The Power of Seven

by Peter R. Ellis

  “Perhaps I can help and throw a shield over the village like I have over Mwyngloddiau.”

  “We have heard of that great application of the power of Iau and Sadwrn,” Berddig said, “but does it not require the energy of the cludyddau to maintain it?”

  “Hmm, yes. Ilar and Cynwal are holding it in place, but couldn’t you and Padarn do the same here?”

  Berddig looked miserable, “I fear that Padarn is no longer strong enough to sustain the effort such a structure would demand. I can support him, but I am not sure it would be enough.”

  “We could try.”

  “Yes, Cludydd, but there is another matter. The shield will attract the Malevolence.”

  “That’s happened at the mine, yes.”

  “But here we need to get out into the fields to grow our crops, sail on the river and lake to fish and move among the trees of the forest to collect wood and nuts. The shield would have to be huge to protect all our people while they carry out their tasks.”

  September could see Berddig’s point. Was her power sufficient to protect all the people? She didn’t feel confident that it was.

  “We can defend ourselves,” Iorwerth said defiantly, “and call on you only when it is necessary.” The others nodded and called out their agreement.

  “I am sorry,” September said.

  “What for?” Arianwen asked.

  “For not being able to do more.”

  “You are doing what you can and you will be victorious at the Conjunction,” Eluned said, drawing another chorus of agreement.

  Once again September did not feel as confident in her abilities as the people of Gwlad felt. Their faith in her embarrassed her.

  “I must go,” she said.

  “May the Cemegwr be at your side,” Iorwerth said. September turned to him.

  “You believe in the Cemegwr?”

  Iorwerth shrugged, “It’s just a saying.”

  “Aurddolen says they don’t exist, they’re just tales.”

  “The Mordeyrn is correct,” Arianwen said.

  “We don’t know,” Berddig said, “We have seen nothing that suggests they are part of this world but the stories persist and some people look to them for support as much as they look to you to defeat the Malevolence.”

  “Put the Cemegwr out of your mind,” Arianwen insisted, “Now you must leave us and go to help others in need.”

  “Please come and visit us again, when there are no manifestations about,” Eluned said.

  September was already holding the Maengolauseren to the sky, “I will,” she called as the golden light surrounded her.

  12

  She was back amongst the dark buildings of Mwyngloddiau Dwfn. Winter had come to the mountains. It was late morning but the Sun was below the rooftops and the alleyways were in dark shadows. The Mordeyrn was standing alone.

  “Welcome, Cludydd,” Aurddolen said warmly, “Thank you for responding. I hope we haven’t interrupted you.”

  “I was at Amaethaderyn. They’d been attacked by Adarllwchgwin.”

  “Ah, how I wish I had been with you. How are they there?”

  “OK. Well, they’re coping. They all look tired and Padarn is exhausted. They have managed to defend the village so far but like everywhere it’s getting more and more difficult.”

  “I know, but let us hope that normal life can resume in a short while.”

  September was not quite sure what normal was for her. What would it be like to go home after all her experiences in the Land?

  “Yes, but there’s the Conjunction to face first. What have you called me for? You are not under attack. The shield hasn’t been broken?”

  “No, but the people are starving. The time has come to try to get supplies through. We need your help to guard the convoy on its journey from the forest.”

  “How long will it take?”

  “It is three days travel from the village.”

  “Three days. That is a long time for me to leave the rest of the Land on its own.”

  “I know, Cludydd, but without these supplies, Mwyngloddiau Dwfn will not survive and we will not be prepared for the Conjunction.”

  “I understand. What do you want me to do?”

  “Thank you, Cludydd. Cynhaearn and a body of his best warriors are already there and about to set off but they will need your assistance I am sure. When the caravan arrives I will also be ready to cast my symbol of aur.”

  “I’d like to see that.”

  “You will. Now I will show you where you have to go.”

  September probed the Mordeyrn’s mind. She saw the location he had visualised – a village in the forest on the foothills of the mountains. She raised the starstone.

  “Three days,” she said, “I’ll be back with your supplies.”

  When the dazzling light cleared she was under the canopy of tall trees. All around her between the trunks were laden horses and their handlers. Striding towards her was Cynhaearn, sword at his side and carrying a circular iron shield on his back.

  “Cludydd! Welcome. We are just about ready to set off at last. You can’t know how difficult it has been to prepare all the people as well as all the horses. I wish Ilar was here to do the organising; she’s a lot better at it than me. I suppose that’s what being a cludydd o alcam is all about.”

  September smiled at Cynhaearn’s rambling; he was as worked up as it was possible to be.

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Just being with us will encourage everyone.”

  “You know my presence will probably attract the Malevolence.”

  “We are going to face manifestations in any case. With your protection we might actually get most, if not all, of these supplies to Mwyngloddiau.”

  “Right, well let’s make a start.”

  Cynhaearn strode off shouting instructions and slowly, one by one, the horses began to move in the same direction between the trees. September transformed into her panther and ran amongst them. The horses were not frightened by her but seemed to recognise her as a guardian. The handlers and guards were initially shocked by her appearance among them but when they realised that the Cludydd o Maengolauseren was travelling with them, their spirits were lifted and they cheered whenever they saw her.

  Gradually the convoy converged into a single file following a trail through the forest. Each handler led up to five horses heavily laden with sacks and packages. At the head of the convoy was a group of warriors. September recognised some as being miners from their dark skin and short stocky build. Others were taller, fair fighters from the forest settlements. A young cludydd o haearn led them, his bright sword drawn and pointing the way. More of the guards walked beside the caravan on the lookout for attacks from manifestations and another cludydd commanded a group that brought up the rear. Cynhaearn seemed to want to be everywhere at once, running to catch up the lead group, hurrying back to check on the rearguard. September, too, loped up and down the long line of packhorses expecting to feel the imminent arrival of the Malevolence in her birthmark at any time. She did not have to wait long.

  The caravan was still plodding through the forest, climbing slowly, when her hip began to itch. What were the manifestations? Where would they make their attack? September was at the head of the procession when her keen hearing picked up a cry of alarm from behind. She raced to where the call had come from, the pain in her side growing stronger as she went. Then she saw them – a pack of flaming Cwn annwn amongst the trees howling and baying as they bounded towards the party.

  She skidded to a halt and without transforming raised her front left paw. Violet light engulfed the pack dousing their fire, but as one group were defeated another cry went up further along the line. September leapt to meet them again dissipating the fiery dogs before they could harm the horses or their guardians. And so it went on throughout the afternoon, September leaping from one point to another to face one pack of burning hounds after another. Those few that escaped her violet beam were cut down by the w
arriors with their iron swords forged in the furnaces of Mwyngloddiau Dwfn. The horses plodded on, calmed by their handlers, but September was sure that their progress must have been slowed.

  At nightfall Cynhaearn called the convoy to form into a cluster to make camp. They were still under the cover of the trees but September cast a shield over them all to give them peace overnight. She joined the guards to watch throughout the night and saw the flickering flames of dogs prowling around the edge of the dome.

  In the morning, September cleared the vicinity of the camp of manifestations before dissolving the shield. The caravan slowly got under way and September stood guard counting the horses that passed her. There were over two hundred heavily laden beasts. From what she had seen of the way of life of people across the Land this must have been one of the biggest and most complex expeditions they had ever organised. No wonder that Cynhaearn was in a constant state of tension. September worried that he would exhaust himself long before they reached the mining town.

  They continued to be harried by Cwn annwn and when they emerged above the tree line onto the grass covered slopes of the Mynydd Tywyll, squadrons of Adarllwchgwin descended from the sky. September dealt with them with little inconvenience to the plodding train of horses.

  They crossed a ridge and joined the valley which the town stood at the head of. Llamhigwyn y dwr, the flying frog-like creatures, rose from the fast-flowing river; later a Draig tân roared across the sky. September dealt with all the manifestations, returning them to their inanimate elements and dispatching the spirits. Cynhaearn’s warriors were grateful that they only had the occasional creature to deal with and their weapons, imbued with the power of Mars, were a match for them all. Patches of ice and snow appeared on the rocks and grass and icy rain fell on them.

  After a cold night in the valley, the journey went on, climbing now into the rugged mountains. Now they walked through snow and ice; when the clouds covered the sky, heavy snow fell on the heads of man and beast. Ceffyl dwr rearing up from a mountain lake, and a Pwca in the form of a mountain bear, joined the hordes of Adarllwchgwin and Cwn annwn that attempted to break up the convoy, with no success against September’s all-powerful beams of light.

  Higher in the mountains where the track zig-zagged up the steep valley side, Coblynau emerged from newly gouged tunnels, Tylwyth teg skittered amongst the rocks spitting acid and Gwyllian staggered towards them reaching out with their knobbly claw-like hands. September gave Cynhaearn’s men the chance to demonstrate their skill. They scythed through their enemies but September made sure that none of the manifestations caused any harm to the horses or their baggage.

  On the final stage of the journey they tramped through thick snow, a blizzard in their faces. They were almost caught out by a Cyhyraeth, its moans lost in the howling wind, but the itch in September’s side gave warning of the attack and she blew the wraith away before it could bring its pestilence to the trudging band.

  During a brief respite in the storm, September transformed into the eagle and circled high above the convoy. She could see the dome covering the mining town just a couple of hours march away together with its ring of besieging manifestations. She flew down to the caravan and joined Cynhaearn.

  “It’s not far now,” she said.

  “Yes, I know, but it will be dark before we reach the town.”

  “And I will have to drive off the Malevolence before we pass through the shield.”

  “Are there many servants of evil there?”

  “Yes, and more will probably come as we get closer.”

  “I’ll tell the handlers to get the horses to bunch together. There is no need to be strung out in a line.”

  “You’ll have to watch the back of the caravan while I deal with the manifestations ahead of us.”

  “I’ll put my warriors in a circle around the horses. That should safeguard them.”

  The plans were carried out, all the while with harrying by packs of Cwn annwn and swarms of Adarllwchgwin attacking from all sides and above. September, in the form of the eagle, swooped around the caravan radiating violet light while Cynhaearn’s guards fought tirelessly.

  Once the horses were circled by a defensive ring, September diverted her attention to the hordes of manifestations besieging the town. She changed back to her normal form and stood on the snow-covered slope a little way from the dome. The blizzard had stopped and the clouds cleared away revealing the star-filled sky. The snow-covered ground seemed aglow with its own radiance, illuminating the domed town and its besiegers.

  September raised her hand holding the starstone, closed her eyes and imagined every one of the evil spirits blown away. A great cone of light erupted from the starstone expanding to engulf every entity that was outside the shield. The manifestations were destroyed at once with explosions, fireballs, dust devils and deluges. The way was clear.

  She waved the convoy on and ponderously it began the final trek to the safety of the town. September became an eagle again and circled overhead supporting the guards in defeating the remaining attackers.

  The horses were led through the grey curtain and into the narrow alleyways of the town lined with cheering townspeople. Cynhaearn and his warriors stood guard until the very last packhorse was safe and then they too passed through the shield. September saw yet more manifestations amassing to renew their siege, but they were too late. The convoy was safe. She entered the town to find Aurddolen striding towards her.

  “Well done. You did it with no losses,” Aurddolen congratulated her.

  “Not here, no, but my head has been full of appeals for help elsewhere in the Land all the time. I have no idea how many have died while we were travelling here.”

  “You can’t be everywhere, Cludydd, and you can’t take responsibility for every attack by the Malevolence.”

  “Perhaps not, but the calls are in my head and it feels as if it’s my fault if I don’t try to help.”

  “I understand and I know you’ll want to go and do what you can, but please come with me now as I cast my new symbol of power.”

  The pull of the appeals was strong in September’s head but she heeded the Mordeyrn’s request and followed him through the town towards the mines and workshops. She felt a question burning in her.

  “I didn’t read all of Heulyn’s account of the last Conjunction, but was it as bad as this one?”

  “Ah, that is a difficult question to answer. Heulyn recorded reports from across Gwlad and there were many attacks by manifestations, a great deal of destruction and many good spirits were turned to evil and lost above the stars. I do think however that the attacks this time have reached a higher level of intensity sooner.”

  “Is that because of Malice?”

  “I don’t think so. She may be directing them but my feeling is that the Malevolence is stronger.”

  “Why?”

  “I do not know what gives the Malevolence its power but the records of earlier conjunctions, patchy though they are, suggest that the evil is growing stronger at each event.”

  “You told me once that there have been five or six conjunctions before. Is that right?”

  “It is a guess. There are few records of earlier conjunctions. The populations were so reduced that contact was lost between settlements. Surviving was the priority. It took many years to re-establish contact and trade across the Land. It was Heulyn’s great gift of foresight that preserved so much knowledge into this cycle.”

  “So is this the sixth or seventh conjunction?”

  “Legends tell that Daear was formed during a Cysylltiad, when the good of the universe coalesced to form the land, the seas, the air and the fire at the heart of Daear. The Malevolence attempted to destroy the good but was driven off by the first Cludydd o Maengolauseren. If that is true and there have been five further conjunctions since then this is indeed the seventh.”

  Aurddolen had confirmed September’s suspicions.

  “Doesn’t that tell you something?” she said.

&
nbsp; “What do you mean?”

  “The number seven. Is it a coincidence that there are seven planets, seven metals, seven this and seven that. Seven is a magic number here. Doesn’t that make the seventh conjunction something special?”

  The Mordeyrn was thoughtful as they tramped up the dark, cold lane. Finally he spoke.

  “I have been extraordinarily blind,” he said, “I am not worthy to be a successor to Heulyn. Of course. Seven is the number of power. Not only is the seventh conjunction a special event but you, as the seventh Cludydd, must surely be endowed with extraordinary powers. Thank you, September, you have restored my hope.” He increased the length of his stride, his back straightened a little and he held his head up a little more.

  “I shall create my new symbol with renewed faith in the strength of Haul.”

  September, however, was worried. Did being the seventh bearer of the starstone automatically make her the greatest? There was a nagging doubt in her mind that the existence of her twin was still important.

  They had reached the tall stone workshops of the miners. Aurddolen pulled open a huge wooden door and such a blast of heat came out that the ice and snow lying on the ground outside the building immediately melted.

  The workshop was a place of fire and noise. While the outside was dark, inside flames roared underneath huge furnaces illuminating the machines of iron and copper that clanked and rattled. The fires and the machines were tended by the dark squat people of the mountains. There were many of them throughout the building. Heulfryn, the young cludydd o aur, ran towards them.

  “The aur is prepared, Mordeyrn. It awaits your command,” he said.

  “I am ready,” Aurddolen said. He strode to a waist high hearth covered in glowing coals and threw off his long, heavy gown. He stood naked except for a cloth wound around his waist and groin. “Bring me the aur.”

  Heulfryn ran to one of the furnaces and began pulling on a chain made of links two centimetres thick. September watched as a large crucible lifted off the furnace and travelled through the air to halt above the hearth where Aurddolen stood. The crucible itself glowed red hot and vapours rose from it.