, looking round.
Eagan turned too. The man bending down, trying to comfort the dog, but it was having none of it.
‘It was like that on the beach earlier
,’ Sam said. ‘When the crow-men were there.’
Eagan and Emily both looked at him.
‘Right,’ said Emily, quickly draining her drink. ‘Eagan, is there another way out of here?’
‘Yes, follow me.’
Eagan took them through a back room and out into the pub’s long beer garden, where one or two people were still sitting in the twilight. They quickly passed through the garden and then went down some stone steps that led to a narrow street.
‘Wait!’ called Sam, pushing himself and Emily back against a stone wall.
‘What is it?’ Eagan’s voice was strained, almost desperate. He placed himself on the opposite wall and Sam watched as he reached behind him and half drew what looked like a horrible long carving knife.
Then Sam felt a slight wind brushing his face, although the night was still. There was a taste in his mouth and his hands felt strangely warm.
‘Something is here,’ he said.
‘In Alnmouth?’
‘No – here.’
‘Sam, you’re scaring me!’ Emily’s eyes were wild. She jumped as Eagan drew another long knife. Standing in the gathering gloom, he looked a frightening figure, capable of striking anything down at will.
‘Where?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know exactly,’ answered Sam. ‘In the air – or it could be everywhere.’
‘Focus. Tell me what you see.’
‘I don’t know what I see. It’s more a kind of feeling. I just know something bad is coming and we need to get out of here.’
‘Then let’s go!’
Without another word, Eagan took them down the long alley, looking around him as they ran. Now and again he would signal for Sam and Emily to push themselves against the wall and wait before running on.
The alley quickly came to an end and they were soon running through the back streets of Alnmouth, catching glimpses of the darkening estuary as the last of the sunlight sent a crimson wave against the horizon’s black edge.
As they approached a steep hill leading up to the back of Alice’s house, Eagan made them crouch beneath a hedge.
‘We warn Alice, we pack as quickly as possible and then we borrow a boat, okay?’
‘I really hate this,’ whispered Emily. ‘It feels as though we’re about to go from the frying pan into the fire.’
