The Word Guardians: and the Twisting Tales

by Lawrence Yarham

  “Meet? Huh!” dismissed the vampire. “You don’t even know where he is!”

  “Oh, I have some ideas,” replied Penn. “Being forced to drift the realms has its advantages. I’ve been able to see things, piece things together.”

  An image drifted across Penn’s mind. It was Orfeo, stood in the shadows, somewhere. There must still be a connection there somehow, otherwise he wouldn’t be picking up on it. Where was he? He figured that by focussing on him in this conversation, he would be able to see it.

  “Now,” said Penn, “I’ll give you one chance. Where’s he hiding?”

  “One chance?” retorted the vampire. “You're in no position to make demands. Anyway, even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you!”

  Penn laughed, further testing the bonds around his snout. There were still there but they had loosened further. “Repeated like a good little soldier,” he commended, wryly.

  He looked above him. One of the spiders was still hanging just to his right. He turned his head and shot black word fire from his snout. It melted the web that the spider had hung from the roof and burnt the spider’s body to a crisp. It dropped onto the ground, the black fire wrapping around the spider and dissolving it slowly. The word magic then returned to the dragon, absorbing back into Penn.

  “Ahh,” Penn sighed appreciatively stretching upwards, gaining strength.

  The other spiders chose that moment to swarm in on his position.

  Penn swept a wave of black fire across the roof of the cavern. The leading spiders fell and released their magic as before. Some of them though made it through his defence and started to drop down onto his back, releasing more threads to bind him.

  Empowered by the magic, Penn started to transform back into human form. As he shrank, the spiders lost their grip and he was able to dispatch them, by firing further word magic at them.

  Shrinking back down to his human height, he rubbed his gloved hands together appreciatively.

  “Well, would you look at that,” he said, dryly. “It wasn’t the treasure I needed after all. Just energy, which you brought into my lair.”

  The vampire raised his bow and watched Penn, warily. Penn moved his head from side to side, studying the man.

  “It’s good to be me again,” Penn said to the inky patches that remained on the ground where the spiders had fallen.

  The vampire notched an arrow ready to fire.

  “Oh, I wouldn’t do that,” Penn said calmly, moving forwards. He reached out his gloved hand and pulled it to the side, causing the vampire’s aim to move off target. Then he flicked his wrist backwards, causing the man to fire. The arrow sailed harmlessly across the cavern. The vampire stepped backwards uncertainly.

  “Now then,” said Penn, moving forwards and smiling inanely. “You were sent by Orfeo, because he was worried I might escape? Hmm? What did he think I would do?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” replied the vampire, stepping forwards and readying himself for whatever challenge might arise.

  “Oh, come now,” countered Penn. “We all know the story of the hero slaying the dragon.” He looked back down at the shrinking inky patches. “But it hasn’t gone according to plan, has it?”

  He looked back up at the vampire.

  “It was a clever move to bind a dragon with spider webs,” Penn acknowledged. “And you were sent along to defeat me in the event that I transformed back,” he indicated to himself.

  The vampire seized his chance and flew towards Penn, making a move for his neck. Penn unleashed words from his glove that formed a cricket bat and he swung it at the man, sending him crashing into the middle of the cave.

  “Four!” shouted Penn, triumphantly. “But what I don’t get is why the bow and arrow?” he continued, while walking across to where the vampire was getting himself to his feet. “They don’t work well against dragon scales! Did you know that?”

  “You think you’re so clever,” retorted the vampire.

  “Okay then,” replied Penn, thinking things through. “Orfeo wants to know whether I’m still a threat to his plans. So, he sent someone to check on me.” He paused. “How am I doing so far?”

  The vampire rushed him. Penn side-stepped the attack and swung the bat, connecting with the man’s head and sending him sliding across the ground.

  “Ooh,” Penn said, mocking concern. The vampire got himself to his feet and launched into the air, baring his fangs.

  Penn sighed. He flicked out a word tendril from his other hand which wrapped around the vampire’s legs. He pulled him down to the ground.

  “I think I’m on the right track so far, don’t you?” he asked rhetorically as the vampire tried to wriggle himself free. Penn raised a finger to his chin. “Now, I’ve not noticed him as I’ve travelled the realms,” he lied, pulling the vampire closer to him. “So, let’s try this one more time, hmm? Where is he hiding?”

  The vampire stopped resisting and realised he had a choice. Keep his eyes on Penn or reach down and unravel his bonds. He chose the former.

  Penn reached out with his mind, thinking about where Orfeo might be. He tried to envisage him. An image of Orfeo in the shadows came back to him, but this time in a chamber of a castle, with multiple reflections of the moon behind him.

  “I figure your master is busy with a plan of his own,” Penn continued. He saw Orfeo looking into a reflection, then moving along. He wondered what he was looking for. Then an image of a sun appeared in his mind and he was able to make out weapons in the symbol, in the rays of sunlight. He knew this symbol and what it represented. He had what he needed.

  “Ahh, there you are,” Penn continued. “What are you planning?”

  The vampire pulled out a dagger and cut through the tendril that Penn had ensnared him with. He was successful in freeing himself and scrambled to his feet.

  “I’m not telling you anything,” said the vampire. “I am loyal to my master.”

  The vampire flew upwards and then down at Penn. Penn was ready though. He swung the bat, hitting the vampire and sending him flying into a stone pillar, where he crumpled to the floor, unconscious for a moment.

  “It’s a six!” Penn shouted, holding his arms aloft, victoriously.

  He dissolved the bat and walked over to the vampire, who was just coming to. Then Penn conjured a purple sphere and rolled it to the vampire, where it grew and encased the man.

  “I’d like to thank you for your assistance,” Penn said. “Your colleagues have obliged me by providing the energy I needed.”

  “And what of me?” asked the vampire, still resolute, but trapped inside the sphere.

  “Oh, you know what they say,” said Penn, smiling cruelly.

  “No! What?” asked the vampire, raising an eyebrow.

  “One for the road,” said Penn, holding out his hands and moving them together. The sphere started to shrink on itself, crushing the vampire and dissolving him. The sphere returned to Penn, between his hands. He looked up and welcomed the energy being absorbed into his hands.

  “Well,” he said looking around the empty cavern and the pile of treasure. “I won’t miss this place.”

  He created a portal and stepped through it.

  At the Police Commissioner’s dinner, the desserts had been cleared away and the focus of the room had changed to be the head table once more. The Commissioner tapped a glass and stood up.

  “Ladies and gentlemen. Hello again,” he started. He tried to keep the tone as informal and light-hearted as the event would allow.

  There was the sound of chairs scraping against the floor as guests turned to be able to see the Commissioner.

  “Now that we’ve all eaten, I’d like to take a few minutes of your digestion time to talk about why we are here this evening.”

  There was polite laughter.

  “We’re seated among these treasures of history, because these represent stories of cultures in times gone by.” He pointed at some of the exhibits in the hall.

  “I can
’t pretend to know the specifics of the artefacts on display, but my point is that they represent those that have survived the tests of time. Whether through a retelling of every day life when on some new adventure of discovery, or what people did in the face of adversity, all of this history has one thing in common with the young people that we are recognising here tonight.”

  He paused for effect.

  “Each young person being awarded this evening made a choice in the moment to do something that was greater than themselves. They made a commitment, to help others. Whether in a dangerous situation, or by going above and beyond the call of duty, they have in effect created new notable stories.”

  He looked around the hall, briefly landing his gaze upon Yas.

  “Each of you, I’m sure, will dismiss whatever actions you took as, ‘it needed to happen’, or ‘anyone would have done it’, and I’m sure if you take the time to browse the exhibits in this hall, you will hear the same words being spoken out through the artefacts on display. These also were ordinary people just going through another day, and doing what they thought needed to be done.”

  The Commissioner had the attention of the room.

  “Well, we, in this city, have decided to commission a new exhibit, which will be permanently on display and will be added to each year, with new memorable events.”

  He moved away from the head table and over to a large box nearby. Yas had dismissed that as a decoration, making the hall look as if it had just been unpacked. She had not guessed at what the Commissioner was about to say.

  “Inside this box,” he continued, as a man and woman picked up on his cue and headed over to the other end, “is the start of that exhibit. To champion every day young people in this city who have made a recognisable difference.”

  People looked at each other on each of their tables in shock and surprise. Yas felt very self-conscious and started to blush.

  “I know that there are many more acts that go unnoticed and unrecognised,” continued the Commissioner, “but even more importantly now when we face constant new stories of protests and divisions in the news, it’s important to celebrate those that stand up for others and for good values.”

  The man and woman pulled the other end of the box and it rolled out of the way, revealing a double-sided glass display, also on wheels.

  “The display is here this evening,” the Commissioner added. “And will be on permanent display in the local history exhibit from the end of the week.”

  Everyone applauded.

  The Police Commissioner waited a moment for the clapping to subside.

  “Yes, well, that’s all well and good to applause a display,” he joked. Again, there was polite laughter. “But seriously, I’d like to ask each of the young persons here in the room this evening to come up to the front so they can have their moment in the spotlight.”

  There was more applause.

  “Please,” he said above the clapping. “Come and join me so that the city can recognise and thank each of you in person.”

  Sam’s dad, Peter, motioned to Sam and he got up awkwardly, followed by Yas and Eddie. They walked over to the display case and were joined by people from the other tables.

  A photographer appeared and started taking pictures as the Police Commissioner took a moment to shake each of their hands and thank them. Then, each of them was presented with a gift from one of the Commissioner’s colleagues.

  Yas’s mom, Eddie’s mom and Peter each got up from their seat to snap some pictures on their phones, for their own memories of the event.

  Yas felt incredibly self-conscious and awkward. She again felt the buzzing when the Commissioner shook her hand and was relieved when she could finally return to the table.

  Once everyone had returned to their seats, the Commissioner finished his speech.

  “I’d like to thank you all for coming this evening,” he said. “There is no rush to leave,” he added. There was laughter again. “I have been assured that the museum will remain open until ten o’clock to give you ample time to browse the exhibits. I hope that you’ll spend some time at this new one also.”

  “Thank you all and good evening.”

  There was clapping again, and then people from different tables stood up and chatted amongst each other. The level of noise in the hall rose, and some made their way over to the exhibits. Yas wondered how many of them were genuinely interested and who felt that they couldn’t make an immediate exit out of social politeness.

  “What was the gift?” asked Yas’s mom.

  Yas looked down at the parcel she’d placed on the table. She was nervous to open it, but Sam and Eddie were already pulling at the ribbon on their gifts. She picked it up and eyed it suspiciously. She pulled at the ribbon carefully, noticing a slight tingling sensation in her hands, then peeled away the wrapper.

  “It’s a book!” said Sam dismissively, as he pulled the hardcover book out of its wrapping. Yas looked across at it. It was a hardback book entitled ‘A snippet of Byford, 2020,' and had photographs on the cover.

  “And some sort of medal of distinguishment,” added Eddie, turning over a plastic box in his hands.

  Yas pulled her book and plastic box out of the wrapping. She turned the book over in her hand. She felt like she should have been more interested in it. She loved history and stories of people but, knowing that this was about the present day, it didn’t trigger the same excitement she usually had. The intertwined ellipses on the spine of the cover intrigued her more. They were familiar but she couldn’t immediately place them.

  “What’s the book?” asked her mom, leaning across Sam, to Yas.

  “I don’t know,” she said, passing it to her. “Present day history or something?”

  “That’s nice,” complimented her mom. Sam picked up on her hesitancy though.

  “What is it?” asked Sam.

  “There’s a really strange feeling from the gifts. Don’t you sense anything?”

  “No, not really,” replied Sam.

  “I know what you mean,” said Eddie overhearing. “It’s like they are buzzy. I get a similar feeling with money, but not as edgy.”

  “Yes,” replied Yas. “What do you think it is?”

  “I don’t know,” replied Eddie. “My dad said to always trust your gut instinct, and my gut says that something’s off with that Commissioner.”

  “Really?” asked Sam, surprised.

  Yas agreed with Eddie. Something did feel out of sorts and she couldn’t explain it.

  “Let’s see if we can get close to him, browse the exhibits, that sort of thing?”

  Yas’s mom looked across at Yas with a ‘be careful’ look.

  “We’re just going to look around, see what we can learn,” Yas reassured, as the three of them stood up.

  “Okay,” acknowledged Janine and Yas’s mom, interrupting their own conversation.

  Yas, Sam and Eddie wandered over to the new exhibit. They made a play of looking at the details on show, including newspaper snippets of their supposed foiling of a robbery of a bookstore. It still puzzled Yas.

  “I just don’t get it,” Sam said. “It’s like my dad said. If it was genuine, why would someone rob a bookstore? What were they hoping to find?”

  “I know,” agreed Yas. “How is it that so many people are buying into this fake news?”

  “Surely there must be some disbelievers?” added Eddie.

  “I agree,” said Sam. “It seems like a lot of trouble to go to, and for what?”

  “You’re right,” agreed Yas, moving around the display, nearer to where the Commissioner was standing and talking with others. “I have a feeling the Commissioner is key.”

  “You think he’s spreading the fake news?” asked Sam, incredulously.

  “No, I don’t know,” said Yas. “I just wonder… maybe he’s been influenced somehow. Controlled.”

  “By who?”

  “I’m not sure,” Yas continued. “But when we spoke with the Commissioner earlier,
there was this buzzing sensation. I’ve felt it from a few people tonight, but it was strongest with him.”

  They moved closer to the Commissioner. He was making light conversation with others. Yas started to sense the buzzing again.

  “There it is again,” she whispered. “Can you feel it?”

  “No,” replied Sam, feeling out of the loop and starting to get irritated.

  Eddie, who was closest, started to lose his balance. Yas grabbed hold of his arm, to steady him. The Commissioner noticed, looking their way.

  “You okay?” she asked him.

  “Yeah,” he replied, recovering. “It was there again. Something in the background. I felt like I wasn’t me for a second.”

  “What’s wrong?” asked Sam, leaning across Yas.

  “There’s something going on with the Commissioner,” whispered Yas.

  “You can’t be serious,” refuted Sam. “He’s the leader of the police. A model citizen.”

  “Which would make him the ideal target for someone who wanted to take control of them?” stressed Yas as quietly as she could. “Don’t you think?”

  “True,” shrugged Sam, moving his attention back to the exhibit.

  The same colleague who had interrupted their conversation with the Commissioner earlier came over again and whispered in the Commissioner’s ear. Yas watched and listened. The Commissioner excused himself from the conversation and then turned and headed off with the man towards the back of the hall.

  “Come on,” said Yas, as she moved away from the exhibit, still holding Eddie by the arm. Sam grabbed Yas’s other arm, and they started to follow.

  Yas paused at an exhibit about mining at the turn of the century. She unhooked her arm from Eddie and pointed at the description of using canaries to detect the presence of poisonous gases.

  “What are we doing?” asked Sam, looking over his shoulder to see if anyone had noticed them.

  “We’re staying in earshot of the Commissioner,” answered Yas. “And trying to make it look like we’re not following.”

  “Oh. Right,” answered Sam.

  Eddie wavered. Yas grabbed him again, much to Sam’s disgust.

  “Do you need to sit down or something?” Sam asked in an irritated tone.