The Curious Case of Jacob's Hallow

by Patrick Walsh

  “Dullahan...Dullahan McGavin.” He adjusted his glasses and held out his hand.

  The grim figure didn’t extend one of his own; in fact didn’t even seem to notice the gesture. “McGavin…” He peered over the silvery uniform, now stained with dirt and blood. “You come from that school way up in Delathorn then?”

  “Yes...and…”

  He laughed. “So, what brings you all the way to our little neck of the woods?”

  “I um...well…” The spinning gears of his mind were quickly interrupted.

  “And do not lie to me.” The words were calm and sincere, but the end was tinged with a threat.

  Dullahan sighed. His conscience was weighing on his mind, exhaustion bogging down his body. Word after word spilled out. He told of sailing there down one of the great rivers, his brief time traveling on the sea, the arrival, the monsters, the people he met, the tower, the witch, the necropolis, the gauntlet. It all flowed from him as if he were recounting a delirium or bizarre dream. He wasn’t just talking to this stranger but replaying it all to himself. None of it felt real, yet he had experienced it all. He had lived it all, every moment of horror, of confusion, of triumph. All the while, the grim captain smiled and nodded. His expression changing as the twists and turns unraveled, like a child watching a show at the theatre. When the last of the words dripped out, and the story became the present, his twisted body shot back up.

  “Well that fills in quite a few gaps on my end.” He shifted and swayed, mulling it all over.

  “So...so are you Commander Fofnir?”

  “Ah yes.” His body snapped down so that they were face to face. A spiral of green light erupted from the air beside him and out came a pale, human arm comprised of many hands.

  Dullahan was repulsed by the unnatural mass, but shook one nonetheless. As soon as he did, it retracted and disappeared back into the light, which itself disappeared back into nothingness.

  “The name is Charlotte Fofnir, first commander of the Paladin Governor, Joseph Craw. I’m pleased to know you northerners have heard of me.”

  Han nodded. “So, what do you want with me then?”

  “Hmm? Oh, well nothing anymore. I merely wanted to know what was going on in that strange little town. We’re not actually supposed to be out here, but all that means is that there’s somewhere in this stretch of water worth sailing to. Besides, we have our own reasons for stayin out of it…. anyways, you’re free to leave. Toodles.” He shot back up and took the helm, seemingly ready to head off.

  “Wait, so are you going to inform the Paladins?” Dullahan stood where he was, his mind wanting to leave but his body not budging an inch.

  “Perhaps you didn’t hear me. I’m not...” He snapped his head to the side and peered out into the darkness. “Splendid!” He turned back to Dullahan. “One must love punctuality. Oh, but what were you saying? Ah right. Craw and the rest of us aren't supposed to be in these waters. I’m sure once she finds that old glove, she’ll get their attention, and all will be resolved. Well assuming you don’t tell someone first.”

  Dullahan opened his mouth to reply, but suddenly something shot up into the air and slammed down onto the deck, rocking the whole of the ship. Wet boots strolled up the steps as a new commander joined the meeting. She was a foot shorter than Charlotte, with dark skin and hair like crab legs. She wore a long, buttoned down overcoat and an old scarf covering the lower half of her face. One eye was brown, while the other was slightly larger and a pure, glistening white. As Dullahan looked her over, something became very clear. She looked like the witch. Not just her race, but her hair, the finer features, even if some were obscured. Maybe he was just tired, but it looked like they could be sisters or perhaps cousins.

  “Abraham and Joshua were back in our waters.” Her voice was course, but calm.

  “Again?” He laughed. “So, nothing new with them I suppose.”

  “Jobe was with them this time.”

  He suddenly stopped, his calm demeanour slowly shifting. “Jobe you say?”

  “We had a spat. I sank one of their ships and Abraham forced everyone to back off.” She cracked her neck. “Though they should be here in a day or so.”

  “Oh?” His interest was piqued.

  “One of the communications we intercepted. Isabelle is gonna purge the town tomorrow evening. Jobe and crew are her escort out of the area. Seems she doesn’t want any witnesses to whatever she’s up to.”

  “Purge the town!?” Dullahan stared up at her in horror. “Jacob’s Hallow?”

  She gazed down at him, not even asking who he was or how he had gotten there. “Tomorrow she’s going to send everything she has and wipe that village off the map.”

  He turned back to Fofnir. “You have to do something then! You two are the governor's commanders, surely it would be within your rights.”

  “I thought that academy was for book learnin. Craw and us are like...oh what do the people on the mainland call it? It’s got a funny name.” He turned to the woman.

  “Independent contractors.”

  “Yeah, that’s it! The governors are just whoever hits the hardest and be willin to play ball with them. If anything, they might already know about what’s going on up there and have their own plans. It simply isn’t our place.”

  “But...well…” His mind was reeling as he thought of any ideas or excuses to convince them. “You said Jobe, Abraham, and Joshua. You’re talking about some of Governor Carrigan's kids, right? The Mother of Monsters?” He pointed west to the country of Telikos far beyond them. “Well surely that’s an invasion of some kind? You could use that to draw the Paladins out.”

  “Pfffft, hahaha!” He reared back, even the stone faced woman snickering. “We’ve been whinin to them for months bout those brats and they haven’t done jack. Oh, look kid if you want to tell them I’m sure Norabelle will lend a hand.”

  She nodded and looked down to Han. “I can give your boat a push.”

  “See. Though, given the icy relationship your two clubs have, I think you’d be better off heading west and back to your school. It’s up to you really.”

  “But...I…” Han thought about it, his mind unable to focus. “If I go to the Paladins then they might all die. If I go home, then they will all die. If I go back...then I will die.”

  “Sounds clear cut to me. We got time before those brats show back up, we can escort ya west a little ways, call it a thanks for the information. I assume you would also gain some notoriety for your findings...things might be looking up for you.” He grinned, while the other commander rolled her eyes.

  Dullahan looked down and saw that this whole time he had been gripping the side of his bag. The commander was right. He was smart, and many people back home were fickle. If he played things right, he would be considered a hero, one of the most important figures in recent years. Even if the college did nothing about the witch, his maps and findings would open a whole new branch of research and exploration. Knowing where Verdracill was would tell them where other cities might lie buried or ruined. Then based on how far the Necropolis spanned, there could be hundreds of trips made into its depths. All the knowledge that they would uncover...and all because of the talentless scholar no one believed in. It would turn his life around and give him work for years to come. There was fire in his belly, an undying excitement for what would come next...or at least there should have been. His eyes seemed to light up, a smile coming to his face, but then it just fizzled. “You are right...if I make it home, and I dig my heels into the mud...I will have everything I could have ever wanted.”

  “Splendid! Then hop onto you little boat and we can be on our way.”

  Dullahan stood where he was, not even hearing him. “But...it does...does not feel right.” His eyes wandered around the deck. “It feels off…”

  “Hmmm?” The commander gave a sly smile and slid away from the helm. “Why so? You came there to just kick rocks around and retire to a library. Sounds like you only stayed to get some glory, wh
y not cash in? Or am I mistaken?”

  Dullahan thought about it. He could have fled that next morning, abandoned Aza and Luke and the rest of them. Run away from the monsters and beasts that lurked around that evil place. He could be on the other side of Telikos by now, but he stayed. When Aza and Luke told him about what went on there, when they found the tower, he realized that he could turn this whole trip around. He could...not use them...just have them assist him for a while and bring back some bits of information. Then things just went insane. He came there to find nothing and instead found more than he was capable of dreaming up. Witches, undead, lost ruins, one of the divine weapons. It felt like either the universe was finally giving him something amazing after years of bitter stagnation, or just trying to snuff him out for trying to escape the dull rhythm of his life. He came to this place to get as far away from Dellathorn as possible. Was that why he had waited so long to go back? Or was he just being spoiled? There he had food, water, and safety. Why was he even hesitating to go back? He had no reason not to. There was everything to gain. Then the words just trailed from his lips. “It’ll be empty.”

  “What was that?” Fofnir peered down at the reeling scholar.

  “It will all be empty. I do not care about that place...and I have not for a long time.” He began to compose his thoughts. “I have felt more alive in the last few days then all the years I have studied there. I care about Aza and Luke and... I cannot just...let them die…”

  “Pffft, you’ve known them for a couple days. You don’t owe them anything.”

  Fofnir was right, he had only known them for a few days. The earlier part of which he had looked down at those simple town’s folk. He was going to just use them. Yet, the more he was around the two and got a feel for them...the harder his plan became. He was hurt when he found out Aza was dying, touched when Luke talked with him at the church. Back in Delathorn, there was his mentor, but other than him...he didn’t care about them nor they he. He didn’t want to appease and be liked by those fickle goons. Maybe he had at first, but now he realized how useless that all would be. He wouldn’t be happy; it wasn’t right. He looked up at the grinning demon as his confidence began to build. “You are correct but I cannot just leave them. I do not want to just leave them. I do not want Aza to die, Luke to die, Gretel, or those brothers, or anyone there to die.”

  “You’re being overly sentimental.”

  “Maybe I am, but I could not care less.” Dullahan looked back to the north, to the dreary town out of view. “You said she could give me a push. Can you send me back to Jacob’s Hallow?”

  “To die? Boy you and those friends can’t beat an army.” He whistled, amusement ringing through his words.

  “Sure we can!” He beamed. “I have seen what can be done when you really put your mind to something. We had no right to survive the trip to that tower, but we did. We should not have been able to evade those wights at the necropolis...or...or even live through that first night but we did!”

  The two commanders watched as he strolled to the side of the deck.

  He leaned over it and peered through the shadows. “I think I know how we can beat her. All I need is their help.”

  “Well, if you say so I’m sure she could help get you there.” He turned to Norabelle, who was giving him a familiar look of unamusement.

  “Thank you...but you two will still be around here right?” He turned back to them. “You are sticking around to deal with Jobe and the others?”

  He shrugged. “I suppose so.”

  “If I sent someone else to get help...could you speed up their journey? I think the nearest village is a day or more away.”

  “Hmmm, sounds reasonable.”

  Han took a deep breath. “Perfect.” He sprung away from the railing and down the stairs. The scholar should have been feeling regret, but no. Bullheaded certainty had pushed out all worries and fears that would have otherwise bogged him down. He believed they could do it and by Hel herself they would!

  As the boy dashed off back to his boat, Norbelle sighed. Her arm began oozing into wet sand, littered with shells and a few starfish. From it, a long harpoon emerged and was pulled up into her other hand as she began walking to the other side of the ship. “You’re a dumbass.”

  “What?” He slithered out of her way, faking innocents.

  “You’re gonna kill this stupid kid just to spare my feelings?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe...but I dunno, I actually think they have a shot. He told a great story at the very least.”

  Norabelle was unconvinced but jumped over the side all the same. She landed on top of the water, splashing, but not sinking down. As Dullahan’s boat broke away from their own, she began to eye it like a hungry shark. Every moment, every move it would make, or likely had made flashing before her. It was a ways away now, far enough for her to act. She leapt into the sky, spinning her weapon faster than the eye could see. It stung down through the water and waves erupted out from around it. A piece of the ocean was given life as it was sent flying towards Dullahan’s vessel. The alien creature clung to the bottom of his boat, doubling, tripling his speed as he shot ever closer to the shore. There were more beasts lurking about under the shadowy waves. More monsters whose only purpose was to sink him and those like him. Yet the dead were slow, and the sun was rising. He would make it there in one piece, but she doubted he would stay that way.

  Dullahan rode the waves of magic all the way into the morning. He was going to find Aza and Luke and...and fix everything. The silver ship slowed as it came close to ramming the harbor. The water that had fueled his journey dispersing back into the waves from whence it had come. He tied it off and manically searched around the harbor for someone to help him. Nearby was an old man who seemed to be watching him.

  “You...you were the captain of that fishing ship!”

  “That I was, an am.” He looked Dullahan up and down as if he had never seen another human. “An you look to be the captain of a ship that sailed through the night and stayed in one piece.”

  He gave a confident smile and did a little bow. “I had some assistance...well it does not matter. How long have you sailed?”

  “Too long.” He spat.

  Dullahan turned back to the sea and pointed to the nasty, swirling sky in the distance. “You see that?”

  “Do I look like an infant? Course I do!” He took a drink from his bottle of wine.

  “That is death. Now, I do not have a lot of time, but that...that is the end of this town. Tonight, an army will be here. Not the usual one to keep you all in bed, from looking around this place. I need someone to go out and get help.”

  “What!?” He nearly dropped the bottle. “Even if I did buy that from...whoever ya are, people don’t leave this place. I wouldn’t have the foggiest idea where to begin lookin for another town. Besides, there are things in those waters that’d sink me long before I ever got near one.”

  “The ship is fast and there are two governor commanders in the outer waters who will help you. All you need to do is make it to the edge. If it is too difficult, I can find someone else.”

  “Too difficult! I could make that run in a heartbeat. There just be nuthin in it fer me.” He took another swig. “As far as I know that be a storm like any other.”

  “Then keep it. If you make it back, then you can have my boat.” He held out the red notebooks from Arthur. “Find someone affiliated with the Paladins and give this to them. Tell them it is a Code Twelve emergency.”

  “Well…” He tipped to the side, looking the vessel up and down. “I... I eh...it would...ah you horse’s ass!” Pride, and an inability to pass up a free vessel, overcame an ever lessening sense of self preservation. He stomped past Dullahan, snatched the notebooks, and hopped onto the deck. “But if I die, ya ain’t gettin yer boat back!”

  “Thank you!” Dullahan ran from the dock, looking back briefly to see the old man sailing away. He tore up the dreary streets, nearly getting lost as he struggled to find his bea
rings. Then a familiar road came into view. He charged up it and up to Aza’s home. To his horror it was gone. All that remained was black ash and soot, with the two houses on either side nearly burned down themselves. His hope and confidence began to wane, but he knew where they would have gone. Again, he dashed around the winding roads, stopping when arriving at Dusk Ally. The bell dinged when he entered a familiar odds and ends shop. There was no one there, but two voices could be heard arguing somewhere. He ran through the aisles and to the back. A door was open that led to a store room of sorts with a small desk. There was also a large tank of water with those strange creatures people talked into, along with some larger monstrosity. The two pink haired siblings turned to him. One was easily recognized as Gretel, but the other he had never seen.

  “Gretel!” He waved over to them, not sure how else to get their attention.

  She was sitting at the desk and had to roll over to see him. Her face twisted with disgust. “What in the Abyss do you of all folks want!?”

  “I know I made mistakes, but I am here to help. We do not have a lot of time.”

  “Somethin’s happening tonight. You better head back to wherever you scampered off too.” She sounded tired, and exasperated, hoping he would have no idea of what she spoke of.

  “I know, that’s why I came back.” He looked around the room. “I need to know where Aza and Luke are.”

  Gretel blinked a few times, not wanting this, any of this...and not sure how to reply. She looked to her older brother but he only backed away. “Han...Tobias has Aza. He’s gonna be hung this afternoon.”

  “What…” His confidence was shaken yet again, this time cracking if only a little.

  “And Luke…” There was pain in her words as she leaned up and met his eyes. “Luke is dead.”

  Chapter 21: Picking up the Pieces

  Aza sat alone in the crooked cell, staring blankly at the cold stone in front of him. He was underground, on what was once the first floor of the jailhouse. There was no light, but he could see well enough. It was all stone in various states of collapse, with some wooden pillars put up to help keep back the encroaching elements. A massive crack ran down the wall of his cell and all the way out to the short hallway where three others sat. It connected to many other breaks and upheavals in the floors and walls. If Aza really wanted to he could probably get out, or at least bring this place down trying, but he didn’t. There was a single marble he had plucked from the bed he sat upon. He would bounce it onto the floor and let it roll down the extreme slant to the other side of the small cell. A string would fire out, coil around it, and drag it back into his hands. Even facing the end of it all he was still practicing, getting better at the fine skills involved with picking up such a small object. Pointless, but something as he waited to be rid of this rotten place.