by Alison Pensy
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Faen knelt down beside Faedra and gently shook her arm. He and Jocelyn had prepared the horses and were ready to leave, but he wanted her to sleep as long as she could. Her eyes cracked open and a smile crept across her lips at the sight of him. She sat up, and after stretching her arms upwards, rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She looked for Jocelyn and saw her over by the horses; their things already packed and attached to the saddle, and her smile fell from her face.
“Why didn’t you wake me earlier?” she asked in dismay. “Faen, I am always a step behind you guys, and that makes me feel inadequate.” Her voice was laced with a tinge of annoyance and embarrassment.
“You needed to sleep as long as possible, Faedra. You used up a lot of your energy last night,” he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, his expression one of concern. “I shouldn’t have let you, but you were really starting to understand your power and control it, and you may well need to use it today. It will take but a few moments for us to get you packed and ready.”
“Okay,” she sighed. He made perfect sense, using her power drained her beyond belief. “I’ll let you off this time,” she said with a smirk.
The sun was not yet up, but the sky was glowing with that beautiful light that welcomes the day just before the sun decides to peek over the horizon and has every hue of pastel you can imagine. She rubbed her hands over her face, willing herself awake, and accepted Faen’s offered hand to help her up off the ground. He hastily rolled her bedding up and carried it over to her horse. She followed.
“Good Morning, Faedra,” Jocelyn sang as they approached.
“Morning, Jocelyn.”
“Forgive me for saying this, but you do not look too good this morning.”
“No forgiveness needed, I don’t feel too good either.” She imagined how her reflection had looked in the mirror after the first time she had been trying to use her power. She could envision that her skin must be looking pretty pallid right now, with dark circles framing her eyes. That was exactly how she felt, like something was sucking the life out of her. Having a power like hers certainly had its downside.
Faen dug around in her knapsack and held out the rest of her food for her. “Here eat this. You will feel better.” He dug in his knapsack, too. “Then eat this. You used more of your energy than I realized. When we get through the portal, you need a proper meal.” He looked concerned, so she tried giving him her ‘I’m fine, really’ look. It didn’t work.
She ate while he tied her bedding to the back of the saddle. Jocelyn mounted her horse, and when Faedra had finished her food, Faen gave her a leg up onto hers. She leaned down to adjust her foot in the stirrup, which brought her face level with his.
“Just for the record,” he whispered, “you are far from inadequate, in every way.”
“Thank you,” she whispered back and gave him a sheepish smile. She was starting to feel better already. The food was taking effect, but she knew the small amount she had eaten wouldn’t be enough to sustain her for very long. “How far is it to the portal?” she asked.
“About two hours east of here,” Faen replied.
“We best get going then” she said, and followed behind Faen as he moved his horse forward. Jocelyn fell in behind Faedra, and she realized she was a fairy sandwich once again.
After about an hour of riding, Faedra began to feel decidedly weaker. Why did she have to use that much energy last night? That was stupid when she knew there was nothing much to eat to replace it. The truth was, she wasn’t thinking. Her power was so new to her, and food had been so readily available; she hadn’t thought about the consequences if she couldn’t eat anything to replenish the energy she had expended.
“Can we slow down for minute?” she called to Faen who was just a few feet up ahead. He turned to look at her, and she could see the anxiety sweep across his face. He stopped his horse and jumped off.
“It’s just that, I feel…” He caught her just as she passed out and slid off the side of her horse.
“Faedra. Faedra!” He shook her gently, she managed to open her eyes just a crack. “Faedra, stay with me,” he coaxed, then looked up at his sister. “Jocelyn, we don’t have too much further to the portal, we will have to fly from here.”
Jocelyn got down from her horse, her face was full of concern, too.
“I shouldn’t have let her… and for so long,” Faen chastised himself.
“Brother, you did not know what it would do to her. Do not blame yourself.” Jocelyn attempted to sooth her brother’s concerns “She will be alright; we will get her some food.”
Faen scooped Faedra up in his arms and lifted them both from the ground. He turned to the horses. “Return to the castle,” he commanded, and they turned in the opposite direction and sped off at a gallop. Faen and Jocelyn flew like the wind towards the portal.
“I am sorry, Faedra,” he whispered as he looked into her lifeless face.
“Todmus,” Jocelyn suddenly cried a few minutes later. “Todmus will have some food.”
“Of course, he will. Sister, you are a genius! Why didn’t I think of that? Jocelyn, you can fly faster than me. Tell Todmus we need a glass of sugar water and any sweet food he may have.”
She nodded and flew off ahead of her brother.
“We are almost there, Faedra. Hang on for just a little longer.”
When they arrived at the portal, Todmus and Jocelyn were waiting for them with a tall glass of sugar water and a plate of sweet pastry. Faen lowered Faedra’s limp body to the ground and sat down next to her, leaning her up against him. He held out his hand and Todmus stepped forward and passed him the glass.
“Faedra,” he shook her shoulders hard, “wake up, Faedra. You have to wake up for me, do you hear!” He was shouting at her with just a hint of desperation in his voice.
“Faedra, wake up!” he yelled.
He heaved a sigh of relief when he heard a weak groan.
“Drink this,” he said, as he held the glass to her lips and tipped some of its contents into her mouth. Jocelyn and Todmus stood over them, holding their breath.
Faedra took a few sips, and it felt like the sugar surged through her bloodstream as soon as she swallowed it, like an electrical current running through a piece of equipment forcing it to come alive. It felt as if someone had plugged her in, giving her an energy source, and she could feel her body come to life again. The sips turned to gulps as she regained her strength, and by the time she had finished the glass, her eyes were wide open and their sparkle had returned. Within minutes, the color returned to her cheeks and the dark circles around her eyes disappeared.
Todmus and Jocelyn let out the breath they had been holding, and Todmus stepped forward to give Faedra a sweet sugary pastry.
She gave the little man an appreciative smile. “Thank you, Mr. Todmus.”
Todmus blushed. “Oh, please, Miss, just call me Todmus.”
A few more moments passed and Faedra could feel her strength was almost back to normal.
“Wow, that stuff works really well,” she said of the sugar water as she pushed herself up off the ground to stand up after she had finished eating the pastry. “I’m going to have to bottle a load up and keep a supply of it in my car from now on. Let’s go and get that book. Thanks again, Todmus,” she whispered as she walked past him and followed Faen and Jocelyn into the portal.
He nodded his head and smiled at her fondly. “Any time, Miss. Come back and see us again soon.”
Then the three of them were gone from Azran and were stepping onto the gravel path that ran behind the church. It was still light. Faedra wasn’t quite sure what to expect when she stepped foot in the World of Men again. She only hoped and prayed that Faen was right, and that it was still Sunday; otherwise, her father would be sick with worry, and she would have some serious explaining to do. Talking of explaining, she had to come up with an excuse to not be at home that evening.
Where she thought the book might be was several hours drive away. They would be lucky to get there and back before the next morning.
They walked towards her car. The car park was empty now apart from hers. “Are we in glamour?” she asked Faen as they approached the car.
“Yes,” he answered.
“Would you two turn into your furry alter egos and un-glamour us then?”
Faen gave her a puzzled look.
“The vicar is over there and I want to ask him something.”
“Consider it done,” Faen said as he and Jocelyn shimmered and blurred into their dog forms.
The vicar looked a little bemused as he caught sight of Faedra, and he looked around himself. “Good afternoon, Faedra, I didn’t see you approaching.”
“Hello, Vicar. Beautiful Sunday afternoon isn’t it?” she asked covertly.
“It most certainly is, my dear. I was just getting ready for evening service.”
Faedra inwardly heaved a sigh of relief. It was still Sunday. Her secret was safe.
“Have you got yourself another dog?” the vicar asked, looking down at Jocelyn who was sitting to one side of her and Faen to the other. She had a feeling Jocelyn was going to be spending a lot of time with her from now on and answered accordingly.
“Yes, Vicar, I have. She’s pretty isn’t she?”
“That she is, Faedra. Well, you have a lovely evening.”
He wandered off towards the church, and Faedra headed towards her car with Faen and Jocelyn hot on her heels. She let Jocelyn in the back and Faen in the front passenger side. She knew they would change as soon as she started to drive away. They did.
“How far away is the book, do you think?” Faen asked as they drove down the lane past the stables. They went past a field. A farmer who was standing at the edge of his ruined field of corn scratching his head, momentarily distracted Faedra.
“Um, about five or six hours by car,” she answered.
“So what do you intend to tell your father about your pending absence?”
She looked over at him. “I’ll think of something.” She was an adult now and it’s not like it was a school night, she wasn’t at school anymore. She wiggled in her seat so she could pry the cell phone out of her back pocket, flipped it open, and dialed.
“Hi, Amy, it’s me. Hey, I need you to do a favor for me,” she spoke urgently into the phone.
“Sure, Fae, whaddya need?”
“I need you to cover for me tonight.”
“Why? What are you up to?” Amy asked suspiciously.
“Amy, if I told you, you wouldn’t believe me,” Faedra replied with honesty.
“You’re sneaking off with Frederick, aren’t you? He’s really hot, Fae, I wouldn’t blame you.”
Faedra almost reprimanded her friend for her dirty mind, and then thought twice about it. Amy would gladly cover for her if she thought she was having fun. Amy lived to have fun. “Er, you got me, Ames. So I’m going to tell my dad that I’m coming round yours tonight for a sleep over. If he should call, which I doubt he would coz I have my phone, but if he does, tell him I’m in the bathroom or something.”
“On one condition,” Amy demanded.
“What’s that?” Faedra asked cautiously.
“You tell me all about it. I want details.”
Faedra cringed. More lying, she hated lying. “Of course, Amy, that goes without saying.”
“Consider it done then. Have fun, Fae, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She laughed, and rang off.
Faedra shook her head and smiled. She loved her friend to death, but hated having to lie to her and her dad.
A few minutes later they were driving down the little dirt road that led to her home. The cottage looked beautiful. She hadn’t realized quite how much she had missed it until it came into view. The garden however, was a different story. The flowers were wilting and the leaves still falling. She parked the car and let Faen and Jocelyn, who were now back in their furry forms, out.
“Hi, Dad,” she said cheerily as she walked into the living room. Her dad was still fixated on the television. “Don’t tell me you’ve been watching that all day?”
He pulled his gaze away from the screen for a moment.
“Oh, hello, darling. Did you have a good ride?”
“Yes, thanks,” she said. It wasn’t really a lie; she’d had two good rides since she’d seen him last. It was just that neither of them were on Gypsy.
He looked down and saw Jocelyn sitting beside Faen. “Who’s this?”
“She is always hanging around the church and she seems to get on with Faen. The vicar said she must be a stray, so I thought I’d bring her home to see if she likes it. You don’t mind, do you?”
He thought about it for a second. “You’re old enough to look after them, Fae, it’s fine with me.”
“Thanks, Dad,” she wandered over to give him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re the best.”
“You only say that because I let you have your own way most of the time,” he said with a smirk.
Faedra ruffled his hair. “Speaking of letting me have my own way. I’ve been invited to a sleep over at Amy’s tonight, you don’t have a problem with that do you?”
“No, of course not, darling, you go and have fun.”
“So has anything changed with the situation?” she asked, looking at the TV with him. “Have they come up with any ideas yet?”
“Nope, not a thing. All the scientists are completely baffled.”
“Hmm,” Faedra responded, “well I’ll leave you to it. I’m going to get ready for tonight.” She walked towards the kitchen. Once there she rummaged in some cupboards for the supplies she would need.
“Okay, I need bottles of water and a bag of sugar,” she talked to herself while grabbing those things, then proceeded to make a load of sandwiches. It was going to be a long night, and all three of them needed to eat.
She ran up to her bedroom and grabbed her sports bag from the closet. After dumping the bag’s contents onto the floor, she ran back down the stairs again. The bag was the perfect size for their supplies.
“One more thing,” she said to Faen and Jocelyn, who were sitting on the kitchen floor watching her industriously assemble the necessities they would need. She walked out of the kitchen and into her father’s office. She scanned the shelves, not there. She opened and closed drawers. “Oh, come on, I know there’s one in here somewhere.” She looked in a couple more drawers. “Yes,” she said as she pulled out a road map of England.
“Okay, I think we’re ready,” she announced to the two dogs as she walked back into the kitchen, shoved the map into her bag and threw the bag over her shoulder. All three wandered back through the dining room and into the living room.
“I’m off now, Dad,” she announced, and planted another kiss on his cheek. “Love you.”
“Love you, too, darling, have fun.”
“I will,” she lied, and the three cohorts hurried out the door and started loading up the car.
They drove for hours and it broke Faedra’s heart to see the dying countryside flashing by them. England was usually so green, and it made her more determined than ever to get the book back, but, up until that point, she hadn’t given a thought as to how they would actually go about that particular task. Bearing in mind that she had even deciphered Kernnunos’ vision correctly in the first place. She prayed that she wasn’t taking them all on a wild goose chase. The book had to be there, it just had to be.
“Faen, have you given any thought to how we are going to retrieve the book from whomever has it? I mean, they must be pretty powerful to have been able to get it in the first place.”
She didn’t like the look he gave her; it was not his usual look of confidence. It smacked of ‘I haven’t thought that far ahead, we’ll just make it up as we go along and hope for the best’.
“I am afraid that until we know what or who we
are dealing with I will not know what course of action to take,” he replied.
“In other words, you don’t have a plan.”
“No,” he agreed. Well, at least he was being honest.
Faedra wished that where they were headed wasn’t so far away. Her mind had a tendency to wander if she drove for any length of time, and right now it had far too much time on its hands, and was working overtime. Worst case scenarios were playing themselves out in her head left, right and center, and none of them had a happy ending for her, or her friends. She hated being a worrywart sometimes.
She sincerely hoped that she wouldn’t have to come face to face with any more redcaps, but considering her history with them so far, she thought it was a bit too much to hope for. At least she knew her powers could knock them out cold. She leaned over, grabbed a bottle, and drank some more sugar water at the thought.
Jocelyn and Faen were eerily silent. She could sense that Faen was trying to figure out some sort of plan, but, as yet, hadn’t come up with anything. As for Jocelyn, Faedra now felt horrible about getting her involved in this. She was such a sweet girl, she couldn’t bear it if she got hurt.
“Jocelyn, maybe you should stay in the car when we get there,” Faedra said, voicing her concern.
“Are you kidding me?” Jocelyn replied. “I have been dying for some action for eons now, there is no way I am missing this.”
“Oh,” Faedra said with surprise. “Well, just thought I would give you the option.”
“Faedra, I am not silent because I am worried. I am silent because I am preparing myself,” Jocelyn explained after she realized why Faedra was giving her an out.
“Some little sister you’ve got there,” she chuckled to Faen.
“Yes, she does have her moments,” he agreed with a proud smile.
The sun was starting to set as Faedra noticed one of the landmarks that Kernunnos had mentioned.
“Look,” she pointed towards a large mound. “Silbury Hill, ‘a hill that is perfectly round’. It is a man-made hill, built about 4600 years ago, and has a perfectly round base. We are getting close.”
They drove a little further and she pointed to something up on a hillside. Faen and Jocelyn peered out of the windows, and followed where she was pointing. “ ‘Giant white horses’. There are eight white chalk horses carved into the hillsides around this area,” she explained.
A little further and the next landmark came into view. “ ‘A spire so high it touches the sky’. Salisbury Cathedral, it has one of the tallest spires in Europe. And just down here a little way we should see it.”
A little while later she saw it loom eerily into view. It was almost dark now, and the full moon was rising behind it. The magical aura this place exuded was not lost on her.
“And there it is, Stonehenge, ‘a circle of stone, surrounded by A’s’. The A303 and the A344, to be precise,” she pointed to the road sign up ahead. “The two roads that run either side of it.”
“Well done, Faedra,” Jocelyn exclaimed. “However did you figure it out?”
“I’ve been here before. Mum brought me when I was little. I remember her telling me how important this place was.” She sighed at the memory.
Stonehenge rose up majestically before them as they drove closer and closer to it. Faedra turned off the road into the car park that was purposely built for tourists. It was empty this late at night. Stonehenge was “Closed”. She laughed at the irony of it. How could a mythical ancient monument, thousands of years old, standing in the middle of a field be “Closed”.
She parked the car and they made their way across the road. Her heart was pounding now. She had no idea what to expect when they actually got to the circle.
“Oh, no,” she exclaimed as they made it across the road. “It’s been fenced off, it wasn’t fenced off when I came here before.”
A tall chain link fence now encircled the ancient monolithic stones, allowing only those who would pay, to see it up close.
“How do we get in now?”
Faen and Jocelyn looked at her incredulously.
“What?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at them.
They each linked an arm around one of hers, lifted themselves and her off the ground, and glided effortlessly over the fence.
“Oh,” she stated as her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
