Azrael's Twins and the Circle of Stone

by Vincent Mortimer

  ‘You know you could do that yourself now, with my help,’ said Persephone.

  ‘I know,’ said Niamh. ‘But for now I think we should let Grady do his bit. He’s not in quite as much trouble as me. He needs some more things to be sorry for, and using that stone is a good start.’

  ‘You really are a princess, aren’t you.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘You’ve learned the art of scheming in no time at all. It appears to be in your blood. I think you will do well in this land.’

  Niamh paused. Was she really turning into the schemer Persephone thought she was? Maybe it was inevitable. She was certainly her mother’s daughter. And both she and Grady knew that someone’s scheme was being played out at Morrigan’s Lake. She just needed to make sure her scheme had the winning stroke of genius in it.

  Chapter 11

  Morrigan’s Daughter

  Grady threw his hands up in exasperation. ‘What part of “bad idea” don’t you understand?’

  ‘I don’t care whether you think it’s a good idea,’ growled Niamh. ‘I need you to use that stone and contact Modron.’

  ‘But why?’ said Grady, frowning. ‘You won’t get out of the castle without being seen and there’s no way I am going to help you with the invisibility spell. I’m in enough trouble as it is.’

  Niamh smiled. ‘I think I have a way around that,’ she said.

  ‘What?’ snapped Grady. ‘Have you found a way to clone some evil twin version of me to help you?’

  ‘Watch this,’ said Niamh, stepping back from Grady’s seat by the window in the long hall. ‘Are you there?’ she said, calling to Persephone.

  ‘I’m always here,’ came the reply. ‘Do you want to show off a little?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Niamh firmly.

  ‘You know what to do. Get ready.’

  Niamh closed her eyes and brought the vision of the river to her mind again. This time the transition into the water and out again was fast – much faster than before. Persephone’s spell surrounded her and she vanished from the room.

  Grady laughed in delight. ‘How did you do that?’ he said, jumping up.

  Niamh’s reply sounded as if it came from a great distance. ‘Persephone taught me how. Hephaestus can do the same for you. You just need to ask!’

  Grady cocked his head to one side, his eyes seeming to glaze over as if staring into the middle distance. He stood quietly and closed his eyes. A jolt ran through his body but was gone in a flash. He opened his eyes, and, in a blink, disappeared.

  Niamh watched from behind her charmed veil. Her smile faded when Grady reappeared. ‘What happened?’ she said, puzzled. ‘I can see you again. Could you not hold the spell?’

  Grady looked puzzled. ‘I am still holding it, Niamh. But why can I see you? You appeared when the spell was cast.’

  A whispered pair of voices answered, and this time it was not in their heads. The reply sounded as if it drifted on a breeze from a great distance. ‘You are both casting the same spell and using the same power. You are invisible to everyone else but yourselves.’

  Niamh and Grady exchanged puzzled looks. ‘How can we hear you?’ said Niamh.

  ‘We are stronger when we are joined in a spell like this. You are powerful in the physical world and you create a channel, a way back to the real world for us. But only a little way back. Only for our voices …’ The last was said with the unmistakable sound of regret.

  Grady held his hands out, staring at them as if seeing them anew.

  Niamh smiled, realising that her brother was enjoying the feeling of power delivered by the four elements woven together. ‘It’s a wonderful feeling don’t you think?’

  Grady nodded just as a noise from the doorway made them both jump. Vynda stepped into the room with Murdock close behind.

  ‘It’s empty,’ said Vynda, peering around. ‘They might be in the library or the kitchens. Has anyone checked there?’

  Murdock was his usual measured self. ‘Someone will be on their way to do that. We need to make sure we keep an eye on them. There’s no telling what they might get up to. Niamh was fairly angry after her mother lectured them yesterday.’

  Vynda walked over to the window, a few paces away from where Grady and Niamh stood, too scared to move. ‘I did think she was a bit harder than was needed. I wasn’t expecting her to be so convincing.’

  Murdock shook his head the merest fraction. Niamh was not sure if it was a deliberate “don’t talk about it” action or not. Vynda immediately changed the topic.

  ‘Remind me again why we haven’t simply sent the castle faeries to find them? It would be much quicker than us trying to search the castle.’

  Murdock chuckled. ‘The faeries have taken umbrage at the grogoch messing up the kitchens and burrowing into the corner they normally keep the coal in for the pet dragons – the little things they have around these parts. Every time he comes out now he is covered in coal dust and he tramps it around the kitchen. The cooks are beside themselves with the black sooty footprints and they have assigned a team of faeries to follow him around and keep everything coal-dust free. It’s a virtual battlefield in that kitchen but the grogoch has a stubborn streak, even stronger than Grady’s, so I doubt the faeries will win.’

  Grady scowled beneath his protective spell. Niamh covered her mouth to stop a laugh bursting out at Murdock’s words.

  ‘Has the course been set for the broomstick biathlon yet?’ Vynda said, as she began checking other corners of the hall – though why she thought they might be stupidly hiding behind the wall hangings was beyond her.

  ‘Yes,’ said Murdock as he began searching the other end of the hall. ‘It’s going to be a tough one this year.’

  ‘Has anyone told her yet?’ said Vynda, sauntering back to the doorway.

  ‘No,’ said Murdock. ‘And even if we told her and gave her all the help we could, it would be unlikely she would beat Hegeline. I swear that creature has some unnatural powers. She hasn’t been beaten here in the past three years. It’s … uncanny.’

  ‘Well, if Niamh is grounded there’s little chance of her managing much more than target practice. At least she will have some time here today by herself while we head in for the Best Dressed Vampire Contest. I never understand why they hold it every year. It’s not like they wear anything other than black evening dress with red trim. I mean, surely they could try something new for a change?’

  ‘You know vampires are traditionalists, Vynda,’ said Murdock, heading out the door. ‘Just because it’s worked for the last three hundred years doesn’t mean we should expect any great departure from their sartorial obsessions.’

  Vynda laughed as they stepped out of the room, the remainder of their conversation shut off as the door closed behind them.

  Niamh was the first to let her spell drop. ‘Why didn’t they tell me about the race!’ she said, scowling. ‘Honestly! Why do they think they can spring these things on me at the last minute?’

  Grady dropped his spell as Niamh ranted. ‘That’s how they like to work, Niamh,’ he said. ‘I thought you might have figured that out by now. Anyway. It’s obvious you’ve a chance to meet Modron. Why don’t we give it a shot?’ Grady pulled the stone Modron had given him from his pocket and held it out.

  ‘You had it all the time?’

  Grady nodded, but pulled his hand back as Niamh reached for the stone. ‘Mine to try, I think.’

  ‘Spoilsport,’ said Niamh.

  Grady let the stone nestle in his hand. It felt lighter than it looked and unusually warm to the touch. I have no idea what to do with this he thought to himself.

  ‘Would you like some suggestions?’

  ‘Go away,’ said Grady with annoyance.

  Niamh looked affronted. ‘I wasn’t doing anything!’ she protested. ‘Honestly Grady, I don’t understand why you ...’

  ‘SORRY NIAMH,’ said Grady loudly, injecting his apology into her rant. ‘I was talking to Hep.’

  ‘Oh. We
ll. Try and be a little quieter when talking to your invisible person. You don’t hear me talking to mine like that, do you?’

  ‘I’ve no idea what you might do in the quiet of your room, but will you let me focus on this please!’

  Grady turned his attention back to the stone while Niamh made a face behind his back.

  There must be an easy way he thought to himself. Modron’s words came back to him: “Reach for the roots of the mountain.” He closed his eyes and visualised Modron’s home. He felt his mind swoop down towards the floor of the throne room and winced as he plunged through the floor. Darkness filled his mind but he felt the core of the mountain reaching down and down, deep into the earth. Without realising, he stretched out his hand and felt the stone vibrate beneath his finger.

  ‘Look!’ said Niamh with a start.

  Grady opened his eyes and found the stone had begun to glow emerald green. It vibrated with a subtle resonance as a misty cloud coalesced into view above it. Modron’s voice sounded clearly from the sparkling cloud.

  ‘I wondered when you might call. Are you free to meet?’

  Grady answered first. ‘We’ve been groun…’

  Niamh rapidly cut into Grady’s reply. ‘Absolutely,’ she said confidently.

  ‘But Niamh,’ said Grady rolling his eyes.

  ‘You sound unsure,’ said Modron.

  ‘No. We’re fine,’ Niamh snapped, while glaring at Grady. ‘Would you like that broomstick ride today?’

  ‘Very much. I will meet you at the circle of stone near the shores of Morrigan’s Daughter.’

  ‘We don’t know where that is,’ said Grady.

  ‘Don’t worry. It’s easy to find,’ said Modron’s disembodied voice. ‘Fly towards the point on the ridge between the two lakes. You will be able to see it from your home.’

  Niamh turned to look out the window. ‘I can see it. There’s a sharp pointy thing sticking up there.’

  ‘That’s amazing,’ said Modron. ‘We trolls also refer to those sorts of features as sharp pointy things.’

  ‘Really?’ said Niamh in surprise.

  ‘No. Not really,’ said Modron. ‘Never, in fact.’

  Grady guffawed as Niamh blushed, and received a dig in his arm for his trouble.

  ‘The circle is in a line between that ridge and the hill of Tara. You’ll see the hill as soon as you cross the ridge. The circle lies in a glade which runs up from the lake edge. You can’t miss it.’

  ‘We’ll see you there at eleven o’clock,’ said Niamh, confidently.

  ‘Thank you,’ said Modron quietly. ‘See you there.’

  The stone shuddered and the mist evaporated as Modron’s voice faded.

  ‘If Mum finds out about this we won’t just be grounded. We’ll be shackled in a dungeon.’

  ‘The only way Mum is going to find out is if you tell her,’ said Niamh, sweeping away from Grady to the window. ‘Mum simply won’t listen to us and she hasn’t done anything to help me get ready for a race she’s about to dump me into without warning. Maybe whoever it is that Modron knows can give me some help. I’d love to rub that snotty Baskerville girl’s nose in it by winning the race. That would give them a shock!’ Niamh turned and angrily folded her arms as if the act of hiding her hands would prevent her inflicting violence on something. ‘Let’s get something to eat. I’m hungry after creating those spells.’

  Grady shook his head as he watched his sister storm out of the room. Sometimes he thought she should have been the one born with red hair. She certainly had the fiery temper to match the flaming colour.

  The courtyard looked unusually, unnaturally, clear of guards. ‘Can you see anyone?’ said Niamh, peering out from beneath her protective invisible spell. Casting it this morning had been easier again than yesterday’s effort.

  ‘It looks clear,’ said Grady from beneath his own invisibility spell. Both he and Niamh had waited until the royal party had headed away to the lake town for the day’s festivities before casting their spell and creeping through the castle to make good their escape.

  Their broomsticks sat against the wall on their rack. They were tantalisingly close.

  ‘How do we get the broomsticks without being seen?’ whispered Grady.

  Niamh shrugged. ‘Do you think they disappear under the spell as well? Or can everyone still see them?’

  Grady scratched his nose while he considered the problem. ‘I can’t see how a spell like this would be much good if you couldn’t hide your broomstick under it. I bet it will work. Tell you what. I’ll get mine first and see what happens.’

  ‘What if someone sees you?’ said Niamh.

  ‘What?’ said Grady incredulously. ‘Hello? Invisibility spell? Who’s going to admit to seeing a broomstick jump off a rack by itself. No one will believe them.’

  ‘Fair point,’ said Niamh after a moment’s consideration.

  Grady walked boldly up to the rack. He felt strangely empowered by the ability to walk around completely invisible. He scanned the walls of the courtyard, but there was not a soul to be seen. It was most unusual.

  The broomsticks glistened in the morning light as if oiled. He reached for his beautiful Red Oak mount and swung his leg over it.

  ‘That’s clever,’ said a voice from behind a pillar. A figure detached itself from the shadows. Quinn smiled in a self-satisfied sort of way and stood with his arms folded.

  Grady gave a start and the spell slipped from his grasp. He swung round and faced Quinn. ‘How … how did you know? Could you see us? I mean me. Could you see me?’

  ‘Oh well done Grady,’ said Niamh angrily. ‘Let him know our secrets why don’t you. He wouldn’t have known I could do it too if you hadn’t told him!’ Unlike her brother, Niamh did not drop the spell.

  ‘Did you know that even Balthasar wasn’t able to pull off that trick? But after you did it to hide Azrael’s diary I knew it would only be a matter of time before you worked out how to go large with it. It’s quite remarkable. And by the way, you can drop the spell. There isn’t a soul in this part of the castle. The guards are on perimeter duties or out and about. So apart from us three it’s virtually empty. Only Roland is here and he’s doing whatever he’s doing down in the stables – the smell of those dragons drifts up past my bedroom. I’m going to move to another room. It’s worse than getting stuck next to Hugh after he’s been eating boiled newt stew.’

  ‘So why are you lurking down here?’ said Niamh. ‘I thought you had moved on from suspicious behaviour.’

  Quinn smiled. ‘I figured you would be up to something. When I heard you had been grounded I knew it was a matter of time before you tried to do something which would dig the hole you are already in even deeper. It’s who you are.’

  ‘Yes!’ exclaimed Grady. ‘That’s exactly what I said when she told me what she was going to do! She never listens to me.’

  ‘Aaarghhh!’ cried Niamh. ‘Grady! Quinn didn’t know we were doing anything until then. For all he knew we were just going out for a spin round the castle. Well done, big mouth.’

  ‘Sorry Niamh,’ said Grady, realising his mistake.

  ‘So where are you off to?’ said Quinn.

  ‘I can’t tell you that,’ said Niamh defiantly.

  ‘Why not?’ said Quinn. ‘It would be only too easy to call your parents and tell them you were up to something.’

  ‘Well. There’re three reasons I can think of as to why you wouldn’t do that,’ said Niamh.

  ‘Oh really? Do tell,’ Quinn said as he leaned back against one of the columns.

  ‘Firstly, you aren’t a tell-tale. If anyone around here knows how to keep secrets it’s you. And we know plenty of your secrets.’

  Quinn gave Niamh a tight-lipped smile. ‘Fair enough,’ he said. ‘And secondly?’

  ‘You know there are secrets shared only between us. It’s special. This spell has to be one of them. Mum and Dad can’t know we can do this yet. When the time comes – and I know it will come – I will make sure I tel
l them. But that time isn’t yet.’

  There was no response from Quinn as he considered what Niamh had said. The two children stared each other down for a few moments before Quinn nodded.

  ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘This is one of those trust issues I have to work on – isn’t it?’

  Niamh nodded this time. ‘But the third reason is, I think, the best.’ Niamh smiled sweetly at Quinn, dipping her head a little and trying her best to look coy.

  Quinn backed away a little. He found Niamh’s look quite disconcerting – a bit like a wolf smiling politely, wagging its tail, all the while advancing with a purpose. ‘What is it, then?’

  ‘Bree,’ said Niamh.

  ‘Bree?’ said Quinn with confusion in his voice. ‘What about her?’

  ‘Oh come on, Quinn,’ said Grady. ‘Even I can tell you’ve a crush on her.’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ Quinn said, but the rising blush gave away his inner feelings.

  ‘Grady’s right you know,’ said Niamh, taking a few paces closer to Quinn. ‘And don’t think we don’t know it goes both ways too. How do you think she would feel if you dobbed in her best friend?’

  Quinn relented. ‘Oh, okay. I didn’t realise it was that obvious. When did you figure it out? I mean, we barely talk to each other.’

  ‘Hard to say. Little things,’ said Niamh. ‘And she blushes whenever you catch her looking at you. You do the same thing.’

  ‘Really?’ said Quinn looking horrified.

  ‘Really,’ said Niamh. ‘You’re doing it right now,’ she said, pointing at his face.

  Quinn put his hands to both cheeks and felt the warm glow. He frowned at Niamh but it was clear his heart wasn’t in it.

  ‘Okay, okay. I won’t tell anyone. Don’t … you know. Don’t say anything to her.’

  ‘Oh, you can trust me,’ said Niamh in her most sincere voice. ‘I’m the height of discretion. You know that.’

  Quinn rolled his eyes knowing his fate was more or less sealed.