Day 21
I was woken in the middle of the night by high pitched screaming. It sounded more like a cat than a human. I sat up and looked around, trying to determine where the noise was coming from. Once I was certain it was not right in front of my tent I tried to stand up and started swearing when I realised how stiff my leg muscles had become.
Eventually I managed to coax my legs into working properly and ventured out into the night. Kris and Robert were standing in front of Robert’s tent, both peering into the jar in Kris’s hand. This was where the screaming was coming from.
“Still doubt me?’ Kris asked as I approached.
He held up the jar so I could see the contents and I was pleased to see that Fee was inside.
“I didn’t think anything so small could make so much noise,” I said.
Fee stopped screaming and started to screech. “You cannot do this to me.”
“Well it appears we can,” Robert told her. He always has been a smug winner.
“What do we do with her now?” I asked. Believe it or not, I was actually concerned for the little fairy. She looked terrified.
“I’ll send her back to her mother,” Kris said. “You’re not scared of birds are you?”
What a strange question. I shook my head. Kris handed the jar over to Robert with instructions that under no circumstances should the lid be removed, then looked up into the sky and started to caw like a crow. It was actually very realistic and I was impressed.
I could see Fee inside the jar begin to cry and beg Robert to let her out. He ignored her.
Kris went quiet, but continued to look upward and a short while later he began to smile. I looked to where he was gazing, but it was the middle of the night, so I couldn’t see anything.
Then, from out of nowhere, a large bird landed in front of us. Did I just say large? That is a huge understatement. Imagine something the size of a pterodactyl, but with feathers and you will be somewhere close. Now I understood why Kris had asked if I was scared of birds. If I had been I would have been running and hiding in my tent. As it was, I slowly inched away from it.
Kris, on the other hand, walked straight up to it and started to stroke its beak. “This is Tridae,” he said without looking around. “Leader of the great falcons.”
I didn’t know what to say, so remained silent, secretly hoping that the look the bird was giving me was nothing to do with wondering if I tasted the same as a worm.
“Magnificent, isn’t he,” Kris continued. He then looked and noticed that both Robert and I were still backing away. “He won’t harm you. Come and introduce yourselves. He understands English.”
Yeah right. He expected me to walk up to a giant bird and shake hands with it? Kris just looked at us both expectantly. OK. Apparently he did.
Robert plucked up the courage and moved forward, carrying Fee with him. The poor fairy was so scared she tried to hide under her wings. A horrible thought suddenly occurred to me.
“You’re not planning on feeding Fee to this thing are you?” I asked in horror.
Kris laughed. “Of course not. Tridae is a courier not an executioner.”
By then Robert had told the falcon his name and had bowed to it, much to its amusement judging by the noises it was making, so I had no excuse not to do the same.
“Hi,” I managed to stammer. “My name is Rachel. Please don’t eat me.” I looked at Kris. “Am I supposed to curtsey?” I whispered to him.
“Do you usually curtsey to birds?” he asked.
“No,” I hissed. “But I don’t usually meet ones that are big enough to swallow my head whole.”
He chuckled again. “No, you don’t have to curtsey.”
He then outlined to the falcon everything Fee had done and requested his help in returning her to her mother. The bird nodded its head and lifted up one of its talons. The jar with the fairy inside was placed on the ground and Tridae took hold of it, gripping it tight. Fee started screaming once more as the giant bird took to the air and they were soon lost in the night’s darkness.
“What will happen to her?” I asked as I watched the pair of them fly off.
“I know Fee’s mother well and she is not a tolerant fairy. As soon as Tridae tells her what her daughter has been up to she will think of a suitable punishment.”
“Tells her?” Robert asked. “That feathered dinosaur can talk?”
“Not what you would call talking, no,” Kris said. “But fairies can communicate with some animals, the giant falcons included.” He looked at the sky once more. “There are still a few hours before daybreak, so I suggest we get some more sleep.”
I didn’t need telling twice and went straight to my tent, fumbling my way under the net. I was soon fast asleep again.
When I woke up it was sunny outside. I was not surprised to find that my legs had stiffened up again, but this time it was worse. Every movement was agony. Standing up was impossible. Eventually I gave up and decided to spend the day in my tent.
Unfortunately Robert and Kris had other ideas and physically dragged me from my covers and forced me into the sunshine.
“It hurts too much,” I said. “Can’t we spend a day relaxing so my muscles can recover?”
“No,” Robert replied unsympathetically. Why weren’t his legs hurting him? He did just as much climbing up and down the steps as I did and I know that I am almost as fit as him.
“They did when I first awoke,” he said when I asked him about it. “But, unlike you, instead of feeling sorry for myself, I got out of bed and slowly walked around the camp until my muscles loosened up.”
“Good for you,” I snapped at him. Couldn’t he see that I was genuinely in a lot of pain?
Kris took sympathy on me. “Are you open to a little bribery?”
“No,” I snarled. Pain always brings out the worst in me. Then I changed my tone. “What are you offering?”
“Our route takes us through a field that is populated with flying horses. Pegasus himself may be among them. How would you like a ride?”
“Are you kidding me?” I exclaimed loudly. “Pegasus really exists? Your aunt said he fathered the horses that the four horsemen ride, but I thought she was joking.”
Kris nodded his head. “Of course he exists. Haven’t you realised by now that most of your myths and legends are based on fact?”
After a quick bite to eat I reluctantly got dressed. It took a while and Robert constantly shouting through the canvas telling me to hurry up didn’t help. Have you ever tried to put on jeans when your legs don’t want to move? In the end I had to give up and asked Kris if I could have a long skirt. He obliged, telling me to look inside my bag. I did so and pulled out something long, cotton and bright green.
“Very funny,” I yelled at him and stuffed it back into my bag. “Try again.”
His second attempt was much more suitable and eventually I exited my tent, fully dressed with my rucksack on my back.
“About time too,” Robert said unpleasantly. I hadn’t really taken that long had I? By the position of the sun, I think I had. I apologised and watched as the men took apart my tent and reloaded it into Kris’s bag.
Every step I took hurt and I grumbled constantly. Robert and Kris walked ahead of me and though the gap between us slowly increased, it didn’t stop me hearing their conversation.
“Can’t you shut her up?” I overheard Robert asking. “What’s the point of being related to a god if you can’t do a simple little thing like that?”
“I probably could,” Kris said. “But it would be wrong.”
Robert grinned at him. “You’re tempted though, aren’t you?”
“Oh yes,” came the reply.
Midday had yet to arrive when we walked into a field covered in grass and daisies and all of my aches and pains fled from my mind. Standing in front of me were a couple of pure white stallions with wings sprouting from their backs.
“He wasn’t lying,” I said softly as I stared at them in amazement.
The two horses looked over to us, whinnied to each other, then took to the air, beating their wings powerfully. “Just seeing this was worth every bit of pain and discomfort,” I said as I watched them ascend into the sky and fly across the field. “Thank you for bringing us here.”
“My pleasure,” Kris said. “Come on,” he continued as he took my arm and pulled me forward. “The rest of the herd is this way.”
Soon we were surrounded by dozens upon dozens of the magnificent beasts. Most were grazing and did not seem at all bothered by our presence. I even saw some females with their foals. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. Which is rather odd, seeing as I was in Hell.
“You said Rachel could ride one of them,” Robert said to Kris as we walked. “Any chance we can catch a ride all the way to War’s place?”
“No,” Kris said, without any explanation.
“But−” Robert started to say, but Kris cut him off.
“I said no,” he told him sternly. “Do not ask again.”
We walked in silence for a few more minutes until Kris held up his hand to stop us. “You see that big stallion standing at the top of that small hill?” We both nodded. “That is the mighty Pegasus.”
Kris whistled and we could see Pegasus swivel his ears around as he listened. Then he took to the sky and flew toward us. I was rooted to the spot as I watched his approach. The rush of wind caused by his beating wings as he landed made my hair fly all over the place, but I didn’t care. Of all the things that I had seen since arriving in Hell, this would be the one to stick in my memory the most; of that I was certain.
Pegasus nuzzled Kris, who stroked him behind the ear. He spoke quietly to the horse and though I could not hear what was said, I am sure he was telling the awesome animal about his promise to me.
Initially Pegasus shook his head, his long white mane flying about majestically as he did so, but Kris spoke some more and eventually he nodded. “Thank you old friend,” Kris said loud enough for us to hear, then he turned to me. “Are you ready?”
“Yes. I mean no. I mean, how do I climb on him without damaging his wings?”
“His wings are a lot less delicate than they look,” he said and I had to laugh as Pegasus gave him a shove from behind with his nose. “Though apparently he appreciates your concern. He will lie down and I will pick you up and place you on his back.”
I felt uncomfortable having such a magnificent animal lying at my feet and I was glad when I was safely on board and he stood up once more.
“How do I hold on?” I leaned down and asked.
“Grab his mane. He won’t mind.”
What followed next was the most wonderful half hour of my entire life. I cannot describe how good it felt to be flying through the air on the back of a horse. There were tears of joy in my eyes when we finally descended. As soon as we had landed I slid off Pegasus’s back and threw my arms around Kris. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” I kept saying over and over again as I kissed his cheeks. He looked rather taken aback and was glowing bright red with embarrassment when I eventually let him go.
I then turned back to Pegasus and bowed low to him. “Thank you for allowing me to ride you,” I said. “I feel deeply honoured.” To my surprise, Pegasus bent one of his forelegs and bowed to me in return. Then he straightened up and took off once more.
“What was that all about?” I asked Kris once Pegasus was out of sight.
“You showed him the respect he deserves,” Kris said. “He was merely showing you his appreciation.” He looked at Robert. “Do you want a go? I am sure I can persuade one of the others to give you a lift across their meadow.”
“No, thank you,” Robert replied, waving his hands in front of him and backing away. “Seeing as it would just be a joyride, I am more than happy to keep my feet firmly on solid ground thank you very much.”
Kris shrugged. “Suit yourself. It’s your loss. Come on. We still have a long way to go.”
Though my legs still hurt, I didn’t complain. My muscles were loosening up, though not as quickly as I would have wished, but my mind was too occupied with memories of my flight to think about them. I was walking as though in a trance, not paying any attention to where I was going, and a number of times Robert had to call out my name loudly to get my attention.
“I’m beginning to think I preferred the complaining,” he said one time after he had called my name three times before I had acknowledged his presence. “At least then we didn’t have to keep an eye on you to make sure you didn’t walk into a river or off the edge of a cliff.”
“Sorry,” I said. “I just can’t get my mind off how fantastic an experience I have just had.”
“Let her be,” Kris said. “Flying with the horses seems to affect all females that way for some reason. Must be something to do with the way their brains are wired.”
I’m sure he was insulting me somehow, but I was too happy to care. After that though I did manage to keep my mind on where I was going and what I was doing enough to assure the boys that I was not a danger to myself.
Night couldn’t come soon enough for me and I went to bed long before Robert and Kris. I have just finished updating my diary with all that has happened. I wish I could be more descriptive about my flight, but no words would do it justice. I am going to go to sleep now and I am sure I am going to dream about horses and flying all night.
Day 22
The next morning Kris seemed eager for us to be on our way.
“What’s the hurry?” I asked when he tried to get me to leave half of my breakfast so we could be on the move.
“We’ll reach my family home before the end of the day,” he said, his face lighting up with pleasure.
He set a faster than usual pace, which seemed to increase the closer we got to War’s house. After a while I was having trouble keeping up with him and had to request that he slow down, which he did, somewhat reluctantly. Drink breaks were few and short and we hardly had time to finish swallowing down our sandwiches at midday before he told us it was time to get moving.
“How long has it been since you were last home?” I asked as we walked. I expected him to say months or even years, but he didn’t.
“I was there a few days before you and Rob arrived down here,” he said.
“So why are you so eager to get back there?” I asked in surprise. “Surely you can’t miss your family that much after such a short time away from them.”
“I have my reasons,” he said, but refused to say more.
It was approaching mid-afternoon when what looked like a large farmhouse appeared on the horizon. Kris stopped and stared ahead of him. “Home,” he said in a contented tone. “The only place I can ever be truly happy.”
As we walked closer it became obvious that it was a home not a house. It was a two storey building made from light grey stone. The front façade was wide, indicating there were a number of rooms on each level and it appeared to go back a long way. The roof was covered in terracotta tiles and the numerous windows were made from multiple small rectangles of glass instead of being huge single panes. Smoke was pouring out of the chimney, making it feel warm and inviting. A mid-height brick wall surrounded the property. The wooden gate was standing open, revealing a carefully manicured lawn surrounded by lovingly tendered flower beds. Someone in the household spent a lot of time looking after this garden.
Then I remembered where I was. Or someone uses magic, I corrected myself.
We walked through the gate and two dogs ran toward us, closely followed by a couple of puppies. When I looked closely, however, I realised they were not dogs; they were wolves.
Kris ran ahead of us, going down on one knee so they could reach him without having to jump up. They greeted him like faithful dogs welcoming home a beloved master. They climbed all over him, fighting each other to lick his face.
; “I would like to introduce you to Canini and Lupus,” he said when he had managed to calm them down enough to stand up. “And these two little rascals,” he continued, picking up the cubs, “are Cuon and Vulpes.”
He handed one to me and I passed it straight to Robert. “He’s the dog lover. I’m more of a cat person.”
Kris grinned at me. “You’ll like Death’s pet then.”
“Kris,” a voice called out from the direction of the house and I lifted my head to see a middle aged woman walking toward us. She looked a lot like Kris, or should that be Kris looked a lot like her? Her long brown hair, trim body and oval shaped face marked her as his mother. Only the eyes were different. While his were brown, hers were an attractive shade of green. She was a tall woman and towered above the man who followed her from the house.
War was a surprise. The last thing I expected to see was a fat, jolly looking man. Put him in a red suit, dye his blonde hair white and add on a fake white beard and you would have Father Christmas.
I, of course, kept these observations to myself.
Kris’s mother gave Kris a quick kiss on the cheek then addressed me and Robert. “You must be Rob and Rachel,” she said in a motherly voice. “We have been expecting you.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said. “And you must be Boudica.”
“Call me Bo,” she said. “Everyone else does.”
“You are not quite as the history books picture you,” Robert said.
I held my breath, not sure how she would react. I breathed out in relief as she laughed a deep rich laugh. I didn’t dare think what would have happened to us if she had taken Robert’s comment as an insult.
“Let me guess,” she said. “You pictured me as a more sumptuous woman wearing armour and carrying a shield.” Robert nodded. “Then I hope I don’t disappoint you.”
“Of course not,” Robert said hastily. “I’m a little surprised, that’s all.”
“Kris looks a lot like you,” I said, making conversation before Robert could say anything else controversial. “Except for the eyes.”
Diary of a journey through Hell Page 17
