The Word Guardians: and the Twisting Tales

by Lawrence Yarham

  “What the!” he said, jamming his shoulder against it and pushing hard. “It’s stuck!”

  They ran further down the carriage to the next door. Raelinn tried it but it was also stuck. She stepped back and used magic, pulling luggage racks of the walls and dissolving them down into a stream of words that she flung at the door. The words bounced off in all directions, like inky glass shards. Some of them hit Raelinn in her side. She screamed out.

  “Crap!” shouted Wheeler, frustrated. He dived forwards, pulling Raelinn out of the way. He landed to her side, between her and the door, taking the brunt of remaining debris. They both covered their heads and waited for the magic to settle.

  She sat up and winced.

  “How bad is it?” he asked, getting himself up onto his knees.

  She looked down. “I’ll live,” she said. “I heal quickly. What about you?” She turned him around and saw spots of blood. “You’re hurt! Take off your jacket!”

  Wheeler removed his coat. Raelinn inspected his back. “Just cuts. Nothing major,” she said. “That thick skin of yours serves you well,” she said wryly.

  Wheeler ignored the sarcasm. The train was gathering speed and started to leave the station.

  “It seems as though something wants us to stay on this train,” he thought aloud.

  He looked up. There were holes opening in the walls where the luggage racks had come away. “I think I have an idea though.”

  Chapter 3

  Fake news

  The evening of the Police Commissioner’s dinner arrived quickly. The event was hosted in the main hall of the city’s museum, round tables having been placed around the exhibits for the event.

  Yas’s dad had excused himself for a work meeting. Privately, Yas had been relieved about that as it removed the worry of how he might react, but it also frustrated her. She was still concerned about her parent’s relationship and she felt sad for her mom, who was putting on a brave face.

  Yas and her mom arrived at the event before Sam. They stood on their own surveying the set tables. Yas peered at the white place cards to see if she could spot her name or someone she recognised.

  “Yas,” called Sam, as he made his way over to where they were. “Wow! You look amazing!”

  “Thanks,” she replied, a little self-conscious. She hated dressing up but had chosen to wear a long black dress for the occasion and her trademark converse boots underneath. Her realm dice like pendant hung just below the neckline of her dress. It was the first time they had both worn something more formal since they had started dating. Sam was wearing a blazer and formal pants.

  “You look pretty good, yourself,” she said, touching his jacket, approvingly. They shared a quick kiss.

  “Where’s your dad?” he asked, while looking around the hall.

  “Work,” replied Yas. “Again.”

  She exchanged greetings with Janine and Sam’s dad, and they said ‘hello’ to Yas’s mom.

  “He said he’ll come later, if he can,” added Yas to Sam, to try and soften her own disappointment.

  “Sure,” Sam nodded, grabbing her by the hand. “I’m sure he will if he can.”

  In truth, she was excited to be here. It was a proper adult party and set in a place that she associated with learning. She’d been in the museum many times before, but it felt special tonight. She was part of a selected few invited to be in this hall, after closing time. There was no need to jostle around other people in order to view the exhibits.

  Yas lingered at one of her favourites, a huge timeline of local history with pictures and key artefacts. While this area had only been discovered and developed just over four hundred years ago, there had been significant change over that period. It was not without conflict, though. The history acknowledged the mistreatment of Indigenous peoples at the hands of European discoverers. It also talked about different ways in which the cultures had recorded their history, books and artwork featuring significantly. She always found it fascinating.

  “I wonder where we’ve been seated?” she heard Sam say, as he moved a little way from where she was standing to inspect the place cards on the tables.

  She looked at his reflection and then further behind him, across to the other side of the room. There was a strange effect she noticed. Some of the guests seemed to have an additional reflection or shape offset. She blinked her eyes to clear them. She then looked across to where her mom was talking with Sam’s Dad and Janine. They were clear and sharp. It puzzled her. It didn’t seem to be a distance thing. She moved her way along the exhibit and tilted her head this way and that to see if it was some strange effect of the light on the glass. She couldn’t make it out.

  “Yas?” asked a voice nearby. She sensed someone approach behind her but had been too focussed on what she was seeing. She turned.

  “Eddie?” she asked, surprised. He was wearing a full tuxedo complete with a bow tie and looked very smart. Eddie had previously been put under some form of spell by the Controllers, Penn and Orfeo. Disguised by the magic, he had initially been introduced to Yas as Wesley, someone with severe anxieties and perhaps learning disabilities. Yas and Eddie had then worked together to help each other escape when Yas had been captured at the Controller’s galleon.

  “Yas, I’m speechless,” Eddie complimented, coming over to where she was standing. “You look wonderful.” He put his arm around her and gave her a quick hug.

  Yas found herself blushing. “Thank you. You too,” she said. “You look very handsome.”

  “Thank you,” he replied. “I don’t really like suits, though.” He stood next to her, looking at the exhibits.

  “I know what you mean,” Yas agreed. “I’m not a dressy person.”

  “Could have fooled me,” Eddie joked, and bumped into her playfully.

  “I’m glad you’re you again,” Yas said, after a pause.

  “Yeah, me too,” he said. “I think if anything, what Orfeo and Penn did to me, it made me understand myself a little better.”

  “That’s awesome, Eddie,” Yas acknowledged.

  “I never really thanked you,” he said, turning to her, slightly, “for your help on the galleon. If you hadn’t, I don’t know if I’d have found my way back.”

  “I’m sure you would have,” reassured Yas. “I never really thanked you either. You helped Sam and I get away.” She looked around to find Sam. He was still working his way around the tables.

  They stood and looked at the exhibit for a moment.

  “I love just coming here and spending time reading,” Eddie said. “It’s also fun to people watch,” he added playfully.

  “Me too,” said Yas, smiling and looking at him. “I agree. I always wonder what people think when they read about an ancient tomb, or building. For me it’s the stories in those places.”

  “Yes,” he agreed. “I find it fascinating understanding how people coped with so little, compared with what we have today.”

  “I guess they didn’t miss what they didn’t have. But yes, it’s amazing to see how they lived and how we got to where we are today.”

  They moved along the display.

  “That’s odd,” Eddie said, moving his head slightly from side to side as he looked at the exhibit.

  “What?” asked Yas.

  “I thought it was my eyes. Do you see there’s like an extra shadow or something over those people there?” He pointed, subtly.

  “Yes!” agreed Yas. “I thought it was my eyes too at first. Look,” she pointed at the glass on the exhibit. “Some people you can see clearly. Maybe it’s something to do with the lighting and how it reflects in the glass?”

  “Yeah, I don’t know,” said Eddie, turning around and looking across the room. “It’s only in the reflection.”

  Yas looked about and spotted Sam, still browsing the tables.

  “Sam,” she called, putting her arm around Eddie and gesturing to him. “Look who’s here?”

  Sam walked over to the two of them. “Eddie?” he asked,
looking him up and down. “What are you doing here?”

  “I received an invitation the other day,” Eddie explained. “A bravery award?”

  “Yeah,” replied Sam, a little offput. “So did we. What do you think you got yours for?” he asked pointedly.

  Yas raised an eyebrow quizzically at Sam. The slur was unlike him. She wondered if it was intentional.

  “Did you find out where we’re seated?” she asked, changing the topic.

  “Yeah, we’re over there on table three,” Sam replied. “Makes sense now who Edward is,” he gestured to Eddie. “Are you at college now?”

  “Not yet,” replied Eddie. “I’m trying to help my mom get over my dad disappearing.”

  “Oh, of course,” replied Yas. “I’m sorry, Eddie. Is your mom here tonight?”

  “Yeah, she’s over there,” he gestured to where Janine, Peter and Yas’s mom were standing chatting with someone Yas didn’t recognise. There was a little laughter within the group.

  “I’m glad she’s not on her own,” said Yas.

  “Have you heard any more about where your dad might be?” asked Sam, interested.

  “No, nothing,” replied Eddie. “My mom told me that she thinks she’s responsible. She wanted him to move out and thinks she drove him away. I tried to tell her what happened in the realms but she doesn’t believe me. She thinks I was hallucinating or something.

  Yas wasn’t sure what to say. It reminded her of the conversations she had with Sam when his dad had been kidnapped.

  “Do you know what happened to him?” asked Sam, perhaps a little insensitively.

  “He pulled one of the Controllers, Raelinn, into the Void with him,” said Eddie sadly. “It saved me from being pulled in also.”

  “I’m sure he’s still alive,” Yas found herself saying. In retrospect, she really wasn’t sure where the words came from.

  “You think?” Eddie asked.

  Yas worried about giving him false hope.

  “I hope so,” reassured Sam. “I know my dad is trying to follow up leads to find him. They were partners, after all.”

  “Your dad’s been a good friend,” added Eddie. “Thanks.” He touched Sam on the arm. Yas looked at Sam’s surprised face. She smiled gently.

  “Sure,” acknowledged Sam, feeling a little awkward. He stepped beside Yas and then, hearing footsteps approach from behind them, turned to face the person who was coming their way.

  “Ahh, I wondered where some of our guests of honour had gone to,” said a man in police uniform. The ropes and medals decorating his uniform indicated a high rank.

  A buzzing arose in Yas’s head, similar to what she’d felt at home a few nights earlier. She looked around, puzzled.

  “I’m Police Commissioner Gaines,” the Commissioner introduced. He held out his hand for Sam to shake.

  “Sam Swift,” replied Sam, nodding at the Commissioner.

  “Yasmine Oakham,” said Yas, as the Commissioner offered his hand to her to shake. For a moment she was unsure what the expected protocol was on meeting someone important, but she ended up just looking him in the eyes and smiling. As she shook his hand, a buzzing sensation went up her arm and her pendant became ice cold against her skin. It took her by surprise and made her feel sick and lightheaded for a moment. She swayed and put her hand on Sam’s shoulder to steady herself. He looked at her uncertainly.

  “Edward Wheeler,” replied Eddie, shaking the Commissioner’s hand and also feeling strange. He looked at Yas and there was a moment’s understanding between the two of them.

  “I know that there will be a formal mention later, but I just wanted to meet you myself and offer my personal thanks.”

  Yas was curious. She looked at Sam, puzzled. She was unsure what bravery was being recognised here this evening.

  “Thank you, but I’m sure others would have done the same,” offered Yas, uncertainly.

  “No, quite the contrary, Yasmine,” the Commissioner disagreed. “It’s a rare thing, to put yourselves in harm’s way to help another and to do that without a moment’s hesitation.”

  “It didn’t feel like that,” offered Sam. “I’m sure it just sounded better on the reports you’ve read.”

  “You don’t give yourselves enough credit,” the Commissioner continued looking at each of them in turn. “You all undertook selfless actions, to head off a crime. The news reports too showed how the two of you distracted the criminals while you,” he looked at Eddie, “diverted your father to the scene. While I wouldn’t ask anyone to do what you did, we could all do with more examples like you in this city.”

  “If you don’t mind me asking, Commissioner,” said Sam, curious about where these reports had come from, “who was the lead detective on the case?”

  “I’m sorry,” replied the Commissioner. “I can’t reveal that while the crime is being brought to the courts. I hope you understand.”

  “Of course,” Sam shrugged. His father’s detective instincts were coming into play though. “What happened to the perpetrators? Didn’t one of them get away?”

  “No, they are safely behind bars for now, awaiting trial,” the Commissioner said.

  “Tell, me,” he said, leaning closer to Sam. The buzzing rose higher in Yas’s head and she could see from the strained expression on Eddie’s face that he too was affected. “Have you ever considered a career in law enforcement, like your father?”

  “Errm,” replied Sam, a little taken aback. “I’ve not really thought about it, to be honest.”

  “Well, do,” urged the Commissioner. “You have your father’s nose,” he added, tapping the side of his own nose.

  Sam looked confused for a moment. Yas couldn’t help but smile as she realised that Sam had taken that last comment literally.

  The Commissioner stood back again and looked around. His facial expression changed, back to a slightly bemused look that Yas had noticed when he had first met them. That intrigued her. Another similarly dressed officer came over and said something quietly to the Commissioner. He turned back towards them.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” he said, indicating to his colleague, “We’re about to start the banquet. Please take your seats.”

  “Of course,” Sam replied. Yas and Eddie also nodded.

  “It was a pleasure to meet you all,” he said, then walked away to take his place at one of the tables.

  “Whoever created those reports,” said Sam quietly to Yas, as they made their way over to their table, “they were fake.”

  “Yes,” agreed Yas. “And the news reports. My dad still believes that’s what really happened.”

  “So, who’s been creating those, and why?” asked Sam. “That’s got to have taken serious effort, to have controlled all those people, don’t you think.”

  “Absolutely. I wonder how someone is doing that,” Yas thought aloud as she and Sam sat down next to each other.

  Eddie sat down on the other side of Yas, his back to the front of the hall.

  The table seated ten people. Sam was next to Yas’s mom. Then going around the table there was Janine, Eddie’s mom, the Fire Chief, another teenager, Peter and one other person who they didn’t recognise. They briefly introduced themselves, but it was the type of introduction that was in line with social expectations and unlikely to open up into any subsequent conversation.

  “There’s no place set out for Dad,” said Yas to Sam. “He only decided today that he wouldn’t be able to make it.”

  “Unless he called ahead?” suggested Yas’s mom, overhearing.

  “But he said he might be able to make it later,” countered Yas, feeling confused.

  “Unless someone else knew he wouldn’t make it,” suggested Janine. “You said he was in a work meeting, Mary?” she asked Yas’s mom. “What type of work does he do?”

  “Legal work. Defending large organisations against various types of suits, mostly,” Yas’s mom answered.

  “Interesting,” added Janine, to herself. Given his line of wo
rk, she wondered if that’s what Orfeo could be seeking him out for. She looked across at Yas. “Let’s hope he’s able to turn up later, hmm?”

  Yas nodded and smiled, grateful for the gesture.

  A quiet descended across the hall. The Commissioner was standing.

  “We’re here this evening to celebrate the outstanding youth of our community,” he announced. “Those who have gone above and beyond, either through volunteering to help in dangerous situations, or by their actions when having challenging situations thrust upon them. But I think the acknowledgement will be better received if we’ve all eaten first? Hmm?”

  There was a little polite laughter around the hall.

  “So, let dinner be served,” he said, and sat down.

  Immediately, servers appeared from the corners of the hall with the first course and drinks. It was well orchestrated, and the table became immersed in polite dinner conversation. Yas decided to use the background noise to ask some questions that were bothering her.

  “Did you sense that buzzing noise when the Commissioner came near?” she asked Sam, quietly.

  “No,” replied Sam. “What buzzing noise?”

  “I did,” replied Eddie quietly. “It’s like bees, humming.”

  “Yes,” nodded Yas, putting a forkful of food in her mouth as delicately as possible. “That’s a good way to describe it,” she said, covering her mouth with her hand while chewing. “What do you think it was?”

  “I don’t know,” replied Eddie, quietly.

  “I had a similar thing at home, the other day, with my dad,” Yas added, even more quietly. She looked across the table at Sam’s dad. He was chatting with one of the people at the table that she didn’t recognise. She overheard the lady mention the name ‘Penn Media’. It sounded like she worked there or was affiliated to the organisation in some way.

  “What do you think the Commissioner meant when he said I had my dad’s nose?” asked Sam, changing the topic of conversation.

  Yas laughed and quickly covered her mouth with her hand at the same time. “I think he was referring to your instinct for asking questions.”