Between Darkness and the Light

by Paul T. H. Mitchener

  “That is up to the point of the hosting… Now he has no need for physical protection… but he needs you to bring him back… He is now the host of a powerful being, a being that could change him into what it wills… So it’s important for him to remain who he was before the hosting… Otherwise I fear we’ll lose him.” She paused. “My dear… you are his anchor to this world.” After a moment’s silence Bree asked, “Do you think that is why he stood up to the shade and tried to protect me last night?” She was referring to the encounter with Alfwald the night before. “Shade… what of the shade?” Sophia asked, astonished to find out that Alfwald had already spoken with Henry.

  Bree wasn’t surprised by Sophia’s reaction: so much had happened since last night neither she nor Henry had the opportunity to speak with anyone about their encounter.

  “You must tell me everything that happened… everything… leave nothing out.” Hazel, still very weak from the use of the Moonstone, was sitting quietly where she was placed, leaning against a branch on the fallen tree, seemingly not listening to the others’ conversation or even showing any interest in what was being said. She just sat there, staring out into the woods. Bree was still going over the events of their encounter with Alfwald and how Alfwald insisted that Henry join him in his so-called quest, when Hazel said in a barely audible voice, “My son is now the host… isn’t he?” Sophia glanced over to her, knowing that her sister had always been against the hosting. She took a moment before answering her: not having a child herself, she had no idea how it must feel to lose something so precious.

  Sophia finally got up from the moss-covered rock where she was sitting and walked over to her sister and knelt down in front of her, taking Hazel’s hands in hers. “Yes, my dear… but if he were not, he would never have been able to save you from the effects of the Moonstone,” she said softly. “When he found you near to death… it was the only way he could save you.” She paused to see whether or not her sister was taking in anything she had said, but Hazel showed no reaction. She was far too weak to even try to comprehend what was going on around her. “He had to extract the damaging residue of the Moonstone’s magic… His first thoughts were of you… and we now have to get you to safety and give you time to rest up a little,” she continued, hoping that something of what she had been saying had got through.

  “Where is my boy now?” Hazel asked, looking from Sophia and then to Bree. Sophia just shook her head. “We have no idea, my love… but you mustn’t worry too much about him… As from this morning he’s no longer a boy… and judging from his actions and the determination he’s shown, he’s going to be a strong host… I believe stronger even than Alfwald.” She paused again. “My dear sister, Henry has nothing to fear… nothing except…” Sophia stopped short of what she was going to say. She turned to Bree and then back to Hazel. “We must keep moving… we’re in far more danger than he is… especially with you as weak as you are.” With that, Bree helped Hazel to her feet and placed one of her arms around her waist to support her. Sophia was already heading off into the trees, now taking point and using her skills to scan for any signs of danger ahead, with Breeze flying from branch to branch just ahead of them, seemingly doing the same.

  Ben was quietly walking behind Bert and seemed deep in thought. “What’s on ya mind, old friend?” Bert asked, interrupting Ben’s thoughts. Ben looked up. “If that black stick Henry’s carrying is the elf spear, where is the spearhead?” Bert hadn’t noticed: with everything going on, he hadn’t had the time to notice such things. But Ben was right… it was just a shaft he was carrying, black as coal and carved with ancient writing but no spearhead. Looking back down at the dog, Bert shrugged his shoulders. He had no idea that it was even missing or for how long, but he knew enough to recognise that it was far too important to let pass. The shaft was of no real use without its head. He had never been told of its disappearance, but one obvious thought was that the previous bearer of the spear had it … and if he did… well, Bert didn’t want to even think about what that could mean.

  Henry hadn’t spoken much since they left the High-stones and was setting a steady pace ahead of the others, a pace that even Bert and Ben found hard to keep up with. Ben stopped, suddenly realising that someone was missing. “Where’s Walt?” They all knew that he would never be able to keep up with them, but he seemed to have fallen back completely. “We’ll wait here a while… hopefully he’ll catch up,” Henry demanded whilst placing the black staff against a tree. He glanced down at his hands, noticing that his palms were already starting to go black. He rubbed them together, trying to rub off the stain and stated with a dangerous grin on his face, “The Aelfgar is already trying to have an effect on me… See?” he said casually, showing the palms of his hands to Bert. With that, he sat down.

  They were both taken aback by how easily Henry brushed off the matter. “What’s happened to the spearhead?” Ben asked. Henry took hold of the staff again and ran his fingers up and down the carvings. “I have no idea,” Henry replied, “but you can be sure that Alfwald hasn’t got it.” He paused, still caressing the shaft. The other two sat down and waited for Henry to finish. They also had noticed the change in him: he was far more confident and self-assured. Over just a few hours he had turned from a boy to a man. “Centuries ago,” he continued, showing no signs of emotion, “my mother had to use it to take his life.” He paused. “You are both aware… it’s the only weapon that could have harmed him as host master… But what happened to it after that… well… that’s anyone’s guess.”

  Henry then laid the black shaft on the ground beside him and looked out into the woodland, sighed, and lay back against a tree to rest. But Bert wasn’t about to let such an important issue go unfinished. “You know this because ya know the Wyvern’s mind… Is that right?” Bert said abruptly. Henry looked over to him. “Correct,” Henry replied, unperturbed. “I have the Wyvern’s mind… and still fighting to come to terms with it.” He then went quiet for a second, trying to find the right words. “I’m fighting to keep this thing inside me, Bert… My whole body screams for me to let it go… but I know I can’t… There’s a lot expected of me as the host… and the responsibility frightens me almost as much as the Wyvern itself.” Although Bert understood some of what Henry was going through, he still wasn’t going to mollycoddle him. The boy needed to harden up and learn to stand on his own two feet. Besides, the missing spearhead was far too important a matter to overlook. No matter how bad Henry felt, it needed addressing now!

  “What do ya intend on doing bout getting it back?” Bert said, this time in a more civil tone. “Nothing,” Henry replied, meeting Bert’s glare. “You are.” Bert was somewhat taken back by Henry’s abrupt manner. He wasn’t one for taking orders, especially from a mere boy, but the fact remained, the spearhead was missing and it would make sense for Henry to expect him to recover it… He was a guardian after all, and one with considerable skills… But that didn’t mean that he was a match for the Alfwald’s shade or any other creature that may hold the spearhead. “And how do ya expect me to do that?” he said after a little thought. “I would like both you and Ben to recover the Aelfgar spearhead… I wouldn’t ask you to face up to Alfwald or any of his followers… but I know for sure that the shade doesn’t carry it… it only carries the sword. So, it must be somewhere else… somewhere out of reach to most… But with Ben’s nose and your skills I’m sure that both of you are more than up to the task.” He paused. “I can trust no one else.”

  Neither Ben nor Bert said anything at first. Then Ben decided that he had been quiet too long. “So what makes you so sure that Alfwald’s shade doesn’t have it…? And how do you know he carries only a sword?” he growled. “Because Ben… my friend,” Henry replied calmly. “I’ve met him and I can assure you that he doesn’t hold the spearhead.” Both guardians looked absolutely mindstruck. “You’ve met him…? When?” Ben just managed to reply, “Last night it came to me and wanted me to join it.” Henry paused as he remembered the n
ight before. “It hurt Bree,” he said, gritting his teeth. “Something it’s going to regret.”

  Henry’s face was red with rage and his eyes glowed yellow as he recalled what Alfwald had done to Bree. Both Bert and Ben knew not to push him any further, so they decided to sit quietly and wait for Walt to catch up. However, Ben, being Ben, couldn’t keep quiet for long and whispered to Bert, still referring to the recovery of the spearhead, “Do you think we’re up to it?” Bert didn’t reply straightaway and shifted uncomfortably. “If he thinks we are, then we are…Who’re we to disagree…? Some silly bugger has to do it… Besides, who else can e trust?” Ben just sighed, turned around a couple of times and then made himself comfortable.

  It was dusk when Walt finally stumbled across his three travelling companions. Bert was sitting on a moss-covered rock with his eyes shut, and Ben was lying down beside him, whilst Henry was standing leaning against a large tree looking out in the opposite direction. None of them spoke or even bothered to acknowledge that he was there. He stumbled over to a tree near to where Bert was sitting and slumped to the floor. Leaning back against its trunk and taking a deep breath, he pulled out his filthy hanky and wiped the sweat from his face and then around his neck. He looked at Bert first and then at Henry, as if he were trying to assess them. “What are you staring at?” Bert said abruptly, without opening his eyes, making Walt jump. “Don’t ya be getting any of those ideas now, Walter… Ya know I’ll swish ya like bug,” he continued playfully. “Where ya been anyways?”

  Walt cleared his throat. “I haven’t the speed or energy you three possess,” he said, feeling a little indignant. “Besides, I fell over a root and hurt myself… Not that any of you care,” he continued, now sounding a little hurt. “You been up to no good, more than likely,” Bert mumbled. Walt sat up a bit. “Why is it that you always think the worst of me all the time…? I can be trusted, you know,” he said, again sounding even more indignant. “Why do you find it so hard to believe that?” Bert chuckled. “Ya forget, Walt, we knows ya… and only too well… and as for being trustful and honest… Well, it’s not in ya nature now, is it?” Bert opened his eyes and stared directly at Walt, making him feel uncomfortable. “Our Henry ere finks ya up to something and if he’s right… and mind ya, the host master always is… ya gonna be in for a bad time… Not from me or Ben ere… but from him.”

  Bert let his last statement hang in the air a while and then continued in a more menacing tone. “Does ya fink ya up to facing the host master then, Walter…? Well, does ya?” Walt didn’t answer. Instead he went white with the thought of facing Henry, but if he didn’t follow Alfwald’s instructions, he shuddered at the thought of the shade. He’d been in difficult situations before, but nothing like this: he was between a rock and a hard place, and knew only too well that his life was at stake no matter which way he turned. “How on earth did I get myself into this mess?” he thought to himself.

  Sophia stopped just short of the clearing where the old yew stood, seemingly in no hurry to go any further. Bree came up behind her, still half-supporting Hazel. Sophia held up her hand in warning for them both to stop and be quiet. Bree scanned the area for any danger, but couldn’t sense anything unusual. Moments went by, then Sophia motioned to Bree to stay where she was whilst she went on ahead. Walking slowly, Sophia scanned every inch of her surroundings.

  There was something not quite right. Her protective dome had gone but other than that she couldn’t put her finger on it. Something in the air, a taste of evil…Then suddenly she saw a movement from the corner of her eye. A large, dark figure lunged towards her, all teeth and claws, but she was far too quick for it. Hair now aflame, she threw a blue, flaming ball from her hands, hitting it directly in the head. The creature screamed and fell backwards, then another attacked from a different direction. This time, Sophia was fully prepared and threw a much more powerful flaming ball at it. It barely screamed before it burst into flames and then exploded into tiny fragments. She turned to face the first attacker but, instead of following up with its attack on her, it was now heading towards Bree and Hazel.

  Bree had already placed herself between the attacker and Hazel and was in a defensive stance waiting for the impact of the creature, but Sophia launched two blue fireballs, one from each hand, hitting the terrifying creature in the back. It arced backwards and it, too, exploded into hundreds of tiny fragments. Bree and Hazel ducked to avoid being covered in blackened, burnt bits of skin and bone, but they were unsuccessful.

  “I believe a welcome from Alfwald,” Sophia said to no one in particular. “Let’s get you both inside… We are all in need of rest and something hot… and I’m sure you need to wash up,” she said with a smile. And with that, she turned and headed to the door to her home as if nothing had happened. Bree stood a second, bewildered by the matter-of-fact way Sophia had brushed off the two attackers. She had just dispersed two terrifying creatures in a matter of seconds, and the next moment she was concerned about making tea and cleaning up! Sophia approached the door to her home, paused and then ran her hands over the lock and hinges. A click sounded from the old lock and the door opened. Sophia said without looking back, “Just a precaution.” Hazel followed, aided by Bree. She had never been inside Sophia’s home: in fact, until yesterday she had never met her, but Bree knew plenty about her and what she was capable of.

  “Sit my sister there!” Sophia demanded, pointing to the only armchair. “I’ll light a fire and then we’ll get my sister washed and into bed before I prepare any food.” Bree did as she was told and sat Hazel gently in the old, soft armchair, took the old multicoloured knitted blanket lying over the back of the chair, unfolded it and placed it around Hazel’s shoulders, and gently laid her head back to rest. In the meantime, Sophia was busy placing timber and logs neatly in the hearth of her old fireplace. She clicked her fingers and sparked the fire into life. Turning to Bree, she said, “Let’s get my sister washed and settled,” and with that they both helped Hazel to her feet and walked her to the bedroom.

  Later that night found Hazel washed and changed into clean clothes, and after something hot to eat, she settled down in Sophia’s bed to sleep. They, too had washed and changed and now sat in front of a blazing fire tucking into hot soup and bread. Neither of them said much, both exhausted by the events of the last few days and both in their own thoughts. Bree’s were mainly of Henry, whilst Sophia’s were broader and of more complexes issues. Henry was out there, somewhere, with the prospect of having to face Alfwald and his followers. Worse still, he would have to face up to the shadow master itself, but she knew that he needed time, time to come to terms with his transformation and time to master the immense powers that he now possessed. She couldn’t help but feel concerned for him. He had little or no support from anybody. True, Bert and Ben were able guardians, but what Henry needed was guidance by someone who had experience in the use of real magic.

  After Sophia had redeployed another but more powerful protective barrier around the clearing to her home, they all settled down for the night, Sophia on the chair, and Bree on the floor in front of the fire. With so much going on they had all expected to have a restless night. However, they must have been a lot more tired than they realised, because once they closed their eyes, they were both asleep in minutes. Unfortunately, they were only asleep an hour or two before Sophia opened her eyes sharply. She had sensed something or someone just outside the barrier. She sat up gingerly, and looked over to Bree who by now was also awake. Sophia motioned to Bree to stay put and looked in the direction of the bedroom as if to say, “Watch over Hazel.” Bree understood what she meant and with a concerned look on her face nodded.

  Sophia got up and walked over to the table where she had placed her travelling bag and pulled out the same stone she had used earlier that day to transport herself to the High-stones. She had no intention of just walking out of her front door not knowing what may be lying out there ready to confront her. She held the stone in her hands and started to shimmer ge
ntly, not wanting to disrupt her home. Sophia tried not to generate too much air movement, but Bree still had to shield her face from the wind which knocked over a few items and made the fire roar in response to her magic and increased air movement. When the wind settled, Bree looked up to find that Sophia was no longer in the room. The only evidence that she was even there was the dust that she had disturbed reflected in the light of a small lamp.

  Lurking just outside the safety barrier, a figure paced from side to side as if trying to decide what to do next, then suddenly a shimmering form materialised in front of the intruder. He stood backed up and watched as Sophia took her full form. “Elsern… my brother… What on earth are you doing out here at this hour?” Sophia said when she saw her brother standing in front of her, looking rather cold and lost. Henry senior looked as though he was in his mid-forties, with short, black hair and a short-cut, goatee beard. He still had a young face, even though he was the oldest of the three, and was dressed in a heavy, black leather coat that reached his ankles with a large collar pulled up around his neck to help protect him from the chilly night air. He also wore a large, black-brimmed hat and had the same bright green eyes as his sisters’, but with much more a sinister look about them.

  “Sister,” he said in a warm, welcoming tone. “It’s good to see that you’ve not lost your touch…” Referring to her method of transport, he said, “I believe there’s been some developments, and that you might be in need of a little help,” he continued in the same cheerful manner. Sophia didn’t answer him straightaway; instead, she took a little time to measure her brother up. She had never trusted him or even liked the man. He had chosen to live the life of humans long ago, and by using his skills made a success of himself and all his businesses. He was everything she hated about the world, but he was her brother nevertheless and would see no harm come to him. “Well, are you going to just stand there… or are you going to let me past this thing?” he said, looking at the barrier.