Stone Keeper

by Beth Webb

  ‘I have a suspicion that all that’s needed for evil to triumph, is for good people to do nothing.’

  ‘Which is exactly why I decided to work with the Romans,’ Owein replied. ‘I hoped my skills with the law and my understanding of both sides might ameliorate things.’

  Tegen sighed. ‘I can see that now. I’m sorry I didn’t listen.’ She walked around the golem. ‘But as to this creature, I’m very worried. When it was new, it was my own height. Tonight it’d scarcely fit into Boudica’s tent …’

  ‘Is your anger feeding it?’ Owein asked.

  ‘In theory it’s possible. I’m livid with Boudica, but that’s a good sort of anger; it’s inspiring me to keep fighting. Even my longing to repay the druids for sacrificing Tonn has lessened. Inside, I’m grieving rather than raging.’

  ‘So what is feeding it?’

  Tegen spread her fingers again. There’s another magic here, it’s been cleverly inserted. I’ve felt it before but I can’t remember where.’ She turned to Owein, her voice trembling in the dark. ‘I think someone is trying to use my golem for their own ends. This is very, very dangerous.’

  ‘Is there anything I can do?’ Owein stood beside her in the dark and put his arm around her again.

  Tegen leaned against him. ‘I could use your spying skills to find out who’s behind this and what they’re up to.’

  Owein had a smile in his voice when he replied. ‘Excellent. It’s us working together again. Just as it should be. I’m sure Sabrina will help too – she doesn’t like Boudica’s methods any more than we do.’ He pulled his cloak more tightly around his neck. ‘Shall we go back in now? I’m freezing.’

  ‘I’ll be in soon, I just want to stay here a little longer.’

  In the stillness of the night, Tegen closed her eyes and imagined Tonn, strong, safe and loving. He sat by her side and held her. Then she thought of Griff with his big smile and huge heart. His sticky hands clutched adoringly at her fingers.

  ‘Speak to me, please, both of you. Tell me what to do,’ she begged.

  Londinium

  At dawn, Tegen began her ritual war-curses by the northern gate of the town. This time she was careful with her fire, but the damp, yellow clay sprouted only rushes and scrub willow, so there was little danger.

  The chilling wind whipped at Tegen’s cloak as she opened the gateway to Tir na nÓg for the fleeing spirits. She shivered, not from the cold, but from the feeling that someone was watching her out of sight and silent in the half-light. Perhaps it was a soldier with a javelin, waiting to kill her? Of course she had guards hidden nearby and she’d created a strong spirit shield before she started to work, but was that enough? Had the golem followed her?

  She had left the creature ready to march with the warriors; she hoped the shock of its presence would terrify the people of Londinium into a bloodless surrender. It had strict instructions of when and how to move, and was tightly cocooned in fresh spells in case it developed ideas of its own.

  But she would never quite trust it.

  As soon as this is over, I’ll find a way to unmake it, I’ll cast the demon to the lowest, foulest parts of the Otherworld, Tegen promised herself. I can’t wait.

  She split the yew branch and placed the halves either side of the road so the dead souls could flee safely to Tir na nÓg. She secured that part of the spell with knotted grasses and branches of rue, no longer trusting a mere mark in the dirt to guard the world of the living from malice.

  Only when all was complete did she risk looking around.

  There was someone – a grey-haired man dressed in black, watching silently at a respectful distance.

  Aodh! The spell-caster who had murdered her prisoners. Tegen’s heart faltered. But she had to concentrate.

  The trading post was built on the banks of a river and Tegen had no boat, so she could not do a ritual at the southern gate. Instead she walked to the western end and threw three gold rings into the swirling water. Each piece splashed bright against the murk. ‘An offering to the spirits of the West and to the god of this river,’ she said aloud, then she bowed, scooped up some of the water in her hands and let it trickle back. ‘Convey my blessings to the spirits of the south. Tell them that Tegen of the Winter Seas greets them.’

  As she worked, her unease increased. She could not help watching Aodh from the corner of her eye.

  He did not move. He simply stood. Watching her.

  Suddenly there was a thwack by Tegen’s side.

  A spear!

  She gasped and ran. A hail of pebbles clattered behind her. Someone was firing catapults.

  ‘Get down!’ Aodh yelled.

  Tegen sprawled flat.

  Aodh ran and flung himself across her back.

  From all around came shouts and yells as her guards returned fire.

  ‘Keep low, I’ll lead the way.’ Aodh rolled aside and crawled between the tussocks towards the trees.

  Tegen was angry as she wriggled like an eel through the mud. Damn, damn! Now I’ll have to be grateful to this ghastly man!

  Soon they stood together in the shelter of a small wood, watching both sides drawing closer and yelling abuse.

  Tegen worried at the scar on her finger. ‘This shouldn’t have happened … I hadn’t finished.’

  Despite the bitter wind, many of Boudica’s warriors were running into battle naked, their skin painted with blue spirals and their hair limed. Soon screams from the dying and wounded rose above the noise of swords on shields.

  ‘This is disastrous!’ Tegen gasped. ‘I thought the town was almost empty and undefended?’

  Aodh peered through the trees at the melee. ‘Who knows how many people are still inside? Maybe a hundred, maybe a thousand.’

  Tegen climbed up a tree and looked back towards the camp for the golem. ‘Do you know where my creature is?’

  Aodh stared up at her. ‘It’s with the queen, my lady, as you left it.’

  Tegen jumped to the ground and brushed herself down. ‘Something’s wrong. I must go back. I told the golem to walk with our warriors to terrify the enemy. It’s not there.’

  Aodh pursed his bloodless lips. ‘I believe the queen spoke of that idea, but her chieftains were hungry for battle themselves. Many haven’t had a real fight yet!’ his dark eyes narrowed. ‘Our warriors get twitchy if they don’t have a spear in one hand, a sword in the other and their boots soaked in blood! Rest assured lady, your creature will be waiting quietly. I don’t believe you’re needed.’

  Ignoring him, Tegen crept to the edge of the trees. The battlefield was a writhing mass of blood, and clashing shields. The fighting was almost over. ‘I didn’t finish my rituals at the gates. They’ll be inside within half a hand-span – but I don’t know how safe they’ll be. Unfinished magic is worse than none.’

  Beside her, Aodh bowed his head slightly. ‘Lady, please don’t be angry, but I took the precaution of laying a few small spells of my own before dawn … Just in case things didn’t go according to plan.’

  Tegen clenched her hands. She’d had just about enough of this man’s false subservience. Interfering bastard! she thought. His ‘magic’ could throw everything I’ve done out of balance!

  She made her way to the far side of the copse to watch the road for a sight of the golem. At last she spotted it, a dark shadow loomed over the brow of the hill, followed by a second wave of warriors. The creature was tall as a young sapling now and heavy in arm and leg. Tegen swallowed hard. Now she stood so close to Aodh, she recognised the other spells she had sensed on the golem, they were his.

  But right now, there was nothing she could do about Aodh. Hitching up her skirt, she climbed an ash tree and made herself comfortable in a fork. From there, she wove spells to bring the fall of Londinium to a speedy end. ‘May the suffering of both sides be short,’ she prayed.

  But as the fresh warriors arrived, the noise of the fighting started up again. From inside the town, women’s screams and terrified children’s wailing jarred w
ith chilling battle cries. Flames gobbled the flimsy palisade and its gates. Choking smoke billowed from the rows of wooden houses that lined the wharfs.

  Downstream, a dozen or so small boats crammed with huddled figures, were floating away. A cargo ship with fire in its prow, drifted lazily on the current, unmanned except for a bleeding corpse hanging over the gunnels.

  ‘May you all be born again soon in happier times,’ Tegen whispered.

  Then she gripped the branch she was sitting on and stared.

  The golem was moving – without her command! To left and right, warriors scattered before its lumbering gait.

  The creature’s fiery eyes flashed and flames and smoke seeped through the cracks in its charcoal hide. Slowly and purposefully, it strode towards the remains of the town. As it reached the burning gates, it ripped each leaf off its hinges, raised them above its head and flung them down.

  The screams inside rose higher. Then there was silence.

  Tegen jumped down and pushed past Aodh. Blindly she ran along the road, leaping bodies, sliding in pools of blood and sidestepping hands that stretched for help. At last she plunged through the burning gap and into the fiery streets.

  Wooden houses sagged and creaked as fire and smoke darkened the skies and devoured the town.

  Tegen pulled her scarf over her face and ducked down, keeping as low as she could under the pall of ash.

  Ahead, the golem was darkly silhouetted against the flames, calm and unmoving. Its back was towards her. Could it sense she was there?

  Tegen crouched down and watched as warriors brought maybe twenty or thirty people to the town square. Everyone was coughing and struggling to breathe. The bitter wind shifted. The roaring flames were getting louder. And hotter.

  Coughing warriors fled, but the golem stood solidly between the prisoners and the last path to safety.

  Tegen sprang forward and waved her hands at her creation. ‘Get them out of here!’ she yelled. ‘Lead them!’

  The huge creature turned and lumbered impassively away.

  Tegen picked up a terrified child and grabbed an old woman’s hand, signalling for everyone to follow.

  The marsh wind blew cold. After the intense heat, the prisoners shivered and wept. Dereliction hung over them as they huddled together. Above the roars of wind and flames, drifted the thin, piercing wails of the babies.

  The golem stood over them, staring down with its burning eyes.

  ‘Move away!’ Tegen commanded. ‘You’ll frighten them.’

  What could she do to protect these people?

  Just then, Aodh appeared at her side once more. ‘Is it your wish to dedicate these souls to the Goddess also?’ he asked in a soft, chilling voice.

  Tegen shuddered. ‘No … thank you,’ she replied tersely. ‘You have done more than enough for me today.’

  Looking around she found one of Sabrina’s older warriors. ‘Chieftain Gwier, will you take my prisoners somewhere safe, feed them and give them water, but do not kill them. They are sacred, but the Lady hasn’t yet revealed to me what their fate must be.’

  Gwier bowed his head. ‘Very good, Lady.’ He strode away to yell the orders to his men.

  Coughing and spitting the soot from her lungs, Tegen signalled to the golem to follow her. Together they stumbled back towards the town. I must make sure there are no unfriendly spirits on the loose, she told herself. I can’t risk things going so badly wrong again.

  Just then, one of Boudica’s bodyguards rode up to Tegen. ‘The queen says to come back Miss. It’s getting dangerous down here. The fire got going quicker than we meant, it’s going to be a hot one. There must have been a great deal of grain and cloth in the warehouses. Pity we didn’t get to empty them first.’

  Tegen shook her head. ‘Tell the queen I will come as soon as I have fetched my creature.’

  The man bowed and rode away.

  With a shawl pulled over her face, Tegen picked her way to within an arrow shot of the inferno. The heat seared her skin. She’d have to wait for the ground to cool before she could get any closer. This wasn’t safe even for a fire-walking druid.

  The golem was staring hungrily at the raging flames.

  She yelled, ‘Come!’

  Either it didn’t want to obey, or it simply didn’t hear, but it ignored her and lumbered right into the heart of the fire. Although it had no mouth, Tegen sensed it was smiling.

  Just then, chariot wheels rattled behind her.

  Tegen turned. It was Boudica. ‘Come up beside me,’ the queen called out. ‘We need to talk.’

  Tegen hesitated, looking anxiously back at her golem.

  The queen stretched her hand. ‘Leave it – it’s safe in there, surely?’

  Sitting by Boudica’s side in camp once more, Tegen watched as the queen drank mead, then wiped her sooty mouth on her cloak.

  ‘That wasn’t much of a fight,’ she announced. ‘Scarcely a hand span of the sun and it was all over. Mind you, it’s much smaller than Camulodunum. They had a guard of two hundred there, this place just had a few women and a couple of boys – not much of a challenge.’ She thumped the table loudly. ‘We’ve got to find something for the warriors to get their teeth into, they’re raring for a proper battle.’

  Tegen sipped water; she still refused to feast at Boudica’s table. ‘Is that why the skirmishes into the countryside are continuing?’

  Boudica shrugged. ‘It’s difficult to hold our warriors back – they’re bred and trained to fight. It’s in their souls.’

  Tegen was about to protest when the queen leaned across the table and gripped her hand. ‘But that’s not what I wanted to discuss. Today, fighting with your creature, was brilliant! You must name your reward!’

  ‘The lives of the prisoners,’ Tegen replied without having to think.

  Boudica raised an eyebrow. ‘Don’t you want gold? Jewels? How about a couple of dozen slaves?’

  Tegen shook her head. ‘Justice for a few people will do for me.’

  ‘Very well. Now, how much do you want for it?’

  ‘What?’

  Boudica pursed her lips. Her look was harsh. ‘Don’t play silly games Tegen, you know perfectly well what I mean – your golem, how much do you want for it? I want to own it, for it to obey only me. Watching it striding into battle was the most thrilling moment of my life. With that creature at my side, I could rule the world! I could even become Emperor of Rome!’

  She laughed coldly as she gripped Tegen’s hands, her eyes bright with madness.

  Tegen pulled away. ‘No!’ she snapped, and stood to go. ‘I can let it walk into battle with you, but you wouldn’t be strong enough to control it. It’s not a toy!’

  ‘But you could teach me!’ Boudica wheedled, ‘You’re so clever, I know you could …’

  Spinning on her heel, Tegen strode out of the tent, right into Sabrina and Owein. ‘She wants to buy the golem now!’ she snarled. ‘I’ve had enough! I’m going to destroy it. But I’ll have to leave as well. The demon inside it wants me. Tomorrow I’ll take it somewhere it’ll do no more damage!’

  Owein grabbed her arm. ‘But you can’t go Tegen, you’re the Star Dancer. We need you!’

  Tegen shook her head. ‘But it’s the only option.’

  In the middle of the night, two of Boudica’s guards shook Tegen awake. ‘Come,’ they said. ‘You’re needed urgently.’

  Heart in her mouth, Tegen dressed and followed the men to the queen’s tent. Lying on the floor in the shadows were two figures, both tied and gagged. One was squeaking and wriggling vigorously, the other was silent and passive.

  With a blast of cold air, the tent flap opened and someone else entered, also accompanied by guards. It was Owein, demanding loudly to know what was going on.

  He was soon followed by a stormy-eyed Sabrina. ‘What are you up to Boudica?’ She roared. ‘It’s the middle of the night. There’s no counter-attack. I need my sleep!’

  Boudica was reclining on a Roman dining couch, her arms h
eavy with gold and silver bracelets. Her ears dripped with blood-ruby earrings. She smiled at her visitors, but she did not invite them to sit.

  Boudica dipped her hand into a dish of grapes and played with their green globes. ‘There has been treachery in the camp,’ she drawled.

  Owein looked nervously at the bound figures.

  Tegen caught the look and gulped. That’s his wife. Boudica’s caught her!

  The queen leaned forward and pointed a sticky finger at Tegen. ‘And there’s the traitor!’ She hiccoughed and smirked, then swigged from a golden goblet.

  Tegen slipped her hand into her pouch and stroked Tonn’s stone egg. Don’t let me down, whatever is coming! Give me your power.

  There was no tingle of magic – just coolness.

  ‘How am I a traitor?’ Tegen demanded. ‘I’ve never let you down, you yourself congratulated me, you said my magic won Camulodunum.’

  Boudica shrugged. ‘Maybe. Your magic is very good, but you are holding back on me. You won’t give me control of that creature. I am the high queen. I am the battle Goddess incarnate. It must serve me!’

  ‘No.’ Tegen crossed her arms and scowled.

  Boudica flung the fruit bowl across the tent. She stood, her fiery hair wild, her blue eyes boring into Tegen’s spirit. ‘You will make it obey me!’ she roared.

  ‘But lady, it cannot be done,’ Tegen replied mildly. ‘It’s too dangerous. Even I have difficulty with the magic that controls it.’

  Boudica glared at her attendants. ‘See? She wants to be my equal. She wants my throne – can’t you sense it?’

  Sabrina strode forward. ‘No! she wouldn’t.’

  ‘She’s not like that!’ Owein protested. ‘Magic is dangerous stuff …’

  Boudica snorted. ‘Ah! as I guessed, you’re all in this plot together!’ she clicked her fingers and four of her guards dragged the wriggling bundles into the centre of the tent. ‘If you don’t comply, druid, then Owein’s woman dies.’