He was truly happy to see them both back together again, but was jealous of their love. He knew there would be nobody else who could completely fill the gap Bree left in his heart. Luckily his thoughts were abruptly diverted by Alk. “When are we going to tell them what’s going on?” he said in his usual blunt manner.
He glanced over to where Mylon was looking. “See, they’ve made up again.” Mylon didn’t respond to Alk, still watching Henry and Bree. “It’s good to see,” he said but Alk knew Mylon only too well; he could see the pain in his face and hear it in his voice. Alk cleared his throat. “The men are nearly done… I’ll call the boy and the others over now, if that’s okay with you,” he said, trying to change the subject and to put Mylon’s mind onto other matters. Mylon nodded in agreement and walked off towards the troops. Alk watched after him. He knew some of the pain he was feeling, having lost loved ones himself, but his friend had a lot to cope with now, being king, as well as the hurt he must be feeling… And for many reasons, the loss of his father and his two lifelong friends, and Alk suspected that he may have strong feelings for the wood nymph.
Alk called over to Bert and Henry. “Time to talk, brothers!” he bellowed. Henry nodded in return, and both Bree and Henry joined Bert as they made their way over to where Mylon was kneeling. He had an old, tatty map spread out on the ground in front of him, weighed down at the corners by four stones. Poppy and Lilly stood just behind him. “We’re here,” he said without looking up, and pointing to position on the map. All except Alk knelt down to get a better look. Ben came and sat next to Bert and started to lick his front paws as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Henry watched him for a moment, wondering why he chose to take the form of a dog. Ben was truly a conundrum: he was clever and cunning, but Henry knew that there was a lot more to him than that. “We will cross in three ranks and in three different locations,” Mylon continued, interrupting Henry’s thoughts. “Why break up…? Surely, we’ll be stronger as one group,” Henry enquired.
Mylon looked up from the map and in turn looked at each of their faces. Pausing at Bree, he looked back at Henry. “We sent three groups of four men over as scouts… Only eight of them have returned.” Mylon noticed the concerned look on everybody’s faces. “One group of scouts found what was left of our comrades…” He paused and then said, “Another group narrowly escaped with their lives when they came across a black creature with jaws and claws of iron… an evil creature that blackened the very earth that it walked upon.”
Bert rubbed his hands down his face and sighed. “A Woose-demon … What in Heaven’s name is a Woose-demon doing roaming round in my neck of the woods?” After a long moment’s silence, Henry felt compelled to ask Bert what a Woose-demon was. “One of the worst demons there is,” he replied. “No magic and no weapons known to man have been able to kill one as yet…” He paused. “Saying that… a Woose-demon ain’t never faced a host master yet… So, who knows, master Henry… Perhaps ya’ll be the first to kill one… that is if we’re unlucky enough to find it.”
The worst of the storm had passed. Sophia and Hazel had just finished eating a cold breakfast of dried oat biscuits, a little fruit and water. Henry senior, however, had nothing with him, so the two sisters shared with him the little they had left. They were now all dressed in dry but dirty clothes and felt the better for it. “We’ll have to go back to the crossing,” Hazel announced, “but it’s going to be next to impossible to track the elves or find signs of anyone after that storm.” She then paused to consider the matter for a moment. Both Henry and Sophia sat and waited until she spoke again. “Maybe…” A thought suddenly occurred to her. “Maybe… we could track the black creature,” she said.
Both Henry senior and Sophia looked horrified by the proposition of getting anywhere near the thing. “You must be out of your mind, little sister,” Henry blurted out. Sophia nodded in agreement with him, still horrified by her sister’s suggestion. The old, wooden chair creaked as Sophia sat forward. “However, you do have a point,” she said as if she was still in thought. “It would be a lot easier to track… and I’m sure it’s still out there somewhere looking for something to kill… We might be lucky enough to find the elves before it does.” Henry was about to object but he, too, could see the reasoning behind the plan… but it didn’t change the fact that he wasn’t happy with the idea.
“That settles it,” Hazel said, “let’s get our things together and get a move on before the weather closes in again,” she ordered whilst starting to pack her small leather hunting bag. “Woo, woo, woo…” Henry said with his hands in the air. “Let’s talk this through a little more… It’s a good idea and all that… but you don’t need me tagging along behind… I mean… I’ll be more a hindrance than a help.”
Sophia stepped up to him and stood face to face, Henry looking somewhat perturbed. “Brother,” she said with the familiar venom in her voice, “you have responsibilities, too… and like us… you will have to face up to them sooner rather than later.” Henry knew that she was right but he wasn’t ready for any more frights… not just yet. “Let him be, sister… I’m sure he has other urgent things to do,” Hazel said without looking up from her packing.
Sophia shot Hazel a look that made it quite clear that she wasn’t happy with her sister undermining her. “What urgent things, may I ask?” Hazel was unperturbed by her sister’s tone. “The spearhead… I’m surprised you’ve forgotten.” Sophia grabbed Hazel’s arm and squeezed it tight whilst spinning her around. “I forget nothing… as you well know, sister,” she hissed, “and I don’t care for your manner,” she said now in a more threatening tone and obviously trying to intimidate her sister. They both locked eyes, each having no intention of backing down first. Henry was just pleased that Sophia’s attention was no longer on him.
Seconds went by and Henry decided to break the deadlock. “Why don’t you two girls go to the crossing and try to stay out of trouble…? Whilst I make my way home and retrieve the spearhead.” Sophia backed down first. “You go ahead and do just that… but remember where your loyalties lie… brother,” she said and then looked straight into Henry’s eyes. “And if you ever call me a girl again…” She didn’t have to finish her sentence: Henry knew exactly what she meant and was a little annoyed with himself for going out of his way to upset her. He had never won an argument with either of them and knew quite well that Hazel would do nothing to harm him, but he wasn’t so sure about his other sister.
After saying their goodbyes, Henry and his two sisters went their separate ways. It would take Henry just under a day to get home, and he was only too eager to do so before dark and so left at first light. Unlike his two sisters, his priorities were for his own personal safety and comforts. Other matters could wait. He would first take a long, hot shower and a change of clothes followed up by a nice, hot supper. Unfortunately for his sisters, all they had to look forward to was days of bad weather, hunger and the fear of being attacked. For the first time in days he was feeling more positive just by knowing that he would be in the safety and comfort of his own home very soon.
At first, he was making good progress and was over halfway home, happily going over in his mind what he would do once he got home. The first thing on the agenda was to get out of his dirty clothes and freshen up, then call for a takeaway to be delivered. He hadn’t decided whether to go for Indian or Chinese, but just the thought of either was already making him feel hungrier than he felt.
He was still relishing the thought of sitting down to a hot meal when he came across one of the blackened trails made by the creature his sisters told him about or worse… the shadow master itself. He curled up his nose at the smell of rotting vegetation. Now aware that danger could be close, he slowed his pace to study the area. There was a good possibility that it was still around. Gone were the thoughts of food and the comforts of home, replaced now with fear and dread. He started to search the area for danger by using his senses. He was a bit rusty in using his powers, but it soon come ba
ck to him. Slowly he edged his way along the trail: it seemed to him that it was heading the same way he was going.
Not wanting to be caught in the open, he moved amongst the trees, trying to keep out of sight. Slowly he followed the trail: luckily for him, he didn’t sense anything dangerous, but that didn’t mean anything. Unlike his two sisters, his powers were limited and only just strong enough to protect him if and when it was required. He hadn’t used his powers in years and held little confidence in his abilities, so he couldn’t be really sure whether or not he had missed anything. It was times like this that he wished he’d taken more notice when they were all young. Sophia had always been the strongest of the three, practising her powers from dawn to dusk, and Hazel wasn’t so far behind her, but, whereas Sophia concentrated on defensive spells, Hazel practised healing and he… well, all he was ever interested in was the human world. He was jealous of their lifestyle and had decided long ago that it was the life he wanted to live.
It took Hazel and Sophia less than an hour to reach the crossing and immediately found evidence of the black creatures passing. There was a large, blackened trail leading along the entire area of the crossing and they followed it for more than a mile or so, but fortunately no more bodies. “It’s still here,” Sophia said, studying the damage on the ground around them. “We’ve no time to heal it,” she said, resigned to the fact. Hazel, however, didn’t seem to hear her. Instead she was too busy trying to find signs of life and to her dismay she sensed none… Nothing at all: there were no signs of birds or tiny mammals. It wasn’t just the ground that was dead, but also the entire woodland surrounding them. Sophia walked over and stood next to her sister and pulled out the flute of Aglaredon. “Are you sure we should be doing this?” Hazel was still not listening, and stared off into the trees. “Sister… is everything alright?” Sophia said softly, placing the flute back into her bag before looking in the same direction. “Have you sensed something?” She was now a little concerned. “No… nothing,” she replied. “That’s the trouble… I can’t sense anything… no life at all.” Sophia took a moment to see if she could find anything but she, too, was unable to find any signs of life. “Nothing,” she said.
Hazel turned to her sister with a look of surprised horror on her face. “It’s happening already.” She paused. “We may be too late…” Sophia studied her a moment, then placed both hands on her shoulders. “Dear sister… it’s never too late,” and then she smiled. “We can do only what we can do.” She studied Hazel’s face for a second and then said, “Shall we start?” With that, she moved away from her sister, opened her shoulder bag, and pulled out the flute again and held it up for her sister’s approval. At first, Hazel just stared at it as if she was having second thoughts, then nodded. Sophia smiled again and then walked over to a large, moss-covered rock and sat down to make herself as comfortable as she could before she started. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on charging the flute with a little of her magic. Again, at first nothing, then a soft glow started to emanate from her hands. It flared into a blinding purple light that disappeared as quickly as it came. Sophia then offered it to Hazel. She walked over to where Sophia was sitting and took the flute from her hands, studied it a moment and then she, too, charged the flute with some of her magic. Again, it flared with the purple light and was again gone just as quickly. Hazel handed the flute back to her sister and stood back.
Seconds went by whilst both did nothing other than stare at the flute, for what they were about to do had never been allowed before, and by rights they needed Acca’s consent. But needs must: they couldn’t sit back and let the darkness spread and this was their only option. “Well,” Hazel said, breaking the silence. Sophia sighed, raised the flute to her lips as if she was going to play, but then stopped and hesitated a second or two before continuing, Hazel watched and listened as her sister played. To her, it was the most beautiful sound in the world. The music was almost mesmerising, sounding a little like Aztec pipes, a haunting yet gentle, sweet sound as if it whispered to the wind itself. After just a short time playing, the air around Sophia started to shimmer, making it difficult for Hazel to see her, but neither of the sisters was alarmed. This was expected, the shimmering air then suddenly expanding outwards and in all directions, travelling throughout the entire woodland at an incredible speed. The trees bent over with its passing and then… all time seemed to stand still.
Sophia continued to play, sending the sweet-sounding music further and further out into the woodland, freezing time as it passed, whilst Hazel stood with her head back and eyes closed, enjoying every note played. Just like everything around them, Breeze was frozen in mid-flight, hanging in mid-air like a kite. Hazel was too busy taking in the beauty of the moment and temporarily forgot the reasons why they were there in the first place. Sophia stopped playing and immediately all normality returned. Breeze, no longer frozen in flight, was now circling above them. Hazel didn’t open her eyes straightaway, still wrapped in the warm comfort of the music. When she opened them everything looked and felt as it was before, but unseen and unnoticed to all living creatures within the woodland, it was now completely sealed off from the outside world. Nothing could enter and, more importantly, anything that possessed any kind of magical powers, no matter how small, could not leave the woodland – that is, unless they held the same powers as the guardians. Then, and only then, could they cross over to the outside world.
Henry still didn’t seem to be any the wiser, having just gone over the map and plan of action with the others. He knew that he was going to cross back to his world with the main body of troops which would be led by Mylon – while Alk and a young female commander named Faun were to cross over slightly before and at two different points, taking with them two smaller sections of troops, and once all groups had crossed and had made their area secure, they would meet up somewhere. That was as much as he knew. He also had no idea where in the woodland they would come out or where they were to meet up, but he trusted Mylon and his men. However, he really didn’t like the idea of splitting up, but could at least see the reasoning behind it. Mylon approached Henry from behind the large, blue tree he had been shading under. “Henry… let me introduce you to two of my very closest friends,” he announced, taking Henry a little by surprise, “and two of our greatest allies,” he said with one of his usual smiles. “This is Grog.” He gently patted one of the two strange-looking creatures on the back. “And this is his brother Nog.” Henry couldn’t help but notice them earlier on in the day and had intended to ask someone about them once he had the opportunity to do so. He nodded with acknowledgement. “Nice to meet you both,” he said whilst getting to his feet. “We looked after our masters, little miss,” Grog announced proudly. “Yes, master… dark things lurk… so we cared for your little miss… gave her drinks and watched when she slept,” Nog said in agreement. “I thank you both… it sounds as if you’d taken very good care of her… and I’ll be forever grateful,” Henry replied, a little confused. The two fluff balls smiled and held hands, then started to do some kind a little jig. “We are happy that our master is so pleased,” one of them said, but Henry couldn’t tell the difference between the two. “Happy indeed,” the other repeated, still jigging about. They looked so strange dancing around: in Henry’s eyes, they looked just like those wind up toys that vibrate on the table.
He watched on with joy as they jumped round and round in circles. “Why are they so excited?” Henry said, still watching them. “They’ve happy because they have pleased you,” Mylon replied. “And what’s so special about pleasing me?” Henry enquired, still smiling at the odd couple. “Being the host… you are now seen as their master,” Mylon said in a matter-of-fact way. He, too, was enjoying watching Grog and Nog jigging away in the grass. Henry’s smile disappeared. “What do you mean… master?” he said, now sounding concerned. “I’m nobody’s master.” He looked away and then back to face Mylon who was still watching the two fluff balls jigging around. With a grin on his face, and wi
thout turning to face him, Mylon replied mockingly, “You are the host master, are you not?” Henry didn’t respond, a little taken aback by Mylon’s jovial response. “They have always served the host master, since the beginning of time… and they will now serve you… it’s their role in life… it’s what they were created for.” Henry didn’t say anything, allowing Mylon to continue. “I’ve not seen them in a long time… they only seem to appear when a host master has been appointed… and in this case it’s you,” he said, still mocking Henry a little.
Henry was getting annoyed with Mylon’s jovial attitude. He had been host master for just a few days and still hadn’t had the time to come to terms with it. The last thing he needed now was someone making fun of him because of his lack of understanding of his situation. Mylon could see on his face that Henry wasn’t happy. “Come on, man… lighten up a little… I’m just playing with you,” he said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “But these two always make me feel so… well, so joyful.” Now sounded more simplistic and a little more understanding. “I know… you still have difficulty in coming to terms with being the host… and I understand that until just a few days ago you were just a normal boy without a care in the world.” He paused and placed his other hand on Henry’s shoulder. “I’m going to tell you something important… something that has surprised us all,” he said softly. The look on Henry’s face changed: he was less angry now but more concerned.
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