The Gilweean Gateway

by R A Lindo

  Sylan Ryll, however, had other ideas, raising his silver cane and swinging it before uttering a word neither Guppy nor Kaira heard … a word which brought a hush to proceedings as the gathered Society members looked on in mild horror.

  Confusion slowly swept across the trading lane, silencing the heated trading near the bartering boxes as Sylan Ryll uttered ‘Fixilia’, a restrictive charm which froze the movements of his two, young foes, grinning as he watched them writhe in pain.

  “Stop moving, Guppy” whispered Kaira, recognising the charm Sylan Ryll had used. “It only makes it worse.”

  This was revenge for Jacob’s Quij attack in The Pancithon - the night they had discovered the legend of the Terrecet in a children’s fable. No help seemed to be forthcoming until a voice called out from the crowds lining the walkways.

  “They’re children!”

  The words were repeated by others, echoing towards the high ceiling. The Sinister Four’s role as Implementers in The Pancithon did not extend to the harming of children. They were an unpleasant version of Farraday and Smyck - two people searched for as she gritted her teeth in pain, fighting back tears.

  As the collective remonstrations filled the trading lane, Sylan Ryll spun around whilst his three accomplices surrounded Kaira and Guppy, taking delight in every painful utterance from them. With their long, grey overcoats decorated with a gold insignia, the group operated as more of a small, military unit than purveyors of peace within the Society - a fact reinforced by the old man’s frightened retreat. As much as the remonstrations caused the four Implementers to pause in their punishment, no adult took it upon themselves to offer protection to Kaira and Guppy: a cowardice which brought a look of disgust to Guppy’s face.

  “We meet again,” hissed Sylan Ryll as Aneesha Khan emitted a feral laugh. Ulyn Pavel’s broad figure hovered menacingly, his jet-black hair and elegant features belying the cruelty within. Tunula Creswell looked on … the bug-like eyes and silent menace causing Kaira’s body to tighten in anticipation of further pain.

  “Aren’t you going to say something clever?” asked Aneesha Khan as she stepped closer to Guppy. The clumps of hair torn out by the Quijs’ furious attack had forced a crude haircut, adding to her callous, base nature.

  “Nice haircut,” replied Guppy, refusing to submit to the act of intimidation.

  “I dare you to say that again,” Aneesha Khan stated with menace as she pressed her face inches from Guppy’s, eyebrows arched as if they were antenna alert to weakness.

  “I said nice haircut,” repeated Guppy, refusing to move away from Aneesha Khan’s threatening glare. Movement would cause a searing pain as well as signifying a submission to the very people whose power rested in intimidation. She would rather suffer punishment than present a cowardly retreat. How could the Society defend itself against true danger if this was their reaction to a bunch of bullies? Guppy thought, throwing another contemptuous glare at those retreating in the walkways.

  “For those of you considering charging us with an unlawful use of magic on our own members, you should first consider the fact that these children carried out a Quij attack on us, only days ago.”

  The collective intake of breath merely compounded the audience’s cowardly compliance, something Kaira wasn’t going to entertain. With the sight of Aneesha Khan forcing Guppy back, causing her best friend to grit her teeth in pain, Kaira shouted out to the crowds:

  “The Quij came to our defence to stop them attacking us, just like they’re doing now. Also, they had something to do with Cialene Koll’s death. They said as much in The Pancithon, the night they didn’t realise we were there. We were looking up an old story: The Curse of the Saralin Sands. The Sinister Four are linked to the death of Cialene Koll because she stole something precious … something dangerous. We also saw them in The Sylent yesterday: a house that Erent Koll came out of soon afterwards.”

  This achieved the desired response … a sudden uncertainty in The Sinister Four along with cries of shock at the mention of Erent Koll, and the associated betrayal.

  “Disgusting lies!” yelled Sylan Ryll as he waved his cane - a Vaspyl - to regain order. “Are you going to believe children over senior members of the Society? We were called to a suspected sighting at The Sylent. There was no sign of Erent Koll there. Utter nonsense.”

  The crowds in the walkways began to move forwards, their sense of honour returning in the knowledge that they had suspected malevs in their midst. Collective utterances began as they formed a barrier around the edges of the trading lane, using their own magical abilities to free Kaira and Guppy from the pain of the Fixilia charm.

  Able to move without restriction once more, the two friends moved away from The Sinister Four, Kaira watching the sinister smile fade from Aneesha Khan’s face at the sight of a flurry of Quij bursting into the air - a blaze of colour and light enacted by the person she had most wanted to appear: her dad.

  “Stay with Farraday and Smyck,” ordered Casper Renn as he reached his daughter, the remnants of the Fixilia charm leaving her body as if a virus was seeping out of her skin. The fury on her dad’s face immediately unnerved Sylan Ryll who lowered his silver cane in a sign of submission, but there was vengeance to enact … something Casper Renn was about to unleash in spectacular fashion.

  Guppy gave her brother a light hug as he appeared with the other familiar adults, shocked by the well of emotion rising in her. “Sorry,” she uttered, expecting a sharp telling off. “We didn’t do anything wrong. We only came here to do a trade.”

  “I know,” said Jacob. “We’ve been watching.”

  “Someone’s always watching you,” added Farraday as he offered Guppy and Kaira a reassuring smile. “You’ll need protection until you can defend yourselves.”

  On spying Smyck, Guppy added, “You left it a bit late, didn’t you.”

  The Quij circled over her Casper and Philomeena Renn: a luminous army familiar to The Sinister Four.

  “They’re bullies, Kaira,” replied Smyck. “They never carry out actual attacks because, deep down, they’re cowards. They just throw their weight around with things like the Fixilia charm, scaring people into submission and silence. You also needed to realise that you’ve got enemies now: enemies working for people who are dangerous and will think nothing of using a curse to stop you uncovering their dark plans.”

  “Like Erent Koll, you mean,” added Kaira.

  Farraday and Smyck nodded - the second layer of adult protection the young trio had come to rely on.

  “Yes,” continued Farraday, “like Koll and his band of malevs and Melackin. You’ll need more advanced lessons, and quickly, but now it’s time to watch and learn. Get ready for a show.”

  The crowds maintained their human barrier on the edges of the trading lane as Casper and Philomeena Renn took centre stage, the Quij fluttering above then in a force of unity. Sylan Ryll and Aneesha Khan moved to strike first whilst Ulyn Pavel and Tunula Creswell operated as the second layer of attack, standing behind them.

  Realising that a simple retreat wouldn’t suffice, Sylan Ryll prepared for battle. The public punishment of Kaira Renn meant a public duel with her father, something few would willingly engage in. Attempting distraction as his first move, he shouted: “How long do you think you can keep your daughter safe in the Society, Casper?” An orange light proceeded the statement, flashing from his silver cane and sending sparks flying into the air - an act which brought no initial response from Kaira’s dad or aunt.

  “Why aren’t they defending themselves?” asked Kaira as she watched her dad walk towards the centre of the trading lane, the stools lining the empty floor framing the impending drama.

  “They’re no match for your dad and aunt, Kaira,” explained Smyck before glaring at an excited young member of the Society who’d barged into them. “Unless you want to join the action, young man, I suggest you take a step back,” warned Smyck, causing the man to stutter an apology, recognising the all-black uniform and bald head.<
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  “Here we go,” stated Farraday as the Quij fluttered towards Casper and Philomeena Renn, descending from high above, but not in the way they had in The Pancithon when their delicate, luminous bodies had turned blood-red before storming The Sinister Four in a furious assault. This time, they began to circle … slowly at first before gathering a startling speed which became a blur of multi-coloured light.

  “What are they doing?” queried Jacob before Farraday put a finger to his lips, gesturing for silence and the study of the majesty about to unfold.

  As the Quij continued to form a ring of spinning light, Sylan Ryll yelled something incomprehensible before pointing his silver cane at the army of Quij who had only recently inflicted a humiliating defeat. As he did so, a burst of blue light flooded the trading lane before sparking and spluttering, headed towards Kaira’s dad and aunt until it suddenly faded, extinguishing to smoke. The silver cane flew out of Sylan Ryll’s hands and hung, suspended, in the air: out of reach.

  “The Ghantz charm,” explained Smyck as the crowd hummed in collective awe at the rare sight of battle within the S.P.M.A. Even more rare was the sight of senior forces in battle, although it was already clear to Kaira that this was more a statement of authority.

  “Brilliant,” uttered Guppy as she watched the silver cane float in the air, spinning as it did so to the shock and humiliation of Sylan Ryll.

  The following act from Aneesha Khan turned the crowd’s hums of awe to shouts and cries of fear as a screeching, disoriented wave of black flooded the trading lane: a vampiric swarm of Ameedis descending towards Casper and Philomeena Renn.

  “No,” stated Farraday as he held Kaira’s arm, using his strength to ensure she couldn’t rush to her dad’s defence. “This is the time and place to see what needs to be learned. Our fight is for the future. Your dad and aunt are protected by the Velinis charm so no harm can come to them. Look.”

  Farraday, of course, was right. The faint circle of purple light surrounding her dad and aunt was less visible than the one used in Dyil’s Ditch, perhaps because of the darkness in the mudlands or the fact that the quality of light emanating from the defensive charm was linked to the level of protection needed. Either way, the sight of the charm put Kaira’s mind at ease as the battle continued.

  “You’ve seen this before, Kaira,” added Smyck who was unmoved by the swarm of black rising towards the ceiling of the trading lane. “It’s a Zombul, remember. Like the one used in Tauvin Hall. Aneesha Khan controls where they fly because they can’t hear or see anything; she also knows your dad and aunt are already protected so it’s more an exercise in power. The Sinister Four want to show that their magical ability is greater than your dad and aunt’s.”

  “Never going to happen,” stated Farraday confidently. “They’re minions, in comparison.”

  Kaira hoped Farraday was right as the swarm of Ameedis screeched their war cry, free falling towards her dad and aunt who raised their arms in defence - an act which seemed feeble at first until they began to form circles with one hand … then more quickly as the Ameedis screeched towards them, unaware of a profound power specific to the Renns: water.

  Water began to form in circles as Casper and Philomeena Renn continued to spin their right hands together … circles which grew in size until they touched, forming the most majestic moment of magic: a bank of water resting in the shape of a small lake, awaiting the arrival of the vampiric creatures.

  At the moment the Ameedis hit the water, they flapped and screeched in fury, unable to extract themselves from it. The puzzled look on Aneesha Khan’s face suggested that this shouldn’t be the case, although the reason was quickly evident as the water began to freeze over, courtesy of a charm Kaira would soon learn: the Iscillius charm. Evidently, the Williynx were not the only creatures with the power of ice.

  Hypnotised by the performance, the audience stood still in the walkways, witnessing the enactment of magical forces easily containing the presence of evil; however, it was not in the Society’s nature to be unnecessarily cruel, and the sight of the Ameedis screeching in pain as the water froze around them made Kaira uncomfortable. They were the very creatures who had murdered Cialene Koll in Dyil’s Ditch, but the act of slowly freezing to death was a step too far, Kaira thought. A thought, which resonated with Guppy and Jacob who looked equally uncomfortable.

  “Why doesn’t he just kill them?” queried Guppy, a question which made Kaira momentarily wonder if darkness resided in her own father - a darkness her grandfather suggested lived in everyone, regardless of the side they chose. Darkness could only be defeated with light if it was understood, Isiah Renn had asserted. Did her dad understand more about dark magic than he’d let on…? Gorrah. Was this a sign that even he could succumb to moments of cruelty?

  Kaira’s questions were answered as the water, still suspended in mid air, began to stretch upwards, spinning once more into a tornado-shape, spraying water in all directions with the disoriented Ameedis trapped within. As Sylan Ryll and Aneesha Khan looked on in defeat, Casper and Philomeena Renn stood alongside the tornado, the Velinis charm deflecting the tornado of water flashing over the stunned audience who suffered saturation to witness the wondrous display of magical prowess.

  Kaira was lost for words as the water-tornado dominated the centre of the trading lane, spinning and spitting as the Ameedis’ struggle came to an end, their vicious nature expunged by the power of her dad and aunt who had arrived to offer protection and reinstate their authority in the Society. An authority The Sinister Four were now grudgingly submitting to, aware that their mild attack on Kaira and Guppy had not only triggered the wrath of Casper Renn, but would also lead to greater consequences - specifically, punishment from The Orium Circle.

  It was a punishment they were keen to avoid, already committed to hunting down the other fragments of the Terrecet whilst working, in secret, with Erent Koll to remove anyone in their way. Not prone to violence but skilled in threats and betrayal, they were perfect pets for the Prince of the Underworld; however, to continue their service to dark agents, they would need to extricate themselves from this current predicament which would, inevitably, lead to being stripped of their powers as Implementers.

  The Orium Circle would investigate their motives for attacking underage members. Sylan Ryll, sensing his venomous reign was coming to an end, studied his silver cane he desperately needed now to enact an escape plan. With the crowd entranced by the tornado - enacted as a majestic counterfoil to the Ameedis swarming into the trading lane via Aneesha Khan’s Zombul - Sylan Ryll attempted a Magneia charm to retrieve his silver cane.

  If he could get it back into his hands, it could morph into a blade to scare those members hovering closest to them, allowing for a quick exit. Unprovoked attacks were forbidden, so Sylan Ryll was gambling on the fact that no member, including Casper Renn, would attempt to fatally wound. He and his band of Implementers, however, would have to in order to escape. He nodded to Aneesha Khan, Ulyn Pavel and Tunula Creswell … his expression signalling their preparation for a violent exit, something Farraday was already prepared for.

  Farraday had kept a close eye on The Sinister Four’s public humiliation. Knowing the cowardly nature of the group, he fully anticipated their ploy to escape and watched as Sylan Ryll nodded and uttered ‘Magneia’. With the blurring, spinning circle of Quij spinning above, he tapped Smyck to keep an eye on the young group before stepping towards the majestic tornado of water, holding the attention of the soaked crowds.

  Deciding against the use of Velinis charm, he knew another would suffice: a charm that created a force field around inanimate objects such as Sylan Ryll’s silver cane, which was gradually floating back towards the Implementer.

  Realising that Casper and Philomeena Renn were preoccupied with keeping the tornado of water in its current state, Farraday focused on stopping The Sinister Four’s escape. Uttering ‘Fora’, he watched as the silver cane began spinning in the opposite direction, towards him - the force fiel
d created by the charm counteracting the Magneia spell Sylan Ryll was relying on.

  The flaw in Ryll’s choice of penchant was that it remained under the control of the person who possessed it. It was a Vaspyl, after all … morphing steel which could be transformed into any object, limited only by the space it occupied. Farraday knew the very object required and as the silver cane spun towards him, to the evident fury of Sylan Ryll, he held his hand out to catch it.

  Kaira, Guppy and Jacob watched under the safe guard of Smyck and the circling Quij as Farraday threw the silver cane into the air, returning a silver ball to his hand. His nod to the gathered crowd signalled a command to act, applying the very restrictive charm the four Implementers had used on Kaira and Guppy.

  As the crowds responded to the order, rediscovering their courage and sense of duty, Farraday readied himself to end the battle.

  “Time they got a taste of their own medicine,” said Smyck as he watched his comrade preparing his concluding act.

  Kaira’s question regarding Farraday’s plans only received a wry smile, suggesting Smyck had witnessed this finale before. Smiles were not shared amongst the four Implementers who began to retreat towards the crowds who stood firm, refusing to let them pass.

  The sudden glow on the trading-lane floor was the penultimate act of magic: a collective light source used to symbolise unity and defence against The Sinister Four. The line of light formed near the feet of the gathered crowd, sparking into flames when any attempt was made to cross it.

  “How dare you,” spat Tunula Creswell who attempted to enact a Fixilia charm of her own, only for the flames to rise and burn her outstretched hand. Her scream caused the four to retreat, realising they were trapped … their magical powers restricted, facing an emboldened army representing the quiet might of the S.P.M.A. Their tyranny, it seemed, was about to end ingloriously, and the sight of Farraday thrusting the silver ball across the floor symbolised the conclusion of their reign of fear.