Between Darkness and the Light

by Paul T. H. Mitchener

  Again, Sophia didn’t respond, still trying to size him up. “What on earth is he doing here… and why now?” she thought. After a few moments she finally said, “You don’t need me, brother… you should be able to walk right through my shield… So why didn’t you just come up and knock on my door… like most civilised people?” Henry gave a wicked smile. “You know me, sis… I hate all magic and prefer not to be part of it anymore,” he replied. “Yet you use your magic to make yourself riches,” Sophia said in a low, sarcastic tone. Both stared at one another not wanting to be the first to look away, and then Elsern (Henry senior) smiled. “Come, sister… I’m not here to fight… I’m here to see if I could help in any way… Hopefully I still have some skills.” He paused. “Where’s Hazel?” he said while looking behind her at the large yew.

  Without answering, Sophia waved her hand, making an arched portal for them both to walk through. Henry stood to one side and motioned to Sophia to go through first. “Ladies first,” he said with a smile. Sophia gave him a glare before taking up his offer. Still smiling, Henry senior gave a mock bow but his face changed from a smile to something more sinister as he followed after her. Usually he found that he could get more out of people by hiding behind his mock smiles and false pleasantries; however, he was fully aware that Sophia could see right through him and if he didn’t want to get on the wrong side of her, he would have to step carefully.

  Once Sophia reached her door she called out before opening it, so as not to alarm Bree. “It’s my brother,” she said in a manner that made it all too clear that she wasn’t happy about it. Bree walked over to the door just as Sophia opened it. “It’s just… my brother,” she repeated. “Just… just your brother,” Henry senior said, trying to sound hurt, “and who’s this charming little thing?” he said when setting eyes on Bree. “Bree, sir… my name is Bree,” she replied, a little taken back by his bluntness.

  “Well, Bree, I can see you have a nice fire going… so is there any chance of a nice hot drink?” he said whilst unbuttoning his coat. “It’s a cold night and I’m too used to my home comforts and find the outdoors a little too… too outdoorsy for my liking, so a nice cupper would go down a treat.” Bree glanced over to Sophia who nodded. With that, Bree went about making a fresh pot of tea, not too happy about being treated as if she were the servant, but she didn’t wish to rock the boat. She could sense that things were not right between the two and had no intention of getting in the middle of them.

  The following morning found Henry and his travelling companions resting up in a small but sheltered clearing. Having set off before light, they were all in need of food and drink; however, there was nothing for them other than water, and at this time of year there were no berries or fruit to gather. “We need to eat,” Walt mumbled. “Well, Walt, what does ya suggest we eat…? Besides, ya got enough fat on ya to keep ya going for a week or two at least.” Walt didn’t respond, but just slumped down on the ground with a sulk. He was always a sorrowful sight at the best of times, but to look at him now was nothing short of pitiful. His sweaty head and face were covered in dirt, and his clothes were torn and soiled by a mixture of his own sweat and mud. “When are we ever going to reach wherever it is we’re going?” he mumbled. “By nightfall,” Henry said whilst looking out in the direction they have been travelling.

  Bert and Ben knew where they were at all times. Having lived there all their lives, they knew the woodland like the back of their hands, However, poor old Walt didn’t… He was familiar with a large part of the woodland but here, he had no idea where he was. “I’m so hungry even Walt’s ankle looks tasty,” Ben growled. “Walt’s right… we’re no good like this…We need to find food and to rest up properly,” Henry stated. “Bert, do you have any ideas?” Bert nodded and got up on his feet again. “This way… but it’ll take us out of our way,” he said whilst heading in a different direction. “We have little choice,” Henry said as he and Ben followed, leaving poor old Walt struggling to get back up. He was worried about being left behind but the thoughts of food gave him new determination… Well, just enough to follow on.

  They had walked an hour or so before Bert came to a halt standing in front of a large wall of angry-looking trees, covered in large thorns and twisted and knotted together so closely that even Ben wouldn’t be able to get through. “Be careful not to touch them, mind,” Bert said in warning to the others. “These thorns ain’t like any other ya might come across… These things will kill ya within hours… Stand here a bit and I’ll see us through.”

  With that, Bert walked over to the trees and knelt down at the base of a tree roots. Pushing his strong hands deep into the soil, he grabbed a root and pulled it out of the ground, making sure that he didn’t break it away from the tree, he then reached over to the next tree and did the same. Walt stumbled up behind them, puffing like an old steam train. “What’s happening?” he managed to gasp. The others didn’t respond, intent on watching Bert. He had managed to pull out two very long roots and then pulled them together until they touched. As they did, the roots wrenched themselves from Bert’s hands and the two ends joined by twisting around one another, forming a shape.

  “An arch,” Henry said to nobody in particular. The roots and trees continued to reshape themselves until they had formed a complete arch just large enough for a person to walk under. “Right, then, let’s get going… this entrance will only last a few minutes.” As he led the way through, Henry glanced back at Walt, shrugged his shoulders, and then turned to follow Bert through the opening. Walt followed with Ben at the rear. No sooner had they passed through the opening than it started to close behind them. Walt started to panic and picked up his pace, trying to catch up with the others. They must have walked a hundred yards or more before they found themselves in the clear and standing on the edge of a very large, sun-soaked, grassy meadow. There were colourful flowers and insects of all shapes and sizes as far the eye could see, with the sweetest of smells in the air – gone the rain and wet, leafless trees. This place was a total contrast to the early winter woodland they had just left behind.

  “We’ve just taken a portal into another dimension,” Bert stated. “The realm of the elves.” He allowed a little time for the statement to sink in before he continued. “We’ll not be that welcome ere… Don’t like or trust humans, but they will let us rest up a while… Oh… time here doesn’t move in the same way as it does at home… A day ere is like a minute back home so we ave all the time in the world to rest up without worrying about being away from home too long.” With that, Bert started off to follow one of the many pathways cutting through the meadow heading towards a large, white, partly grass-covered hill in the distance. They all followed him without question.

  But it wasn’t long before they were intercepted by a small group of five armed elves, appearing from out of nowhere and without warning. They were all dressed in dark green tunics, a heavy leather belt at the waist bearing a dagger and a short sword, and brown leggings. Embossed on the front of the tunics they wore a large yellow emblem of two crossed weapons: one a spear, the other a sword. “Border Control,” Bert stated. “Part of the royal guards… Ya don’t want to cross these guys… especially on a bad day.”

  One of the guards approached them, leaving the other four flanking the path. He was slightly taller and older than the others, with a slightly pointy, weather-beaten but friendly face. It would have been obvious to anyone that he was a battle-hardened soldier and had an air of authority about him. “Bert,” he said with a confused look on his face, stopping just short of him. “What brings you here?” he continued whilst looking past Bert to the other three behind him. “And who are your friends?” Ben moved forward to stand next to Bert. “Do you always welcome your guests in such a manner?” he growled. “Ah… and you brought the unpleasant hound with you, too,” the guard said with a wicked smile, looking down at Ben. “You are both welcome… but I’m not sure about the humans.” Henry stayed back, trying to conceal the elf spear behi
nd him. He knew that the Aelfgar wouldn’t be welcomed among the elves and was unsure how they would react if they knew he was the host master. It was best he stayed back, said nothing and let Bert deal with them. It looked as if he knew them and was not seen as a threat; if they thought otherwise, well, Henry was sure that he and the others wouldn’t still be alive.

  Bert turned to face Henry and Walt. “This is Mylon… he’s the Border Guard Commander… Allow me to speak with him a moment.” With that, Bert turned to the guard and motioned to him to one side to speak. Bert towered over Mylon who stood a little less than five feet tall but seemed to have no issue with standing up against someone almost twice his size. Deep in conversation with Bert, Mylon casually look over to Henry with a concerned look on his face from time to time. Bert nodded to something in agreement and then walked over to them while Mylon motioned to his men to stand down. “I’ve told them everything but I’ve left out the bit bout Alfwald being ya dad and you being the host master…That sort of thing wouldn’t be helpful or safe in a place that hates ya father and fears the Wyvern.” Henry nodded in agreement. It would be prudent to play safe until they know what reception they would get from the elven elders.

  He looked over to poor Walt who at this stage was on the brink of collapse. “Are we able to stay and rest?” he asked. “Oh yes… we’re welcome… but the spear has to be stored in some place safe and out of harm’s way… We’ll be shown the way to the outside perimeter of the city. From there you will be taken to somewhere safe to store the spear until we leave.” Henry was about to question whether the elves would allow him to retrieve the spear once they had it safely locked away, knowing how much they feared it. But he felt that he was in their land, and if he wanted to stay and rest up he would have to abide by their rules. Besides, he knew that he possessed more than enough power to get it back should the need arise.

  On the command of Mylon, they all set off in the direction of the large hill, Mylon lead, flanked by two of his men. Bert, Walt, Ben and Henry followed with the two remaining Border Guards, Onaxe and Sung, who were both very jolly men, and always joking between themselves, sometimes pushing and shoving in jest; but Henry still had the unnerving feeling that they were being escorted under guard, rather than being shown the way.

  The journey was easy and the terrain flat, due to the fact that most of the journey was on well-trodden pathways. It was an easy and enjoyable walk, which only took them a few hours before they reached the city perimeter, and the time went by quickly, even though none of the elves spoke to them the entire journey, Walt, as always, looked to be on the brink of collapse. Henry, however, was more interested in the large, chalky, grass-covered hill and became more fascinated by it the closer he got. At first it looked to be just any old hill, but once he got closer and could make out more of its detail, he realised how amazing the place really was. The large chalk mound was the perimeter of the city. Its steep face was well over thirty feet high and ran as far as the eye could see in each direction. It didn’t look like any natural or manmade structure he had ever seen. In fact, it seemed to be almost impossible to believe that anyone could build such a structure, including the elves, but build it they did!

  He glanced up and down the mound but could see no obvious way past it. “Impressive, isn’t it?” Mylon said as if he was reading Henry’s mind. “It’s incredible… how on earth…?” Henry was about to say when Mylon interrupted him. “How on earth did we build it? Well… we didn’t… not really… We are as one with this earth and as such know what each other needs to live and survive as one…We needed protection and the earth around us knew it… So, with our connection with the earth… and of course the knowledge and magical skill of our elders, the perimeter was created… partly by us, but mainly a gift to us from nature… Only elves may pass, because only elves helped create it… Oh… Before you are allowed to go any further we must find a safe place to store the Aelfgar… And a word of advice… Don’t mention it unless the elders bring it up.” Henry nodded. “This way, then.” Henry turned to follow Mylon flanked by two Border Guards, and on the command of Mylon the other two elf guards took Walt and the others in a different direction towards the city.

  “And where’s my other little sister?” Henry senior mumbled, slumping down in the chair after taking a sip from the tea that Bree had made him. “She’s not good… she’s in my bed at present hopefully recovering,” Sophia replied. Henry senior sat back up and placed his cup on the arm of the chair. “Recovering from what…? What’s she been up to now…? Is she okay?”

  Sophia didn’t answer right away, she just walked over to the open window and took a deep breath before closing it. The night air was cold and fresh: she had had a long day and was feeling tired. “She used the Moonstone to find our nephew, Henry,” she said quietly. “What the…?” Sophia raised her hand to silence him. “There is something more important that you should know… Henry is now the host master.” She let the moment linger, noticing the stunned look on her brother’s face. “And as such he managed to undo most of the damage the stone had done to her… But she still has a long way to go before she’s her old self.” Henry senior sat motionless with a shocked expression on his face. “Young Henry is now the host master,” he repeated, “and there’s more… He also carries the Aelfgar staff,” Sophia stated. Her brother looked even more surprised. “And how in the name of Olaf did he get that?”

  Sophia, still calm and cool-headed, just shrugged. “Acca, I suppose.” Henry senior stood, spilling a little of his tea. “Acca, you suppose… When did he go to Acca and how has this all happened without me knowing?” Sophia was now a little tired of her brother’s continued questioning, so she walked over to him and stared him directly in the eye. “If you and my sister hadn’t turned your backs on your duties… trying to deny who and what you are by running off to live the easy life among humans, you may have known what was happening and may be… just maybe, we could have been able to have prevented all this.” Henry was taken back by his sister’s verbal attack. “Now, sister… we are all on the same side here and want the best possible outcome …Young Henry’s going to need our help… All of us.” He paused. “Besides… it wasn’t just Hazel and me who turned our backs on the world, now, was it?” For a brief but awkward moment they both locked eyes. Bree could feel the tension between them, but wisely stayed out of their way.

  “Can I see Hazel now?” Henry senior said. Sophia sighed, turned around and showed her brother to the bedroom door and opened it quietly. She looked in to see if Hazel was asleep and then closed it again. “She’s sleeping… Maybe a little later.” Henry senior was starting to get a little annoyed, but still managed to hold his composure. Trying to get the upper hand of the conversation, he said proudly, “Well, what good do you think the Aelfgar is without the spearhead?” Henry had never really got on with Sophia: as far back as he could remember she always knew which buttons to press to annoy him and today was no exception. He was more than a little pleased when he saw the surprised look on her face.

  “And how, may I ask… do you know that the spearhead is missing…? Even I didn’t know.” Now feeling he had the upper hand, he walked back over to the chair, sat down, and, after taking another sip of tea, looked up and very casually stated, “Because I have it!” The room went quiet for a second before he continued. “You see… try as she may… when Hazel was unsuccessful in convincing Alfwald to come back to the light… and insistent that he was going his own way… Whether it was the right way or not… Hazel couldn’t allow this to happen… She couldn’t let him go over to the darkness… He was far too powerful a sorcerer and host, and would be almost unstoppable… And as we are both aware… Hazel’s duty was clear: she had to stop him and release the Wyvern, and the only way she could do that was to take his life.” He paused to take another sip of tea. “She had to use the Aelfgar, being the only weapon able to kill the host… Hazel couldn’t conceal the whole spear… that would be too obvious … Alfwald would have cut her d
own in seconds… So, she had to find another way to conceal it… She took the head off the staff and concealed it in her robe, and with pretence of passion managed to get close enough to him to use it as a dagger… Without hesitation she plunged the spearhead into his chest.” Henry senior smiled when he noticed the look of horror on the faces of both Sophia and Bree.

  Sophia had always known that her sister had to take Alfwald’s life, but never had the heart to ask Hazel how or what happened on that day; however, on hearing a more detailed description of the event she could understand how hard it must have been on her sister and how difficult it must be for her to live with such guilt. Henry senior smiled to himself: the reaction he got from his sister was the one he had hoped for. Feeling pleased with himself, he continued. “Well, later that night, Hazel appeared on my doorstep almost inconsolable… weeping and muttering to herself… Well, when I eventually got any sense out of her, she told me all and then produced a bloodstained spearhead from out of her robe… dropped it on my carpet flooring, shouting that she didn’t what any part of guardianship anymore… Then she dashed from my house into the night… Knowing of the spearhead’s importance… well… I’ve taken care of it ever since.”

  Again, the room went deathly quiet, and all eyes went to Sophia’s bedroom door. Hazel was standing in the partly open doorway, wrapped in a patchwork blanket that she must have taken off the bed. She looked ghostly and pale, her eyes deeply set back in her face, and her usually bright, fiery hair was lifeless, clinging to her face and hanging loosely around her shoulders. She was in tears, having overheard what her brother had been saying. She had never forgotten the terrible things she had done, but hearing it said out loud after so many years made the memories she had managed to conceal come flooding back. She looked around the room, stopping at each face in turn. Bree looked away almost immediately, not wanting to look he in the eyes of someone who could kill her lover in such a cold manner. Sophia gave her sister a look of concern. Hazel looked to her brother, her tear-filled eyes burning into him: he held her glare for just a second before looking away. Then, without a word to any of them, she stepped back into the bedroom and slammed the door shut.