by TJ Green
El pulled the knife from her bag and slid it across the table. "Here's my labour of love for the last twenty-four hours." It was a steel blade with runes etched down it, and it had a small hilt with a simple design, but as soon as Avery took it from her, she felt its hum of power. El reminded her, "It will pretty much cut through or destroy any metal."
"So we can destroy her ring, either here or at the crossroads."
"Yep, which should break her bond."
"Even though it's the Ring of Callanish?" Reuben asked. "If it's been made by a sorcerer, it may have extra levels of protection."
"It's still metal," El said.
Caspian took the dagger from Avery, examining it with admiration. "Nice job, El. Do you take commissions?"
El's eyes widened with surprise. "Of course. You thinking of anything in particular?"
He ran his finger down the blade. "I have a few ideas. I'll chat to you once all this is over."
"Sure," she said, nodding.
Caspian handed the knife back to Avery. "I feel confident we can get to the crossroads anyway, Avery."
Avery met his gaze. "Unfortunately, I think I'll be there on my own, despite our best intentions."
Alex watched her speculatively and then turned to Caspian. "We think Caitlin will send her there as soon as she can, just like the first time it happened."
"So I'll follow," Caspian reasoned.
Briar grimaced. "And we'll be in a lot of trouble if none of this works, because she'll still have the power of the boundary magic."
"At least I heard from Corbin," Alex said, looking very relieved he'd finally got in touch. "The good news is that he thinks he can call the Raven King even without the circus performance. He sounded nervous, though."
Briar pushed her plate away. "He would be. What if he can't? What if I can't call the Green Man?" Over food, Briar had announced that she thought she had a way to connect to the nature spirit, and use his magic to help them.
"If anyone can, it's you," Avery said. "Earth magic is your thing. You're a green witch, essentially. He should connect with you. And your place, more than anyone else's, has gone mad with spring growth."
As she said it, Avery glanced outside, and noted the climbing plants that clambered up the walls of the courtyard garden were already showing strong green shoots.
Reuben pulled something from his jacket pocket. "This is the holster I found for you. It's a belt that I got from Chi."
"Chihiro from the tattoo place?" Avery asked as she took it from him.
"The very same. She has a thing for knives."
Avery remembered Chi's cool beauty and stunning tattoos. She had an enigmatic edge to her. "That doesn't surprise me. Where does the blade go?"
"In the scabbard at the back. I'll help you fit it when we get there."
Briar picked at her food, deep in thought. "What if Shadow is with Harlan? What can we do?"
Avery placed her fork down. "Harlan needs us, that's a fact. He can't get to Caitlin. And Shadow does not have the magic we have. I think they'll be opportunistic. If he's there, and I think he will be, he'll bide his time and strike when he see his chance."
"The chance Shadow might create for him," Alex said.
Avery shrugged. "Perhaps."
Newton groaned. "I hate all these variables!""
"We'll work with what we've got, we always do," Reuben pointed out. He pushed his plate away and checked his watch. "We should get going. Final thoughts, anyone?"
Alex held his fingers up, counting off one by one. "We have the knife to destroy the ring. Corbin to call the Raven King. Briar to bring the Green Man. We've got spells to draw Caitlin away. Shadow has her sword to slay the Empusa. And Harlan bloody Becket, who could well jeopardise everything. Let's go."
21
As soon as Avery stepped out of her van into the field below the circus, she felt the Green Man's spirit around her.
She turned to the others. "He feels even stronger tonight. Can you feel him?"
Briar nodded. "The Green Man? Absolutely. He's like a gentle tickle on the senses." She crouched and pressed her hands into the earth, closing her eyes briefly. A spark of light lifted from her fingers and hung in the air, almost like glitter, until it drifted away on the night breeze. She stood and smiled softly. "He's curious about us and our magic. Let's hope it means he'll come more easily to me later."
Avery thought she heard a laugh, a deep throaty chuckle, and her head whipped around, searching the darkness. "Did you hear that?"
All of the witches nodded, and Briar reassured her. "It's okay, it's just him."
Briar sounded so relaxed about it, but it felt odd. It was one thing to know that his spirit was strong, it was quite another to hear him.
"Belt time," Reuben said, pulling it from his pocket and dragging Avery back to practicalities. "It's a horizontal sheath that sits on the small of your back."
He passed it to her and Avery strapped the leather belt in place, along the top of her jeans. The sheath felt comfortable, but Reuben stepped forward and adjusted it slightly, and then taking the knife from El, slid it into place. "Reach your hand behind you. Can you feel the hilt?"
Avery felt the cool metal in her fingers. "Easy. This feels good." She pulled the knife out in one smooth movement.
"Just be careful when you slide it back in. It will take practice to do it quickly," he told her. "And watch your fingers."
She grinned at him. "I feel like an assassin."
"That's worrying."
The others had been watching as they gathered their packs, and Alex said, "Please be careful with that. I've seen you chopping vegetables."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," she told him, but he just laughed.
Reuben rummaged in the back of the van and pulled out the shotgun. "Here you go, Newton, and some shells." He pushed the box into his free hand and Newton quickly loaded both barrels.
The group headed up the hill, cutting directly across the field to where they could see a break in the hedge, and the edge of the car park. The castle was lit up against the night sky, its golden light a beacon in the darkness, and a short distance away was the roof of the Big Top, the huge circus tent that currently looked like a fairy palace. They were halfway there when they heard a rush of wings, and instinctively they all ducked. The wingspan felt huge, and the wind rolled over them before heading back to the circus.
"The Raven King," Caspian murmured. "Do you think Corbin knows we're here?"
"Let's hope so," Alex said, pushing on.
They could hear the crowd in the tent laughing and cheering, but made their way to the series of stalls. There were a lot of people there, their excitement palpable. Avery glanced up and almost faltered. Above them, perched on the castle walls, were hundreds of ravens. A Conspiracy, that's what they were called collectively, or an Unkindness. Both ominous words, Avery reflected.
The witches strolled through the scene, taking their time as they kept watch for anything unusual, but the crowds were excited and noisy. Avery looked for Harlan, but she didn't see him. They passed the small, square space where some of the cast were doing ad hoc performances---fire breathers and jugglers, tumblers, acrobats, and the couple on stilts, dressed as giants. The excitement was infectious, and despite the fight ahead, Avery's spirit lifted.
Within ten minutes the applause from the tent exploded, and whoops and cheers mixed with the tinny music from the stalls. Time to get in position. They pushed their way through to the far end, and slipped one by one through a gap between stalls and behind generators, until they reached the empty space beyond. If anything, it seemed too dark after leaving the brightness of the circus. Over to the right, the Big Top was still lit up, and beyond that were the fields of the circus folk. Caitlin's van was at the rear of the final one, close to the hedge and a good distance away from the others. An easy escape to get out and hunt, Avery mused.
They headed to the far corner of the castle, well away from everything else, and beneath its
thick, crumbling walls and sitting on a tumble of stone, they found Shadow.
"I thought you'd changed your mind," Shadow greeted, rising to her feet. Her huge sword was already in her hand, and her daggers were strapped to her thighs. Avery couldn't help but stare at her imposing stature. Shadow was dressed in a sturdy leather jacket and tight fitting trousers, the breast of the jacket layered like armour. Metal arm guards protected her forearms, and her long hair was tied back into a high pony tail; she looked ready to fight. Avery had a sudden flashback to the Wild Hunt and swallowed her fear.
"We agreed not to be too early," Alex said, ignoring her jibe. "If you'd have come with us, you wouldn't have had to wait."
"I wanted to scope the place out again, get a feel for it. Kailen is no ordinary horse, either. He is sensitive to fey magic, just like me."
Avery looked beyond Shadow. "Where is your horse?"
Shadow gestured behind her. "The far side of the field, out of the way, but he'll come if I need him."
There was no moon tonight; it was obscured by cloud cover, and once again a thick mist was rising. It made it impossible for Avery to see anything. If Harlan were out there, they'd never know. She sent her magic out anyway, hoping to feel something, but she couldn't, and she pulled her concentration back to the others.
"Do you feel fey magic?" Caspian asked Shadow.
She looked disappointed. "Not really. A trace, like a whisper on the wind. But I feel the nature spirit, and the Raven King himself. It's incredible to me that they can't!" She jerked her chin up, in the direction of the crowds.
"It's the nature of magic," Briar told her. "You know that. People will rationalise anything that they don't understand. Make excuses for it. And besides, they use lights and sound to enhance the show, so it's easy to explain away."
Caspian agreed. "True, the non-magical are always willing to look away from the truth of things."
"This is a great philosophical discussion, but now's not the time," Reuben said, rolling his shoulders and neck to loosen up. "Me and El will go and scope out the campsite, makes sure it's as quiet as Corbin says, and then we'll cordon it off. Meet us in five."
"I better get prepared, too," Briar said, and she left the group to stand in the field a short distance away.
Avery watched Briar slip her shoes off, wriggle her feet into the grass, and raise her hands to the sky, silently invoking the spirit of the Green Man, but Avery's attention was pulled back to the conversation when she heard Shadow's raised voice.
"What's going on?" Shadow asked, suspicious. "I thought we were luring her out?"
Alex's eyes were bright. "We're going to throw up a magical wall between Caitlin and the rest of the camp, and then we don't have to lure her anywhere."
Shadow started to look worried. "I thought magic wouldn't work on her?"
"The magic separates the camp, it's not attacking her. And besides, we're going to use it on her anyway. With luck and skill, we'll overwhelm her."
"But you said we had more space out here."
"This seemed simpler," Alex argued. "And besides, you get a chance to use your sword quicker."
"Why's that?"
"You keep reminding us you're fey, so here's your chance. Wield your mighty sword and we'll get the ring off her quickly."
Avery pulled the knife from the holster. "And then I'll use this to destroy it."
Shadow's eyes narrowed. "I preferred the first plan."
"Well, you should have been there for the second discussion, then," Alex said.
It was unlike Shadow to look worried, and it immediately raised Avery's suspicions. Harlan must be out there somewhere. She stared into the darkness again, and then stumbled as she felt a shift in the earth beneath her. Looking around at Briar, she saw that below her feet grass was growing, and Briar's feet were sinking into the earth.
Briar continued to raise her arms to the sky, and then stopped, bending swiftly and pulling bare earth into her hands. Avery's mouth fell open as she watched Briar smear the earth across her brow and down her cheeks, and rub her hands with it. And then astonishingly, Briar's eyes filled with a bright, green glow that pulsed softly and then disappeared. Power swelled in the air around her, and Avery stepped back as magic unfurled across the field. The Green Man had arrived.
Briar lowered her hands and looked across at Avery, but it wasn't the Briar that Avery knew. She spoke, her voice rougher, deeper than usual. "I am ready. I shall call the King." She turned to the campsite and raised her arms again.
Avery was aware that the others had grown quiet behind her, waiting expectantly in the deep, rich silence that had suddenly fallen. A thick wall of mist rolled out between them, the campsite and the stalls a short distance away. The thumps of the music and the shrieks of laughter disappeared, and the lights winked out as the mist grew ever thicker.
Reuben's plan was working. It had been his suggestion to use his magic to manipulate the mist, and it was a good one. But despite all their plans, Avery still felt nervous. She reached into her bag and drank one of Briar's tonics, wincing at its bitterness, and then renewed the spell that kept her awake. Despite it, she could feel that she was tired. Very tired. It was like the false high that caffeine gave, and she knew once the spell was gone she'd feel terrible.
Then Avery felt a shift in the air around them again, and the mist stirred in whirlpools. Alex spoke close to her ear. "It feels like a few nights ago, when we walked across the fields."
Avery nodded. "But much stronger."
Briar walked towards the campsite and they followed her into the mist that hung like a curtain. For a few seconds Avery could see nothing, and then it lifted slightly and the Raven King emerged.
Avery's breath caught in her chest. It was Corbin, but it wasn't. Just as Briar had changed, so had he. He was still dressed in his costume of black feathers, and as he lifted his wings, the mist eddied outwards in ripples. But his face carried an Otherness that was inexplicable. His eyes burned with a fierce orange light that pierced the darkness, and his face was transformed into cold, hard planes, his expression grim.
He waited for Briar to reach him, and then turned and led the way to Caitlin.
Caspian spoke from behind Avery. "I'm not sure we're leading this anymore."
"Quickly, we can't lose them," Alex urged as they picked up their pace and ran after them.
As soon as they entered the campsite, the mist receded, forming a thick wall to their right, and Reuben and El walked out of it, the spell complete.
Caitlin's gypsy caravan stood alone, the hedge behind it. Briar flicked her hand out, and the hedge started to grow higher. A writhing, tangled mass of branches reached out to Caitlin's van, thrusting through its walls, and driving Caitlin from its depths, and right behind her were Rafe and Mairi. While Caitlin exuded confidence, Rafe and Mairi looked worried, and almost cowered behind her, although they lifted their heads in defiance as they tried to hide it.
Caitlin stood at the entrance, the yellow lamplight illuminating her from behind and casting her face in shadow, and she laughed. "So, the Raven King and the Green Man seek to break free! You're both fools. And so are all of you!"
"Are we?" Briar asked. "I am already stronger than you could ever be."
In response, Caitlin pulled two objects out of her pockets, and walked down the short flight of steps to the small fire that burned in front of her van, where her expression could be seen clearly, and so could the rings that glinted on her fingers.
Damn it. Which ring was it?
Caitlin laughed, her voice rough. "You can't hurt me! I have the power of the crossroads!"
"Crap!" Alex said. "She's got the totems."
She made as if to drop the totems in the fire, but Reuben was too quick, and he hurled a powerful shot of water at her. Caitlin reacted quickly, deflecting it with a wave of her hand, but Reuben succeeded in dowsing the fire, and she hissed at him, like a snake. And it was then that Avery realised she was starting to change into the Empusa. The a
ir shimmered around her as her shape began to transform, simultaneously closing her hands around the totems and crushing them. Immediately, Briar and the Raven King fell to their knees.
Caitlin grew taller as her face narrowed, and strong, high cheekbones and a long jaw emerged. Her eyes burned with fire, and as her mouth opened, she revealed sharp teeth like a shark. Her clothes fell away, revealing the glint of armour and the strange copper leg the legends talked of. Avery blinked, barely able to believe her eyes.
Shadow didn't hesitate. She raced forward, her sword drawn, covering the ground between them in seconds, and slashed at the Empusa. In retaliation, the Empusa pulled two swords out, their blades flashing with fire, and struck back. Shadow pulled her dagger free too, and a blur of steel whirled between them.
And then several things happened at once.
Alex raced across the ground, running for the totems that she had tossed to the side, while El ran to join Shadow, her sword burning with its blue flame.
Avery couldn't believe she was still there and not at the crossroads, and she turned, ready to help Briar, but Briar's hands were sunk deep into the earth, and the ground shook beneath her as she pulled power from it. She staggered to her feet and changed form too, her body wreathed in foliage as she grew in size. The hedge suddenly exploded into life, and Alex, who was scrabbling at its base for the totems, disappeared in a mass of branches. The clearing was becoming a wood. Saplings were erupting from the earth around them, rapidly maturing into trees, and branches swept through the air, reaching for them with clawing fingers.
Next to Briar, the Raven King dissolved into hundreds of birds as he scattered across the night, and the area around Caitlin's caravan descended into chaos.
Avery tried to move, but couldn't. She felt her magic draining from her, and she wasn't even doing anything. She couldn't fight at all, and she realised with horrible clarity that Caitlin was drawing on her power now.
Mairi and Rafe looked terrified, and ran from Caitlin as if running for cover, but Newton intercepted them, tackling Rafe to the ground. Mairi screamed and tried to intervene, but Reuben ran to help.
