Hell's Chimney

by Derek Smith

  ‘And you were so long,’ she said. ‘We had almost given up on you.’

  ‘I am so happy to see you,’ exclaimed Far. ‘After a year I thought, Toby’s not coming back. And here you are, eating like an army.’

  ‘It’s wonderful to wear clean clothes,’ sighed Toby, stretching out his stiff limbs.

  ‘So long since you went down Hell’s Chimney and disappeared from my sight,’ said Erdy. ‘Did my bracelet work for you?’

  Toby held up his wrist showing the silver band. ‘Without it, I’d be amongst the dead.’

  ‘Tell us!’ declared Orly. ‘No more bits and pieces, clean clothes and how we’ve all changed. Tell us everything!’

  And Toby began.

  He told them about Hell’s Chimney, climbing in the dark through its tight passage. And then down the cliff, attacked by the ravens. He told them of his journey across the glassy rocks to the black river where the boatman waited. And how he had to run off at the other side with the boatman screaming ‘Pay me!’ He told them of the three-headed dog held back by the guard while the animal slobbered for the only living being. They listened open-mouthed while he told them of the Hall of Dead Babies who latched onto him like leeches, and how he had to follow in the wake of a girl to get through. He told them of his luck in meeting Nom, who helped him make a little sense of the World of the Dead. And how Nom had taken him through the Valley of Sighs where dead lovers learned to abandon their love. And then over the molten lava with Nom walking through it as if it had been a cool stream, and at last into the Hall of Deposed Kings, with the depressing vista of kings who ruled no more than a rock, and were as jealous of it as if it were their kingdom. And he told them of the conversation with his father. The shell of his father… He told them of the Stone of Oull worn by the Queen around her neck, her age and her vulnerability.

  ‘I wondered what had become of the Stone,’ said Erdy thoughtfully. ‘I should have guessed as much. Her history is rather vague. She seems to have come from nowhere. I wonder who she has been.’

  ‘297 years old,’ said Far shaking his head. ‘Not that I have ever seen her.’

  ‘I have,’ said Orly. ‘She came to our house. She was so beautiful, oh so charming… The King was with her. They’d only been married a few months. He was everywhere with her. Out riding, boating. We had archery in the big field, and he let her win…’ Tears were streaming down Orly’s face. ‘And a year later she sent her men. Oh yes, she remembered our beautiful estate – and now it’s hers.’

  Far put his arm round Orly, and she leaned against him, still weeping. Looking at the pair, Toby wondered what had been going on since he’d been away. She, a lady, now so friendly with a peasant… The same Orly who called Far ‘boy’ and would not speak with him present, now rested on him for comfort.

  Were they lovers?

  Toby did not comment, but instead went on with his tale, forgetting the pair for a while in his narration, but every so often his eyes were involuntarily drawn to the two of them to see how familiar they had become.

  He told them of his journey back through the Hall of Dead Street Children, a surprising place of happiness in that dismal country. And he told them of his return across the river. How he’d been trapped in the boat, becoming the ferryman, telling each passenger his tale, hoping that one would pity his plight and take over. Endlessly rowing to and fro across the black river dividing the living from the dead, until Martin came and took over his oars.

  Here he stopped and looked to Orly, expecting more tears. But although her eyes glistened, she smiled faintly.

  ‘Oh, my lovely brother,’ she sighed.

  And when she leaned into Far, he felt a stab in his ribs.

  Chapter 49

  They sat long around the fire, throwing in the odd log to give them warmth and light while their shadows flickered against the rocky walls of the cavern. There was so much to take in. Toby’s arrival had changed everything. Especially, his news of the Queen’s vulnerability. They spoke too of the Queen’s guardian creatures. Who or what were they?

  ‘I’ve heard tell of a dragon,’ said Erdy. ‘It has been seen but has not yet attacked.’

  ‘What’s its purpose?’ said Far.

  ‘I believe it is after Toby.’

  ‘And I’ve been in the Underworld,’ said Toby with a wry smile.

  ‘Here, under my protection,’ added Erdy, ‘it cannot detect you here – but once off my mountain…’ He turned over his empty hands.

  ‘We must get the Queen,’ declared Orly. ‘That was your promise to my brother.’

  Toby nodded. ‘It was.’

  ‘We have the permit to travel to Errlop,’ said Far. ‘Can we not get another one to the castle?’

  ‘We’ll get one,’ said Orly angrily. ‘Or we won’t. But we’ll go to the castle, and smash her stone.’

  Erdy was rubbing his chin, gazing into the fire, his face red in the heat.

  ‘We have two healers going to Errlop,’ he said. He turned to Toby. ‘You must be their servant.’

  ‘Their servant!’ he exclaimed.

  ‘What other role can you play?’ asked Erdy. ‘Can you heal?’

  ‘No,’ he said quietly.

  ‘I have been teaching Far and Orly these past sixteen months. They know enough for the marketplace. You are ignorant of the healing arts, and so they must be your masters for the journey.’

  Toby did not reply. And the others left him to struggle. How things had changed! He had brought them to the cavern. But they had moved on while he had been in the Underworld. It was a bitter pill; to play servant, especially to a serf for heaven’s sake. But he thought of the purpose and hardened himself. He must get to the castle. Toby clenched his fist. To be killed on the road would be useless.

  ‘I’ll do my best,’ he said at last.

  Erdy nodded and put his hands on his shoulder. ‘I have faith in you.’

  He turned to the others.

  ‘I can give you all one piece of magic each. No more. I cannot go with you. I have been cursed, years past, and can only go so far.’

  This was a story none of them had heard, but it was not the time to ask.

  Erdy continued, ‘Toby already has his bracelet. He will need it yet.’ He drew something small from the pocket of his gown. ‘Orly, I give you this earring of invisibility. When you twist it, then no one can see you. I shall put it in your ear before you leave.’ He turned to Far. ‘And to you, I give the Voice.’ He took a neck chain from his pocket. ‘With this, you will be able to speak to Toby and Orly from afar.’

  ‘Can they speak back to me?’

  Erdy shook his head. ‘No. But whenever you grip the chain they will hear your thoughts or the words you speak.’

  ‘Let me have that one,’ said Toby attempting to grasp the chain as Erdy pulled it away.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘It gives him too much power.’ He glared round at them all in the firelight. ‘I am to be a mere servant. That’s humiliation enough. And then to hear the voice of a…’ He fought against the word but had to say it. ‘Of a serf. That I cannot even reply to.’ He shook his head vehemently. ‘It’s too much.’

  ‘No,’ said Erdy, handing the chain to Far.

  ‘Then give me the earring. Let me have some power.’

  ‘No,’ said Erdy.

  Toby kicked a log in the fire and sparks flew. ‘Who is the prince here? Him?’ He pointed at Far. ‘Her?’ He stood up and held his head in anguish. ‘I am to be in the company of this loving couple. And be their helpless servant. This lacks any fairness.’

  Orly rose. She pulled his hands away from his head.

  ‘We will work together,’ she said. ‘My magic is your magic.’

  Toby shook his head.

  ‘We want the same thing,’ said Far. ‘My magic is your magic.’

  Toby sank back into his chair. ‘I did not expect to come back to this.’ His body rocked back and forth. ‘I am to be the least. The one left out.’

  ‘You
will be what you will be,’ said Erdy angrily. ‘One piece of magic each is my gift. And that is now set. You must work together or you will die together.’

  Toby in his misery did not reply.

  Chapter 50

  They set off a few hours later down the mountainside with their three wheelbarrows. Erdy accompanied them. All were tired, Toby most of all, but they could not delay. They had their permit to travel – and they must obey the times given to them.

  They were healers setting off today to journey to Errlop for the market. Two days there, the permit said, a day in the town and two days to get back. They must pick up on sleep when they could.

  At the farm at the foot of the mountain, Far took their horse out of the barn. Erdy had a deal with the farmer. He would keep the farmer’s family in good health, and they would feed and care for the horse and give space for the wagon.

  The horse was a sturdy, obedient animal, mostly brown with a white streak running down its head between the eyes to its nostrils, with a white underbelly, and white too in the lower leg with a tuft of white hair coming from the fetlock. Far harnessed it to the cart. Toby watched carefully, determined that he would do this job in future. He would not be useless.

  He knew too that his tantrum was part tiredness, from his climb up the chimney. But not simply that. Perhaps too his own stupidity, expecting everything to be the same as when he left. As if all they had done was wait for him.

  Once they had loaded up the wagon, he apologised to Erdy who clasped him to him. A warmth he needed. Far too embraced him, making him wonder for an instant about Far’s new confidence, but realising too that he needed a companion in this venture, not a serf. Orly too embraced Erdy. As Toby watched, he knew that she would give him a different difficulty.

  And could he stand it?

  Not without sleep. They agreed he could slumber at the back of the wagon. Far took the reins. Orly sat beside him, as with a crack of the whip the horse began its slow tramp onwards.

  Chapter 51

  It was cold and misty to begin with, but the spring sun gradually lifted the mist, revealing a cloudless, pale blue sky. The road was rutted from wagon wheels, and pitted with animal tracks from the herds of the drovers. It was a bumpy ride for Toby and he could not sleep. His pillow was a bag of herbs, and he had a blanket on top, but the hard planking of the wagon added to his restlessness.

  A little later, Orly, seeing him twisting and turning, found him a sleeping draught. And in a while it worked, and Toby was out to the world.

  The road was quite busy, with other wagons up ahead, and some coming towards them. From time to time the way would be flooded with sheep – and all they could do was stop, and let them by. And once, hundreds of honking geese, making such a racket you would think it would wake the dead – but not Toby. He had sleep enough to catch up on.

  ‘He’s going to be difficult,’ said Far, indicating the snoozing Toby.

  ‘I think so,’ nodded Orly.

  ‘He thinks he’s still a prince. And can’t get away from it,’ sighed Far. ‘He called me brother once, but was quick enough to change his mind.’

  ‘Better not order him about,’ said Orly.

  Far flicked the whip, not at the horse but at the flies buzzing above the horse’s head.

  ‘You have to shout at servants,’ said Far. ‘You must have done yourself.’

  ‘Plenty of times. Only Toby will get resentful and be even more difficult.’

  ‘If we don’t treat him like a servant then no one will believe he is one.’

  Orly laughed.

  ‘What’s so funny?’

  ‘You. I believe you’d be as bad as he is – if you were a prince.’

  ‘Lucky me. I’m not. Never will be.’

  She laughed again. ‘Oh, it’s such a lovely day,’ she said. ‘Who would believe the terror of this kingdom?’

  ‘It’s easy to forget,’ he said. ‘Not even the Queen can stop the sun shining.’

  ‘She stopped it for me, for a long time,’ said Orly.

  ‘Then maybe she can. Maybe she did. When your head is chopped off you don’t care whether the sun is shining or not.’

  ‘I’d a hundred times rather sit here in the rain and have my family back.’

  ‘We always get miserable, don’t we?’

  ‘I wouldn’t trust you if you were happy all the time,’ she said.

  He gripped her arm urgently. Up ahead were a couple of soldiers and they were stopping the various travellers.

  ‘Got the permit?’ she said.

  ‘Yes,’ nodded Far. ‘Shall we wake Toby?’

  ‘Let him sleep this one out,’ she said.

  ‘Right.’ He stiffened. ‘Remember who you are.’

  ‘Lily, your sister. And Lord Haskett is my lord. And we are going to the market at Errlop.’

  Their wagon went forward in fits and starts, in tune with the traffic ahead. There were a few pedestrians and one wagon in front of them.

  ‘I hope Toby, I mean Ned, doesn’t wake,’ hissed Orly.

  ‘They scare me soppy, these soldiers,’ whispered Far. ‘Cross fingers.’

  It was their turn. Far held out the permit. One of the soldiers took it, glanced at it, looked them both over and said, ‘Who’s the one in the back?’

  ‘Our servant,’ said Far.

  ‘Just says two healers here,’ said the soldier indicating the permit.

  ‘Aren’t we allowed a servant?’ said Orly.

  ‘Not if it’s not on your papers. Let’s have those reins, sonny. You’d better come with me.’

  Far tried to control his nerves. Orly clutched his hand as the soldier led them on. They did not dare speak; the soldier was too close and the other was watching them go. Their soldier walked a little ahead, directing them along the road.

  ‘You can’t say two and carry three,’ he said. ‘Won’t you people ever learn?’

  Orly put a finger to her lips; her other hand went to the ring in her ear. She twisted it through. And disappeared. A second or two later Far felt his hand being held once more, telling him Orly was definitely still there, if unseen.

  Far was most unsure about this, but could say nothing with the soldier so close. How would the soldier react to seeing just two when there had been three? Could they have talked their way out of it and simply got the permit adjusted? Was Orly just adding to their danger?

  Far looked behind at the other soldier, but he was now busy examining the permit of a man on a cart. At least he hadn’t seen Orly go.

  They were being led towards a gate where a guard with a spear stood. Far couldn’t see what was within, as trees at the entrance blocked his view.

  ‘You’ve been warned,’ said their soldier. ‘And if you don’t listen, you get what you deserve.’

  And what was that? thought Far. Surely things had improved? It wasn’t summary execution still. His heart jumped in his chest. Should he run? Take his chance. But there were soldiers on the other side of the road, stopping wagons in that direction. How far would he get?

  It was already too late.

  The horse was halted at the entrance. Within the field beyond Far could see a number of wooden huts forming three sides of a square. Some soldiers were drilling in the centre. To one side, a blacksmith was hammering on an anvil. Horses were tethered. And three bodies were slowly spinning from the branch of a high oak tree.

  Had they had a problem with their permits – or some other crime?

  The soldier said to the guard, ‘Three more.’

  ‘You’ve only got two,’ said the guard.

  The soldier swivelled round. He scratched his head. ‘There were three, I swear it. Couple of healers and an extra.’

  ‘Then you lost one.’

  The soldier let go off the horse’s halter and strode back to the wagon. He chucked about bags of herbs and clothes. The figure asleep in the blanket was plain enough. He searched his way through the wagon, looking for another.

  ‘There were three, I’m
dead certain. A servant and two healers…’

  ‘Either you miscounted, mate,’ said the guard slowly, ‘or you’re in big trouble.’

  The soldier was trembling, having given up on the wagon, he was desperately scouring the road. ‘Maybe there were just two,’ he managed to say. ‘Yes, two. I don’t know what I’m up to.’

  ‘Then they’d better move on,’ said the guard. ‘Quick.’

  The soldier hurriedly began to turn the horse.

  At that moment, a soldier from within the camp walked up to the gate. Both soldiers saluted as he approached.

  ‘What’s the problem here, guard?’

  ‘No problem, sir. This wagon, er… they were asking directions, sir.’

  The officer gazed at Far quizzically. Then inside the wagon with the supplies and where Toby was sleeping under a blanket.

  ‘Show me their permit,’ said the officer.

  The soldier handed it over, his hand shaking.

  The officer read the permit. He looked again at Far.

  ‘You’re young to be a healer.’

  ‘I’m Erdy’s apprentice,’ he said.

  ‘Erdy eh? That’s some recommendation.’ He indicated the sleeping form in the wagon. ‘That your sister?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  What else could he say? It was all on the permit: sister and brother, names, purpose of journey… Oh, stay under the blanket, Toby!

  The officer sucked in his breath. ‘Erdy eh? If you’re half as good as he is…’ He flicked his fingers at the soldier. ‘Put the wagon over there. Come with me, young man.’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  Far jumped off the wagon, and followed the officer. Orly remained with the wagon, where she had been all along. She watched the two of them walk across the square to the central hut, which had a veranda across the front. When Far and the officer were close to the hut, a man stood up and came off the veranda to meet them. Orly knew him at once.

  It was Prince Zeke.

  Chapter 52

  Inside the hut was a made bed, a table covered in maps, and a smaller table by a sofa with a number of stools round it. On the small table was the remnants of a card game with half filled cups of wine. Zeke had gone in first, stumbling and coughing. Far had followed the officer. When the officer told him whom he had to treat, he was terrified but remembered Erdy’s prime stricture: half of healing is confidence in the healer.