by Gail Merritt
For a while we moved in silence. It was a still morning after the fury of the night. Even the sea was calm, like a sheet of glass, lapping gently at the smooth sands. The dunes were lower here and sitting atop Gilbert gave us a fine view. A surface mist lay on the water and stretched, as far as we could tell, to the horizon, circling the islands in the bay like a skirt. It reminded me of the autumn mists that hid the valley bottoms in the Meeds. For a moment I was overcome with homesickness.
‘What do we do when we get there?’ Sandor interrupted my thoughts.
‘We stay together, and we don’t let our fear overtake our common sense. Whatever is in Ransom it would have no need for an old horse, a gypsy or me, so we pose no danger to it.’ I tried to sound convincing. I could think of many reasons why an evil force would want one or all of us ,but I did not feel they needed to be told about that.
We approached the village slowly, searching desperately for signs of Deric. We had seen traces of his shoe-prints but in the silent streets there was no sign of any life, not even the secret scrapings of rodents. I could sense few living creatures within the village and those I could detect were vague, as if the beasts wished to hide their true natures. The residents of Ransom were not about to come out to greet us. Surprisingly, the buildings were in better condition than I expected. At a distance, derelict roofs and walls had seemed overgrown with bindweed and willow herb. Closer, we saw that most roofs were intact and the uneven notches in most walls were crenulations made by the original builders. Weeds, there certainly were, but roses and foxgloves grew in remembrance of gardens. We walked slowly, side by side, listening to the muffled sounds of our own footsteps and impulsively I called Deric’s name. There was a mutter of movement, fluttering wings, alarm calls, and from a nearby cottage crowds of wild-eyes pigeons took to the sky. Sandor gasped and we both grinned nervously. He called out, more loudly this time, and then Gilbert did his best to follow with a medley of neighs and snorts. We waited for a reply, but none came.
Clouds were gathering, hiding the limp sun and we felt the chill in the air. There was movement between the alleys to our left. I saw only a swirl of cloth, a shadow, no more. We stopped. A door closed with a creak somewhere to our right. We turned to get a better view and I was aware of something shifting behind our backs, then, once again, stillness, nothing moving. Sandor shook his head and we began to walk again. The casement windows looked down on us, like lidless eyes. I fought a shudder. From the corner of my vision I saw something appear for a moment, but as soon as I turned, it was gone. Although I saw nothing, Sandor paused, his eyes searching the upper storey of a house. In the silence, I thought I heard the echo of a laugh. Gilbert trembled violently which startled both of us and we gave him disapproving glares. The air waited and so did we.
We took deep breaths, then slowly we moved on again. Somewhere a plank creaked. A shadow passed by an open door. They were everywhere and yet we saw nothing except flashes of colour, hints of movements, will-o’-the-wisps. Laughter, like that of breathless children, came fleetingly from all directions. Was it a game the residents of Ransom were playing?
Sandor pointed to a hanging sign, still swinging. Someone had knocked it. Ghosts would not be so careless. Who were our invisible hosts? Again, Sandor called out to Deric but there was only the coo of settling pigeons in reply.
‘He’s not here.’ Sandor stopped and faced me. ‘He must have galloped clear through this place and he’s probably halfway to the mouth of the Sarn by now. We should go back.’ Gilbert was quick to agree, eager to be gone. Sandor was in the saddle quickly and offered his hand to help be mount. I reached for it but found that I could not move. My feet were stuck to the hard earth. My shock was mirrored in his face as he tried to jump down but found himself stuck in the saddle.
‘Whoa!’ Gilbert wailed as his feet began to slide away from me. He was being pushed and gaining momentum. Sandor stretched further but our fingers were too far apart. With Gilbert in danger of falling over, I told them both to leave, if they could. Whatever the residents of Ransom wanted, it was not with them as they were being pushed out of the village, it was with me. Sandor was stoic and would have argued with me, but he could tell that I was right as horse and rider moved further from me while I was anchored to the spot. As soon as he accepted my decision, Gilbert found he could move freely but only back in the direction of The Green Sail. At the boundary of the village, they both waited, uncertain of what to do next. Meanwhile, my attention was drawn back to the inhabitants of Ransom. They moved quickly, no more that blurred shapes and appeared to be very small in stature. Perhaps they were children. A face appeared at a window. Such an ugly face that it could never have belonged to a child.
I had never seen goblins. I had never quite believed that they existed, although I had been told by my tutor at the College of the Mantles that they did. The Souran had plenty of documents verifying their appearance from time to time but no one had seen them for generations. It was my luck to rediscover them. I let my mind return to my studies to gather all the memories of earlier encounters. This did not lift my spirits. The hideous little creatures were fond of attacking all figures of authority, so it was probably not in my best interests to announce myself. Certain bands of them had also been known to attack travelers on less-frequented roads and eat them.
Two heavy-set little monsters appeared ahead of me, each carrying a spear and I had time to hope that Deric had not fallen victim to their malevolence. Then all my attention fell on dodging the missiles. My hands were free, so I cast Mantle magic and turned the spears into wooden hoops that fell to the ground and rolled away. This appeared to delight them, but it did not stop their aggression. Two other creatures appeared with crossbows, which I turned into brambles that imprisoned them. A group of three appeared from behind a water trough. They each carried a heavy club, which became squawking geese and they were forced to drop them to escape their beaks. From an upper window of the nearest house, one particularly vile creature began pouring boiling oil. I could not dodge this, so I turned it into snow and equipped myself with an umbrella. At this, those now visible to me clapped their hands with delight before racing back inside the buildings.
‘I am getting bored with this silly game!’ I yelled at them. ‘Why have you imprisoned me here? What have you done with the horse?’ There were more chuckles from the shadows. The sun escaped from the clouds once more as two grotesque gargoyles appeared each with a large dagger.
‘Enough!’ I gathered the Mantle power and with effort, freed my feet. Now that I was able to walk I resisted the temptation to race after Sandor. Instead I hunted the goblins. I could detect some of their number and froze as many of them as I could. There was an immediate reaction, a pathetic wailing began as they tried to free themselves. ‘Ah! It’s not so funny when it happens to you, is it? What have you done with the horse?’
‘The horse is safe. He is returning to the barn.’ It was the Other, the voice that had saved the horses and summoned me in the night. It silenced the goblins and one of then stumbled out of a window and into a water barrel clutching its head.
‘What do you want?’ I realised the question was rudely put, but wrestling with the goblins had left me tired and angry. I was in no mode for more games.
‘Come to me!’ it repeated.
‘Where? How can I come if I don’t know where you are? Are you here, in Ransom?’
‘What?’ Was it disbelief or indignation? ‘In this forlorn place with those disgusting creatures?’ Did I detect a sigh? ‘I had hoped you might find me but no matter. It is important that we meet.
Go down to the beach and I will send for you. Tell the gypsy boy to go. You are safe.’
The goblins scuttled out of my path and returned to their dark corners. It was hard to convince Sandor and Gilbert that I was in no danger, but I insisted that they should go back to take care of Deric when he returned and conceded that if neither of us did, they could return to find me. As Sandor was beginning to argue, fro
m the mist that covered the sea came a small boat, a small circular coracle, large enough for one and I had no doubt that this ghostly vessel was for me. Sandor urged me to take care. I watched them setting off along the coast road that divided the dunes before I climbed into the fragile craft. No sooner had I sat down when the little bowl of hide and reeds carried me away from the shore
I have a fear of water. Even crossing a river is uncomfortable for me. This was my first experience of the sea, becalmed by a charm as it was. I looked down into its depths with apprehension, seeing fish and strange beasts that I did not know. No earlier Green Mantles had ever made the acquaintance of the sea creatures, although they did converse with the occasional otter and migrant seabird. The ocean realms were unknown to them.
The mist gathered about me and the sun became a pallid disc as the little coracle sped towards the islands. It’s stability calmed me a little as it neither rocked nor wavered from its course. As I could not see much further than the rim of the boat, I had no idea if I was going to an island or out to sea until the dark bulk of a headland came out of the mist. It appeared to be completely made of black rock. There was no vegetation, nothing except a few untidy nests of some unknown birds. They were thankfully absent for, if the size of their nests was anything to judge them by, they were much larger than any seabirds that I knew, and the whitened bones of their past meals decorated their nests. As I drew nearer, I could not help but notice that these bones included the skulls of large mammals and humans. I trembled.
The coracle slowed and settled, fitting neatly into a curved jetty cut from the rock of the cliff and uncomfortably cold to the touch. There was no one waiting to receive me so I began to climb the steep steps cut into the rock face, ever watchful incase the birds might return. Somewhere above me came the distant chimes of some sort of instrument, or perhaps several wind chimes. It gave the bleak place a gentler but even more mysterious air. As I climbed, I noticed that what had first seemed to be plain rock sparkled as the light caught it. Black gemstones twinkled on the surface. Halfway up the cliff, I reached the top of the mist cloud and looking back I could clearly see Ransom and further away, the cluster of cottages at The Green Sail. I wondered if Sandor and Gilbert had found Deric.
It was warmer above the mist and I could see the top of the cliff but not beyond it as the final stairway was cut into the cliff, forming a roofless tunnel. When I eventually reached the top , I was stunned to find a hillside strewn with meadow flowers that swept down and away to a lush valley. The air was heavy with scent, the hum of bees and the chimes. It charmed me and I felt the beauty and calm dispel any fears I had held. It was a paradise for any Green Mantle. Voices sang but the songs were elusive, occasional notes whispering, then dying before my ears could make sense of them. Huge butterflies escorted me, chattering most excitedly and delighting in my appreciation of their glorious wings.
Rich and varied vegetation bordered a clear stream, gurgling over dark pebbles as it accompanied me down into the valley. Everything sparkled as if newly polished and I wondered if this was not some extraordinary dream, that my body was still sitting entranced in the little coracle. I touched the giant leaves of a banana palm. They felt real enough. I caught sight of emerald snakes in the branches of trees, hanging like garlands, while below them, a pair of rabbits chased each other over and under a moss-covered log. I wandered spellbound until, to my alarm, I found myself staring into the eyes of a large predatory cat, but the tiger merely tutted to herself before finishing her drink in the stream.
‘Hmm! You’re expected. Go that way.’ The tiger yawned and disappeared into the ferns.
I followed her instructions until I reached a clearing. By now, I was prepared for surprises but was still amazed at the sight of a giant tree, ancient beyond reckoning, its limbs so solid and wide that it held a great platform between them on which stood a low, single-storey building. It was made entirely of bamboo and vines. Access appeared to be a series of steps and platforms and I paused at the bottom to admire this strange place.
‘Come up, I won’t bite,’ a deep voice came from within the tree trunk. As Green Mantle I was used to conversing with animals and sometimes plants, but the heavy growl of the venerable oak astonished me and resonated deep inside my own rib cage.
‘At last!’ A head looked over the balcony above me and I knew I had found my host. She waited for me to reach her before gripping my shoulders warmly. ‘Welcome Megwin! I have waited so long to see you. We all have.’ The tree rumbled its agreement.
8. - Island
‘Who are you?’ I asked with an uncomfortable feeling that I should know her. She had a strange familiarity that was unnerving, as if I had known her all my life. Her face reminded me of someone, but the memory was elusive that when I tried to capture it, it faded completely.
‘Can’t you guess, Megwin?’ She held me for a moment in her clear grey eyes and the laughed lightly, but I felt her disappointment. She had expected recognition. She guided me to the edge of her balcony. ‘Have you ever seen anything more beautiful than my island?’ She brushed away a wayward strand of hair from my face and the intimacy of the gesture stung my heart. I felt the urge to throw myself in her arms. It was overpowering, sending my mind back to Channa and her cosy kitchen. I felt this woman’s closeness, her affection for me and it was unnerving.
‘Mother Nature?’ The ridiculous words came out as a croak and I could hardly believe I had spoken them. It amused her and she tilted her head, nodding.
‘Some have called me that, but you and I both know that Nature is far greater than any single being that we can know. She engulfs us and we are part of her. Even the great trees of the forest below the world are part of her and we demean her by giving her the name of Mother. No, I am not Mother Nature although, like you, I have been blessed with gifts to tend her creations.’
‘You have far greater powers than I,’ I admitted, allowing her to usher me to a seat. Fine crystal goblets miraculously filled with clear water and she laughed at my amazement.
‘Nonsense, my dear, you must realise that you are able to do all that I can do and more, you have not yet reached your full potential, but it will come. Only one thing may stop you.’ She leaned towards me. ‘ The Souran forced you to take that ridiculous oath.’
‘You know about the Souran?’
She flicked her eyes to the sky and sighed. ‘Of course, I know about them, sitting in their cold, stone towers of the Talarin, lording it above the world and pretending that they have a monopoly in special powers. They are pompous fools and Olemia is the worst among them.’ She had used Silver Mantle’s own name with an air of intimacy that annoyed me.
‘The Mantles serve the Five Kingdoms.’ I felt the need to defend the College and in particular the Souran. ‘We do not “lord it” above everyone. We give help to those who need it and we protect the world against evil.’
She touched my cheek. ‘Sweet child, it is honourable that you defend your order, but you must see its faults. No one is above reproach, not even the High Mantles, of which, I know, you are one, and perhaps the most innocent and pure among them.’ There was no irony in her voice. ‘What happened when you gave help to those who needed it? You brought rain to the dry lands of Mosagin and they punished you for it. Without your help the sick child, indeed many sick children, would have died.’
‘I was punished for other reasons and, besides, Silver Mantle suspected that I had used my powers to kill a man.’ Even after all this time the memory of that accusation was painful. The unpleasant fellow was strangled by his own vine and the Souran had all believed that I was guilty. In truth, it was done by that other half of me, the so-called Brown Mantle, who followed King Llewid and used her evil to bring about the war.
‘Silver Mantle!’ Her fingers tightened on the balustrade. ‘I could tell you a lot about the treachery of Silver Mantle.’
So, could I, but I continued to defend her. ‘She does what she thinks is necessary.’
My host w
as not convinced, and I felt her distaste at the very name of Olemia. She changed the subject. ‘Come and see my island.’ She linked arms with me and guided me through her idyllic domain. Exotic creatures with unfamiliar names came out to greet us. Some of their dialects were hard to understand but they all spoke about the island as their home and refuge. They lived together in harmony, even the tiger. It appeared to survive on food conjured by this elusive woman who had still not told me or helped me to remember who she was or what she wanted with me.
‘If you aren’t Mother Nature, then who are you and why do I feel that I have seen you before, known you in the past?’ I tickled the ear of a strange little creature with the alert head and long lean body of a rodent, but which stood on two legs to greet me. A whole colony of them came out to inspect me and they giggled.
‘She clapped her hands together. ‘At least you have a vague recollection of me. That is something.’
‘I felt that the moment we met but to my knowledge I don’t remember who you are.’
In an instant, she had set a delicate canopy of silk overhead and bowls of fruit appeared between us. We sat on the rattan chairs that appeared. ‘Tell me how you first met Olemia.’ Once more she drew Silver Mantle into our conversation. Few knew her true name and not even I ever called her by that name. Only Black Mantle ever used the name freely and within the earshot of others.
I began to recount my first meeting with the fox and how I discovered my powers to speak with birds and beasts. My hostess smiled gently as I told her about the fever and how Silver Mantle had been visiting my father’s castle and had cured me. Then I explained about the hunt and how I had saved the fox. At this point in my story she took my hand and squeezed it. I tried to recall how it had been decided that I would return to Vellin with Silver Mantle to begin studies at the Talarin, College of the Mantles.
