Henry slumped back down onto the sofa. “Take another sip of tea,” James continued, “and I’ll tell ya a little tale.” Henry took a few more sips of tea, now satisfied that Henry was settled, James continued. “I was like you once, mate… lost… lost in the world of plenty… good music… good food… and fame… no… I can’t forget my o’mucker fame.” He paused and took a sip from his mug. “Oh ya… I wanted to be someone… not just a nursemaid to nature… ya know… really be someone… But things didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped… greed got in the way… the greed of others… too many want and take what they don’t deserve… they took it from my hard graft… I’ll tell, Mr H… they call this a rat race… Rat is too good for most of um… at least rats have to fight for what they get.”
He stopped and took a deep breath. “Sorry, Mr H, got carried away… Anyhow, Acca called for me… or at least that dog did… Ben, I think it was called… Anyways, he told me that the tree had a task for me.” James paused again to see his response but Henry just indicated for him to continue. “As I said… I was lost… unhappy and totally pissed off with the world… if ya pardon me French… Well, I went to the old tree as I was asked… but it were Bert who told me what the old tree said, and that was that you needed looking after… and that you, too, were was lost and on the verge of crossing over… to the darkness, I mean.”
He took another sip of tea. “So ere I am… and ere I stay… by your side… like Batman and bleeding Robin… What do ya say then, Mr H…? Are ya up for it?” Henry was gobsmacked: how dare Bert send someone to spy on him! “What gave him the right?” he thought to himself. “So you’ve been spying on me all this time,” Henry said, rather abruptly for James’s liking.
“Spying…? Not spying, Mr H… watching over you … That’s what I’ve been doing… watching over you, making sure you’re safe.” Henry was now back on his feet. “I was the one who found you on the floor,” James continued, “and it were me that put ya to bed and tucked ya in.” Henry wasn’t listening to anything James was saying and continued to speak over him. “If you are doing such a fine job of watching over me… then why is it that there is a dead shape-shifter lying on my bedroom floor?” James jumped up off the sofa. “Shape-shift… what’s a shape-shifter doing in ya bedroom…? I didn’t…” Henry butted in: “No you didn’t… it appeared to be you and tried to trick me into giving it…” Henry stopped mid-sentence, realising that he may have said too much. James smiled. “Tricking you into giving it what, Mr H?” he said, sounding sinister. “The spearhead.” He noticed the shock on Henry’s face and smiled again. “I knows all about the spearhead… even knows where it is… but that’s your duty… not mine… Mine is to watch over you.” James stood up and said in a more sinister tone, “And yours, Mr H… is to ensure that the Aelfgar ends up in the right hands.” He gave a sinister smile. “And that’s where I come in… I am to see that it does.” He paused. “In the hands of the host… and the host only.” To Henry he seemed almost a threat. “So, what do ya say, Mr H…? Shall we go and get the Aelfgar before the Old Bill comes knocking on your door again?” Henry studied him for a second. “I’m not here to harm ya, Mr H… just the opposite… But be under no misunderstanding… If ya have any ideas of running off with that spearhead of yours… think again,” James said, and this time it was an unmistakable threat.
The rain had eased to a gentle shower, but the heavy rain earlier had left the ground beneath Hazel’s feet muddy and slippery, slowing her down and making it hard-going. Bree, however, had no such problems. She skipped along using her tiny wings to fly over most obstacles and muddy areas. They had been tracking the creature for some hours now. It was apparent that, despite the fact that the thing had been partly crippled in its fight with Hazel and her sister, it was still moving fast through the woodland and making no attempt to hide its trail, knocking down trees as it went and leaving a trail of destruction behind it, which fortunately made it easy to follow. Hazel stopped now and then to check on the damage that it done to the earth, and was saddened and frustrated that she didn’t have enough time to heal it. But to her relief the earth itself wasn’t poisoned too badly, so given time and a little help from her powers it should quickly heal. Needing to rest, Hazel sat down cross-legged on the wet ground and started to rummage through her shoulder bag for something to eat.
Bree flew up to a low branch of a tree and made herself at home, swinging her legs. They had barely spoken a word to one another since they set off. Bree didn’t want to make conversation, still shocked by what Hazel had done to her one love. Hazel, however, had no idea of what to say to her, so it was easier for them both not to say anything unless it was necessary. “We’re getting close,” Hazel said, almost to herself. Bree didn’t respond, and instead she took a sip of sweet nectar from the container she wore on her belt.
Hazel looked up at Bree and could see why Henry was so fond of her: she was pretty, loyal and above all devoted to her son, and would willingly give up her own life for his. Bree glanced down, noticing that Hazel was looking at her and both locked eyes for a moment. “My lady,” Bree said, as if she was enquiring why she was looking at her. “I understand why you hate me,” Hazel said. Bree didn’t reply at first, she just sat on the branch swinging her legs freely like a little child. “I don’t hate you… but…” Hazel cut her short. “But you can’t understand how I could kill my own husband.” Bree looked even more shocked. She knew that they had been lovers, but she had no idea that they were married. “It haunts every waking hour of my life… That’s why I tried to hide… but no matter how far I ran… my past would always follow.” She looked away from Bree and stared out into the woodland.
Bree waited for Hazel to say more but she didn’t. Wishing to know more, Bree floated down and settled right next to Hazel. “You were married?” Bree enquired. Hazel looked back to her and nodded. “We were meant to be together from the start… like you are to Henry… I was at first his protector… to care and watch over him until he mastered the skills of the Wyvern… And like you, we fell in love at first sight.” She shuffled a little, trying to get more comfortable on the wet ground, then continued. “I lost him… it took a number of years… but finally I lost him.” Bree sat down next to her and allowed Hazel to take her hand.
“I am to blame… for not being strong enough… I tried to save him, I really did … I begged him to come back from where he had gone… but the Wyvern was far too powerful… he had lost his mind to its powers… and of course the Aelfgar… The spear sucked out all of his joy and replaced it with fear, dread and mistrust… That, combined with hosting the Wyvern, meant that he was no longer capable of making his own choices.” She paused as the memories came flooding back. She took a deep breath and tried to hold them back, but they were too strong. They had been locked up for centuries and needed to be released.
“I’m sorry, my dear,” she said as she tried to compose herself and hold back the tears. “He lost his leadership in the clans and was ostracised by many once they found out that he was the host, which in turn forced him to leave his home, as well as the surrounding villages… to live a life of solitude.” Bree placed her free hand on Hazel’s hand to help reassure her enough to continue. Hazel smiled. “My sweet… I am so pleased that my Henry has found you… I sense that you are much stronger than I was… and would never fail him the way I failed Alfwald.” Bree leant forward and gave Hazel a hug; it took a few seconds but Hazel finally hugged her back.
Bree was next to speak. “It’s not for me to judge you, my lady… and I’m really sorry for acting so childishly.” She paused. “But I couldn’t harm Henry… whatever the reasons… I wouldn’t think twice about giving my life for him… but I could never harm him.” She leant forward again. “But you’re wrong… I’m no stronger than you… It took a person with a strong mind and an even stronger will to do what you had to do…You made the ultimate sacrifice so that the world and those who live upon it wouldn’t suffer… I don’t have that strength�
� If I were to find myself in the same situation you were in, and had to make the same choices… I fear I would fail… I would always put Henry and my feelings for him before the greater good.”
Bree stood up and walked a couple of paces away and then turned to face Hazel. “Shall we?” Hazel smiled and stood up, brushing the mud from her trousers. She grabbed her bag and placed it over her shoulder. “You know we’ll have quite a fight on our hands when we catch up with that creature… Are you ready for it?” Bree smiled. “No… but I’ll be right next to you… I won’t leave your side… no matter what.” Hazel smiled and then picked up a large stick. She closed her eyes and concentrated as her powers worked their magic along the length of the stick. She then opened her eyes and held it out for Bree to take. “Here… this may help us.” Bree took it, but gave Hazel a puzzled look. “If it gets too close, my dear… strike the creature with it… as hard as you can,” Hazel said whilst placing her hand on Bree’s shoulder. She smiled again and with that they both set off in the direction of the dark trail.
It was late afternoon, and throughout the morning the weather had got worse. The rain was unforgiving and now came down so hard that it forced both Hazel and Bree to take cover on a number of occasions. Nothing more had been said about their conversation earlier, both concentrating on the track ahead. Bree was now starting to feel tired. The rain was so strong that she couldn’t use her tiny wings to help her over large roots and fallen trees, forcing her to walk and to climb over wet, moss-covered, slimy logs. Unlike Hazel, she wasn’t used to walking, and with her tiny legs and the lack of food and rest, she found it difficult to keep up with Hazel. Bree was about to suggest that they took a break when Hazel suddenly stopped, putting up her hand to indicate for Bree to be quiet. She turned to her and signalled to follow her into cover. Bree crept forward quietly. “It’s here,” she whispered. Bree looked in the direction Hazel was facing but didn’t see anything, so she sent out her own senses to find it… And there it was, no more than twenty feet or so in front of them.
She curled up her nose at the smell of the blackened earth around them. “What do we do now?” Bree whispered. “You stay here and stay out of sight… I’ll make my way round to the other side of it.” She turned to look at Bree. “My dear… don’t make a move unless you have to,” she whispered with a concerned look on her face. Bree was about to object but knew better not to. Hazel knew exactly what she was doing and had the power to protect herself from the creature, whilst she didn’t. “Is that it?” Bree replied in a hushed tone. “You’ve dragged me this far… surely I could be of some help?” Hazel studied her a moment, feeling pride that she would one day be part of her family. “Give me a few minutes to get into place and then make a noise… That may give me an opportunity to attack it from behind.” Bree thought about it a second and then nodded. Hazel gave her a nod back and disappeared into the dark shadows of the trees.
Bree stayed rooted to the spot as she watched Hazel melt into the woodlands around them. To her surprise, she didn’t feel any fear, just a surge of adrenalin in anticipation of the battle ahead whilst she waited for Hazel’s signal to distract the creature. But the smell made her feel a little sick: being part of the woodland itself, any sickness it suffered would in turn affect her. She gripped the shaft of wood given her by Hazel tightly in anticipation. Maybe it would somehow help distract her from how ill she felt. The harder Bree gripped it, the better she felt. Then a green glow emitted from around her hand. She still had no idea of what the shaft could do, but it did help her feel better in herself.
Moments went by and Bree started to feel a little unsure of how or when she should distract the creature. She seemed to have lost all sense of time, which meant that she had no idea how long it had been since Hazel had left her, but in reality it felt longer than it actually was. She had decided to wait just a little while longer when out of the bushes lumbered an enormously hideous, black creature. On seeing her it roared, forcing Bree out of her cover. Still not afraid, she stood her ground: a tiny wood nymph versus a giant monster.
She raised her staff, ready to strike a blow if she got that chance. The creature surged forward, but Bree was far too nimble for it and sidestepped it, striking down a blow with the shaft as she did. On contact with the beast, the shaft flared up and Bree disappeared in a bright green flash. The creature roared in pain and backed off a little. The flare subsided, leaving Bree standing face to face with the beast once again. She could smell death on its breath. It was far more hideous than she had imagined, it was like something out of her nightmares. Bree didn’t really see what happened next. The creature suddenly roared in pain and turned away to face its new attacker just in time to receive several very powerful blows to the face by a continuous bombardment of green fireballs. It roared in anger whilst trying to reach Hazel. It was then that Bree noticed that one of its hind legs was badly injured.
Without a second thought, she leaped forward and with the staff in hand, struck the injured leg with such force that she could hear the bone break. It fell backwards, crashing into trees. Hazel, seizing the opportunity, didn’t give the creature time to recover: getting as close as she dared, she summoned up a large ball of swirling wind and debris and slammed it into the creature’s exposed chest, knocking it back to the ground. Bree lost no time and ran as fast as she could towards the creature and by using her tiny wings leaped into the air and came down with the green, glowing shaft with such force that she managed to break the entire bottom part of its good leg completely off.
It roared time and again in pain and was left thrashing around on the ground, knocking down trees and blackening all that it touched. Hazel saw the opportunity to finish it off, but she needed the staff that Bree held. She tried to shout but couldn’t be heard over the noise, so to get Bree’s attention – who by now was standing on the other side of the creature with the staff held ready to strike – Hazel sent a small green ball that exploded a few feet from her. Hazel needed the staff and she needed it now. Bree looked up in surprised, giving Hazel the opportunity to motion to her to throw the staff over.
Bree didn’t like the idea of throwing away her only source of protection, but did as she was asked. She held it like a javelin and threw it as hard as she could, but it landed a few feet short and very close to the thrashing creature. Hazel rushed forward to seize it, but was knocked over by the creature, who was unaware that she was even there, and if Hazel hadn’t moved as fast as she did she would have been crushed beneath it. Bree didn’t waste a second. She leaped forward, seizing the staff as she did, grabbed the now dazed Hazel under one of her arms, and helped her back to her feet. Hazel had been wounded, but still had her wits about her. “The chest!” she shouted. Bree looked down at the shaft. “The chest!” Hazel screamed again.
Bree let go of Hazel’s arm and used her wings to fly as high as she could, but the heavy rain was making it next to impossible for her to fly. She persevered and got just high enough for the purpose she had in mind. Closing her wings, she plummeted towards the thrashing creature, lifting the shaft as she did so. It all happened too fast for Hazel to see, but just before Bree fell on the creature she thrust the staff into its exposed chest. It roared so loud it could be heard halfway across the woodland. To Hazel’s surprise, Bree was now standing on the creature’s chest. Staff in hand, she pulled it out and thrust it back into the dying creature’s chest once more, but this time leaving it there and sending the green power through the staff and deep into the creature. It roared a silent roar and then went rigid and silent. A second later it went limp and motionless. Hazel stood up and found Bree exhausted, half-kneeling on the chest of the dead creature and still hanging onto the staff.
Hazel was a still little dazed but just steady enough to walk over to where Bree and the creature were. Bree pulled the staff out from the lifeless body of the creature just as her leg gave out and stumbled off it. Hazel rushed forward, just in time and caught her in her arms, but fell backwards with Bree, landing on to
p of her. “Are you alright?” Bree asked. Hazel glanced up and smiled, “I’m not quite sure,” she joked, Bree smiled, got up and helped Hazel back up onto her feet.
“Nothing broken,” Hazel said tiredly, trying out the movements of her joints, now satisfied that she wasn’t badly injured other than her pride and a few cuts and bruises. “Quite the warrior… I believe we have just made you a new legend,” Hazel said jokingly. Bree smiled, high on the adrenalin that was still rushing through her veins. They both took a moment. Bree was soaked to her skin, her short, meadow-green hair hanging over her forehead and the ring of flowers gone. Hazel, on the other hand, was totally covered in mud, her red hair hanging over her face and shoulders. At first nothing was said and then they both started to laugh, partly because of the way they looked and partly out of relief that they were still alive.
Bree offered the wooden staff back to Hazel. “Keep it,” Hazel smiled. “The power I infused it with will last as long as it’s never broken.” She paused and placed her hand on the shaft. “Besides… you’ve earned it.” Bree didn’t say anything at first. She looked at the staff and then to Hazel. “How did you know that it would kill the creature?” Hazel smiled again. “I didn’t… but you needed protection… that’s all it was for… but you…” She stopped mid-sentence and let go of the staff. “I gave it the power… but you, my dear, gave it its strength.” They were both tired and Hazel was starting to really notice the pain in her battered body, so they decided to find shelter and rest up a while. Now that the creature was dead there was no need to rush off and find the rest. Hazel needed a little time for her wounds to heal, and Bree just needed to rest up.
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