Sophia knew of a safe spot for them to set up camp, Mylon agreed and ordered Alk and the remainder of his men to follow her. Once satisfied they were ready, Sophia headed back into the undergrowth. It seemed to take no time at all before they reached a large clearing. Mylon and the others had no idea where they were. However, Sophia did, and at this point in time, that was all that mattered. The well-trained elven troops took no time at all to set up a temporary encampment. Guards were posted all around the edge of the clearing, whilst the remainder of the group went about setting up makeshift shelters using their capes and anything else that they could find lying around. The rain hadn’t eased up at all so everyone was soaked through, but for obvious reasons the order was made not to light fires, which meant that they all had remain wet. Then, to add to their misery, they also had to endure a cold, tasteless meal of bread and cold meat, washed down by cold ale or water. However, Sophia didn’t seem to mind the discomfort; instead, she spent most of her time watching her nephew. She noticed a certain confidence about him that reminded her of his father Alfwald. She could sense the power that lay within him, and for some reason she knew that he was at home with it. Over the centuries all the other hosts had to fight to control the power of the Wyvern… But with Henry she sensed that it was settled and self-controlled… It was at last, home. “What was it about Henry that made him so special?” she asked herself.
“My lady,” Alk said, breaking her thoughts, “Mylon would like to speak with you.” Sophia smiled. She had always liked Alk: she’d known him for some time, ever since he was a young man. Even then he seemed and acted older than he was. He was a good friend to the old king, and it was obvious to her years ago that one day he would be commander of the king’s army, and she was pleased to see that she had been right. She nodded and followed him over to where Mylon was sitting with Bert, Ben and Henry. Standing on each side of Mylon were two slight built guards.
All except Ben stood up when she approached. “Have you eaten?” Mylon enquired. She smiled and nodded. Sophia was then shown to a leather backpack. “Please sit,” Alk said, pointing to the backpack. Once she had settled, the others followed. Whilst she sat listening to Alk going over the options for tomorrow, Sophia noticed that Bert was watching her. “Bert,” she said, indicating to him to speak. “I was just wondering, my lady… How’s Lady Hazel doing…? I mean, she looked like death itself the last time I saw er.” Henry sat forward, hoping to hear the same news. “How is your sister…? I’m sure we’d all like to know,” Mylon asked, leaning forward and looking over to Henry. “She was well enough to travel here… and to help put up a good fight with that creature.” Sophia said.
She paused, thinking back to how ill she was and how her more recent unusual behaviour concerned her. In particular the silly dancing. That was not her sister at all. “But she is still not herself ” she continued “I fear that the Moonstone had done more damage to her health both mentally and physically than I first thought.” She paused again, but this time she looked directly at Henry. “There are things in this world that are out of our hands … and I fear that bringing my sister back to how she was before she used the Moonstone might be one of them.” She had tears in her eyes and did nothing to hide them.
Still looking at Henry, she continued. “We can heal her body… but we can do nothing for her mind.” She left the last comment to hang in the air. Everyone sat quietly for a second or so - there was nothing more to say, then Alk in his usual blunt way said, “Well, then… Let us talk about something we can do something about.” Slapping both hands together, Mylon smiled and nodded in agreement. He had always looked up to Alk, almost as a father figure, and it was true to say that his relationship with Alk was much closer than it had ever been with his father… And, as now, he always knew how to break an awkward silence. Bert was the one who spoke up next. “Young Henry ere has already asked Ben and me to look out the spearhead… Is that still on?” he said, asking no one in particular. Mylon looked over to Henry, but all he could do was nod.
Henry was having difficulty in understanding what his aunt meant by his mother not getting her mind back. He had done all he could to heal her when she collapsed back at the High-stones, but obviously it wasn’t enough. “Right… that’s settled,” Alk blasted out. “Bert… you and your friend here can leave whenever you feel… but I will send two of my men with you… They can report back to us if or when needed… Besides, you may need a little backup if you run into that thing out there.” Bert nodded in acknowledgement, but Ben stayed where he had been for the past hour or so, rolled up in a ball on the ground next to Bert’s feet, appearing to most to be half-asleep, but Bert knew otherwise. Ben was a shrewd character and never missed a thing: he would have listened to everything that had been said and had a full understanding of what might lie ahead. One of Ben’s favourite comments was: “You don’t learn by talking… only watching, listening and doing.” Bert almost had the mind to stroke him, but knew better of it.
Mylon felt it a good idea that he and several of his men, including Poppy and Lilly, tried to seek out the creature and destroy it before it had the chance to kill again. Sophia agreed and offered to go with them whilst Henry concentrated on finding the shadow master himself. He knew that he would have to go alone, as no one else would be able to survive such an encounter. Besides, he would have a better chance in defeating it if he didn’t have someone else’s safety to worry about. “So, we have a plan,” Mylon said in a matter-of-fact way. Nobody answered, all dealing with their own doubts and inhibitions, all hoping for the best outcome of the situation, but all fearing the worst. However, nothing was said, just a few nods. “Right then… enough chit-chat.” Alk shouted, “Let’s get on with it!”
With that, all but Mylon and Sophia and a handful of men dispersed to get ready for their charge. Henry was to head to the far side of the woodland in the hope of finding the shadow master. Bert, Ben and Alk were to head off in the direction of the town with the hope of finding Henry senior and the spearhead, and taking Walt with them: that way, it would keep him safe and out of harm’s way and then, if he wished, he could go his separate way.
It was also agreed that once they retrieved the spearhead they would try to get it to Henry as soon as they could. Mylon watched as the others got themselves ready for their departure. He turned to Sophia. “Do you think we can really make a difference?” he asked quietly, so that no one else could hear him. She nodded. “Yes… I think we can.” She paused. “If we can’t… who else is there?” She looked towards Henry. “Besides, we have my nephew.” Mylon smiled.
With that, she got up and walked over to her shoulder bag which was hanging on a nearby tree, and like the others started to get ready for her trip. Mylon followed her with his eyes. “I hope you’re right,” he sighed to himself as he got up and stretched his arms to release the stiffness in his neck and shoulders. He had been tolerating a lot of pain ever since he was attacked by the ground wromp back in the tunnel but events had given him little time to rest up and treat it.
Mylon looked over his shoulder to Poppy and Lilly and smiled. They both bowed their heads in response. Mylon was about to walk off when Poppy spoke. “My lord,” she said. He turned to face her. “No matter what happens, my lord… I… well, I mean… Lilly and I will never leave your side.” Mylon stepped up to her, placed a hand on her shoulder, and said with one of his usual reassuring smiles, “Poppy… I expect nothing less.”
Poppy blushed. It felt so good… and so personal having Mylon touch her and address her so informally. He turned to Lilly and smiled again. “Come… we have work to do.” With that, he walked off in the direction of Alk, followed closely by Poppy and Lilly. Poppy was still a little red-faced. Since being assigned to Mylon as his protector, and being so close to him most of the time, she couldn’t help but feel his warmth. He was a caring and kind man… but he was much more than that… He had a gentle strength about him, something Poppy felt was adorable… and she was starting to realise that
her feelings for her king were now not just professional.
Henry was busy making sure he had enough supplies to see him through the next few days when someone softly placed a hand on his arm. He turned to see his aunt. She tried a smile. “We must talk,” she said quietly, looking around. “But not here.” She took his arm and led him away from unwanted ears, satisfied that she could now speak without fear of being overheard. She faced Henry. “May I see your hands?” Henry was a little surprised by the request. Mylon had asked him to do the same thing only yesterday, but he did as he was asked. He placed the staff against a tree and turned his palms upward. Sophia took them in her hands and studied them, rubbing her fingers over the tiny amount of blackening on his left hand; other than that, his hands were normal.
“The staff is not affecting you,” she said, a little surprised. “But why?” she said. Looking up, Henry glanced down at his hands and just shrugged his shoulders. “I felt it working on me when I first had it… But recently…” He shrugged again. “I don’t know… the pain just stopped… and the black stain is gradually going.” Sophia let go of Henry’s hands and stood back a little to study him. At first, she said nothing, which made Henry feel a little self-conscious. She then placed one hand on each of Henry’s cheeks. She suddenly stepped back with a surprised look in her eyes, making Henry jump. “What the…” Henry said. “What’s the matter now?” By now, Sophia was pacing from side to side, head lowered and muttering to herself. She looked up at Henry. “It can’t be possible… it’s… it’s…” Sophia was struggling to find the right words. “What’s not possible?” Henry asked, sounding alarmed.
She stepped back up to him and took both hands in hers. “You are not fighting to hold the Wyvern… are you?” Henry didn’t answer. “I never thought it possible… never thought I’d ever be witness to such a thing… the true hosting.” She paused but Henry still didn’t say anything. “Did you know?” she asked. Henry, still a little taken aback by her odd behaviour, nodded. “Yes… Mylon said something about it yesterday.” Henry paused. “So… what’s the issue?” he said, again shrugging his shoulders. “The issue… nephew,” Sophia replied with a touch of anger in her voice, “is that no other host has ever been fully accepted by the Wyvern… it has never settled… ever,” she continued. “Damn it, boy… don’t you realise what this means?” Henry stood dumbstruck. “This means that it will always stay with you … here… on this earth.”
Henry still didn’t get the gist of what his aunt was ranting about. “So… so what?” he replied in a rather matter-of-fact way. “So what?!” Sophia shouted in a rage, not bothering whether or not she was being overheard. “So what!?” she shouted again. This time, a few guards who were standing just a few yards away looked round. “I’ll tell you so what,” she continued, now in a softer voice. “It means you are to be its host from now on.” Henry still didn’t look concerned. “why’s that an issue…? You knew that it would choose me.” He paused again. “And you were right… its powers come easily to me… and each time I’m attacked, it defends me… This is what everybody wanted… right?”
Sophia shook her head. “Well, wasn’t it?!” Henry shouted at her. Sophia’s face changed and Henry could see he had overstepped the mark a little. “Mind your tongue, boy,” she said, sounding dangerous. “What we wanted doesn’t matter… it’s what the world needs that does.” She took a breath to try and calm herself. “We… or, more to the point… the world needs a host master… And as guardians we need the Wyvern to help us to fight our cause.” She paused again. “But what none of us could possibly have anticipated is that the Wyvern had a different agenda… It must have been looking for a permanent home… It has never been at ease with any other of the hosts… They had to fight to keep it under control at all times and some had lost their minds in the process… but in you it has found its home.” Henry still didn’t seem all that concerned. “You don’t know what that means… do you, boy?” she hissed. Henry shook his head, and Sophia sighed again. “It means… dear boy,” she said with a hint of sarcasm, “that it will never leave.”
Henry just shrugged his shoulders again. “So… I knew it would be with me for the rest of my life… I still don’t see what’s the problem?” Sophia grabbed his arms. “The problem, host master, is… that as long as you host the Wyvern you will never grow old… and you’ll never die.” She let the statement sink in before continuing. “It will protect and repair its home… and in this case its home is you.” Henry suddenly felt sick: he turned away, paced to one side, and took deep breaths. Sophia walked over to him and placed a hand on his arm to help reassure him. “It will protect you when you are in danger… It will heal your wounds and repair every cell in your body in order to keep you fit, young and healthy.” She paused. “But what it can’t heal is your mind and your soul.”
“Lady Sophia,” a voice sounded through the trees. “Lady Sophia… my king awaits you.” She turned to see where the voice had come from and saw a young female guard standing a respectable distance away. She nodded and then turned back to Henry. “Take care… host master,” she said, placing her hand softly on his cheek. She smiled and then turned to follow the guard.
Henry watched as she went. He had no idea of how to react to such news: not everybody gets told that they are to live forever. He could never in his wildest dreams understand the full consequences. “Master,” he heard a little voice say. Henry turned to look behind him. “Master,” Grog repeated. “Is my master alright?” he said, sounding concerned. Henry smiled despite himself. “I’m fine,” he replied. “Where’s your friend?” he said, looking around. “Not my friend, master… my brother,” Grog said proudly. “He’s just coming… we will go with you,” he said, grinning. Henry was about to object but Grog spoke before Henry had the chance. “Not a kind lady,” he said almost absent-mindedly, looking in the direction Sophia had gone. “A good woman but not kind.” He then looked up at Henry with his huge, brown eyes. “Took something from us, many years since… Something very precious to us both,” he said now looking at the stone hanging around Henry’s neck.
“The Moonstone?” Henry asked, now taking hold of it. Grog nodded with a sad expression on his face. “We cared for it for many, many years,” he replied, still staring at the stone. “She took it from us… saying that we could not care for it safely… but she was wrong.” He was now sounding a little angry. Henry said nothing, allowing Grog to finish. “She was very wrong… we’d kept it safe for a long, long time before…” He trailed off. “It belongs to the host… it belongs to you, master… and we are pleased to see that you wear it.” Henry looked down at it: to all intents and purposes it looked like any old pebble… But he already knew differently, and tucked it back into his tunic. “It’s not safe for you both to come with me… Besides, Mylon has already assigned guards to come with me.” Grog watched as Henry tucked the stone away from view and then looked back up. “The king has agreed… the guards are not coming,” Henry was a little set back by the fact that Mylon had changed plans without consulting him.
Grog, almost reading his mind, said, “Master… we will be more use to you than any trooper could… We have skills.” Henry decided that he would take this up with Mylon later, but didn’t want to hurt Grog’s feelings. “We must go and see Mylon and my aunt before they set off,” he said, walking towards the main group. Grog followed close behind, Henry asked Grog if he could find his brother and be ready to be on their way within the hour. Grog happily agreed and rushed off in another direction. Henry didn’t really have to send Grog after his brother: it was just a ploy to keep him out of the way for a while whilst he spoke to Mylon about the decision to send them with him.
Henry found Mylon leaning over the map again, but this time with his aunt, and with her help he was trying to trace in which direction the large creature was heading. Mylon greeted Henry with a smile and a nod. “Why are you sending those… those fluffy things with me instead of troopers?” Henry said, ignoring all niceties. To
Henry’s surprise it wasn’t Mylon who answered him, but his aunt. “Those fluffy things, as you put it… are two of the most powerful and skilled individuals I have ever come across.” Henry, unperturbed by his aunt’s reply, walked up to her and faced her. “Oh really… skills… what skills?” he said in anger. “Besides, I was speaking to the king… not his…” He stopped short of the insults, and both stared at one another for a few seconds. “Now… now… we’re all on the same side here,” Mylon said, grabbing Henry by the arm. “We have no time to fight among ourselves… Besides, my friend, it was me who made the decision to send Grog and Nog with you…You will need them and they could prove very useful to you in a fight… Believe me.” Henry felt ashamed for allowing himself to get so angry so very easily. His whole being was as if it was on fire, a sign that the thing inside was trying to take control over him. “Sorry,” he said, avoiding eye contact with both of them.
Sophia stepped forward and held one of his hands. “You must try and control your temper… I can sense the power building up within you when you get angry… It will take over.” She paused. “That’s if you let it… I’ve known you just a short while… but I can feel your strength.” She paused again. “Forgive me for saying this… I felt the same kind of strength in your father… but you, nephew… are stronger… much stronger… Perhaps that’s what the Wyvern feels in you… and why it has decided to stay.” She let go of his hand and went back to Mylon and the map. “You are more than a match for the dark one, nephew… but you must first learn how to control that temper of yours.” Henry watched her for a moment as Mylon rolled up the map, nodded and with his aunt started to walk away. “Do you think they’ll be alright?!” he shouted after her. “My mum and Bree, I mean.”
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