‘Noo, noo, I’s not be doing that, she already had the sight.’
‘I can vouch for the last,’ Luned interjected.
Dijin turned to the Undine in surprise. ‘Your evidence.’
Luned shot a glance to her boss, Malik. He was tight-lipped and grey but nodded curtly.
‘I was on surveillance at the house on the cliff and Miss Stone saw me amongst the raspberries… though she had no idea what she was seeing at the time,’ Luned added on seeing Dijin’s look of thunder.
It looked as if Dijin was going to say something, then thought better of it, before turning back to Boris.
‘No matter, it does not negate the fact that it was you who led her to us. However, while it has a baring on today, your guilt will need to be determined in a separate trial.’
‘I’s not guilty, not guiltys. I’s only acting on the orders of the Dark Lady.’
‘Why would The Morrigan wish to rain down such destruction on us? We have no quarrel with her,’ Dijin scoffed, dismissing Boris’ claim. ‘Miss Stone, however, has proven to bring nothing but chaos in her wake. If I didn’t know better, I would say she has Veshengo blood.’
‘I object!’ Charlotte shouted. Dijin and the courts were so shocked they just stared open-mouthed and Charlotte took her chance.
‘Aside from the fact that I am clearly not a “man of the woods”, and ignoring for a moment your discriminatory comments, Boris is telling the truth. The Morrigan has ordered me to save the Brackenheath Oak and I bear the Mother’s Kiss.’ Charlotte exposed her arm and the burn marks glowed in the gloom.
The courtroom exploded at her final comment and Dijin simply stared at her with a face of fury. Without turning away he said something to the court clerk.
‘The defendant’s last comments will be struck from the records,’ the clerk squeaked. Clearly satisfied, Dijin turned back to a still-quaking Boris.
‘You should be aware that the consequences are severe, Boris. If you are found guilty your root will be severed – and you are already in enough trouble as it is.’
Boris paled at those last words. Charlotte didn’t know what it meant but it was clearly very bad indeed.
‘Take him down,’ barked Dijin at the guards. ‘You will be held pending your trial date; the air dungeon would be most appropriate I think.’
The poor Veshengo seemed to shrink into himself and whimpered softly as the Elfin Jury raised their bows and fired. The arrows twisted through the air, spinning it into silvery rope. As they landed, the ropes wound around Boris, burning his skin as they tightened, and he was led from the willow room.
Dijin, no longer distracted, turned his full attention towards Charlotte. Bathed in the full force of his fiery presence, she suddenly realised why he commanded such fearful respect from his peers.
‘Now, Miss Stone, what are we going to do with you?’
*
Sang had been looking for Charlotte for over an hour. She had expected to find her in the park with the oak but there had been no sign of her. If Sang hadn’t bumped into Lloyd and therefore been by the large weeping willow at the exact same time the guards were leading Boris away, she would still be searching.
It was the rustling of the leaves that had caught Sang’s attention and the odd heat haze that floated across the meadow before sinking into the river. She could have sworn she could hear whimpering too. Was it possible Charlotte was hiding out and crying over her lost family? Sang didn’t like to interrupt such a personal moment but she had the feeling it really couldn’t wait.
It was somewhat awkward trying to get under the willow’s veil of leaves. The tree curved round from the bank at an angle overhanging the water and a narrow peninsula of earth. If anyone was sat in the curve of the trunk no one would know they were there – it was what Lloyd called a ‘betwixt and between place’.
After assessing the peninsula, Sang decided it was strong enough to take her weight. Taking aim, she jumped, landing light as a cat and sweeping aside the willow branches as she leant forward to avoid falling into the water. What followed was pandemonium.
‘Dook Kascht!’ screeched the court clerk as members of the Seelie Court were sent reeling in all directions. The Elfin Jury swiftly loosened a dozen silver arrows in Sang’s direction. The arrows arched through the air before merging into one ball of green light.
Charlotte had pre-empted the elfin guard and rushed to the defence of her friend.
Pulling back a branch, Charlotte waited till the green light was on the descent before letting go. The branch collided with the green fireball sending it flying into the line of the Elfin Jury and sending them scattering like bowling pins.
Strike! Charlotte signed at Sang, as they stood together, ready for the backlash.
Several of the Elfin Jury were now on the ground, choking and spluttering as their skin cracked and turned brown – like the bark of a tree, the purpose of the green light disturbingly clear.
‘Watch out!’ Charlotte shouted a warning but the remaining guards had regained their composure and despite Sang’s best efforts to duck, a fresh bout of green flame made contact with the tip of one of her plaits. Charlotte watched with alarm as it solidified into wood and crept closer to Sang’s head.
‘Do something!’ Charlotte cried urgently to Luned.
‘I can’t undo this, it’s earth magic,’ the Undine replied in horror, ‘and it won’t end well for your friend.’
Sang’s face twisted in pain as the earth magic touched her scalp.
‘Atch Draba.’ Dijin released a bolt of fire magic.
‘Ha ha, stickface human. What a hoot!’ roared a hobgoblin, delighted at the impromptu entertainments as the Elfin Jury tried to return order to the proceedings. The Seelie Court were trying to regain their dignity while various members of the Unseelies were dancing like devils and acting out the moment the Seelies had been sent flying across the hall by Sang’s grand entrance.
‘Let’s all calm down, shall we.’ Everyone fell silent at Dijin’s voice. ‘We don’t want to shatter the human’s notion of fluffy cute fairies by turning petrified children into petrified trees… though it might be a fitting punishment for you, Miss Stone. We might need a new home after all this.’
‘I don’t think her aunt would allow that, Dijin,’ the court clerk squeaked.
‘No human is going to dictate fairy law to me,’ Dijin spat.
‘Remember who you are talking about,’ King Rosebay-Willowherb, leader of the Seelie Court cautioned him.
‘She made her choice, Sire.’
Charlotte was desperate to ask what they were talking about but she didn’t want to remind them she was there and she was busy seeing to Sang who was lying on the ground in shock. Luckily the pain seemed to have stopped and the magic wasn’t spreading anymore.
‘Don’t worry, Miss, there’s not much damage done,’ a frog-legged sprite cooed reassuringly, ‘though nothing will grow back again from that area of her scalp,’ she added, snapping off the matted hair twig. ‘Nothing else to be done.’ She waved it apologetically at Sang.
‘Explain the meaning of this defilement of our sacred court.’ The king was apoplectic with rage as he adjusted his wig and robes. A wave of sniggering broke out among the Unseelies.
‘Order, order,’ squeaked the court clerk. The Seelie Court had finally found their seats and, adjusting their finery, glared at Sang.
‘How do they get anything done with this lot?’ Charlotte whispered to Luned.
‘Oh, they’re not so bad, even come in useful at times. Besides, it’s tradition.’
Sang was now on her feet and signing forcefully, trying to get the courts’ attention but they were too busy bickering and shouting among themselves to pay her any heed and she gave up in frustration.
‘You need to listen, she’s trying to tell you something important,’ Charlotte barked at the courts, no longer interested in entertaining their silly traditions.
The flash of fire in Dijin’s eyes was the only
thing that stopped her from saying more but the courts fell silent at her outburst.
‘I can translate if needed,’ Charlotte added more politely.
‘With respect, human child, I hardly think the accused is the right person to be translating,’ King Rosebay-Willowherb added with a calm in his voice not reflected in his appearance. ‘You could tell us anything you like.’
Charlotte couldn’t argue with that. The frog-legged lady raised her hand and the king nodded for her to speak.
‘If the courts permit, I have some experience with this strange human language. I offer my services if His Majesty allows?’ The king of the Seelie Court nodded again and the frog-legged lady turned to Sang.
‘Are you willing to speak to me, human child?’
Sang nodded.
‘If it helps, look only at me and pretend there is no one else about. Now, what was it that was important enough to gatecrash these proceedings?’
Sang signed frantically and the frog-legged lady had to stop and calm her down on several occasions. Once she had finished, the frog-legged lady turned to the courts pale-faced.
‘The human child has had a vision that appears to foretell disaster for us all… but especially you,’ she nodded at Charlotte. ‘If the courts insist on opposing The Morrigan and defying the Mother’s wishes by imprisoning this one, it could spell the end for us all.’
‘Speak clearly, Andarwen.’
‘An unstoppable chain of events will unfold, bringing about the release… of the Echo.’
The silence was deafening. Charlotte and Sang exchanged looks; Sang clearly had no idea what Andarwen was talking about. In moments, the courts came to their senses and a wall of voices hit them like a tidal wave.
‘That is preposterous. “The Echo” is a silly fairy story designed to scare baby Fey. It’s not real,’ exclaimed a portly-looking gnome with a bushy beard that fell down to the floor.
‘And what would a human child know of the Echo?’ shouted a shrill, bird-like woman with silver hair, clothed only in rubies. The woman gave Sang a spiteful look when she finished speaking. She clearly hadn’t forgiven her for her unseemly entrance.
‘Many things can be revealed to the uninitiated through dreams. What I have provided is an interpretation of her dream.’ Andarwen was calm in the face of such outrage.
‘I should have known you would put your own spin on things – I’d expect no less from an Unseelie. This is a courtroom, we require solid facts and literal translation, please,’ Dijin replied.
‘You doubt my skills as a dreamseer, Lord Dijin? What I say are facts – just not necessarily in any format you seem to respect. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were scared.’
Dijin ignored her, instead looking pleadingly at the king who was already consulting with his advisers. The court clerk exchanged whispers with the group before banging his staff for order amongst the crowd.
‘The testament will stand,’ he squeaked. ‘All rise for the king’s verdict.’
The Seelie Court members duly stood as ordered, whereas many of the Unseelie Court, who had been standing, very deliberately sat down. Others started flying loop-the-loop around the room and Andarwen hopped over to Luned and Charlotte.
‘Do not be put off by the reputation of the Vorla,’ she whispered in Charlotte’s ear. ‘They may be your only hope before this is done. You’ll certainly get no help from this lot.’
The commotion finally died down and the king spoke.
‘In light of what we have heard today, I decree that the human child known as Charlotte Seshat Stone will be issued with an A.K.O.R.N for her irresponsible actions.’
There were some boos, but mainly cheers, from the Unseelie Court at this announcement.
‘The courts impress on the human child the seriousness of what she has done,’ the king continued. ‘It is felt that she does not fully understand the possible devastation of her actions, and while a custodial sentence is deemed inappropriate at this time, the conditions of the A.K.O.R.N are that she will make no attempt to cultivate any form of vegetation either by standard or sonic means until this decree is lifted. Any breach will have serious consequences.’
King Rosebay-Willowherb looked down at her in a manner he clearly thought was intimidating, but it was obvious he was not as well practised as Dijin.
‘Magic is prohibited for humans in this realm – for good reasons,’ he scolded her.
‘But why? Please, if I just understood…’
‘You are not required to understand, only to comply,’ Dijin cut her off. ‘No further discussion will be entered into.’ He turned to the shining Seelie Court. ‘As for the one who so recklessly taught Miss Stone the secrets of weaving, I put it to the courts that further enquiries are needed to discover their identity so they too can be brought to justice for this reckless act.’
Various members of the court nodded in approval.
‘I will consider your proposal,’ the king replied graciously before taking his seat.
Happy with their conclusions, Dijin and the court looked to the Elfin Jury who still hadn’t moved. In unison, the hooded figures nodded in agreement with the ruling before filing out of the courtroom.
*
Charlotte had expected some kind of formal close to the hearing but Dijin simply disappeared with a pop while the rest of the courts scattered chaotically, leaving the court clerk to unpick the willow leaves.
‘Is that it?’
‘All done,’ Luned smiled. ‘You got off lightly there. Thank goodness for Andarwen.’
‘Here, take this,’ Andarwen whispered behind them, pulling a green, almond-shaped object from beneath her shawl.
‘Is it a seed?’ Luned gasped. ‘She can’t take this, didn’t you just hear the king’s decree?’
‘I did indeed!’ The lady’s grin was full of mischief. ‘Oh, put away your silly P.O.D charter, Luned, before you put us both to sleep with boredom. She can keep it close, she doesn’t have to TOUCH it.’
‘What’s it for?’ Charlotte asked.
Andarwen shrugged. ‘It might be useful at some point.’
‘OK, when?’ Charlotte persisted.
Andarwen shrugged again. ‘No idea, but you’ll know when to use it when the time comes. You must not remain underground, Charlotte. Dijin may be blind but some of us realise who you are. I’ll leave you to fill in the details, Luned.’
Charlotte was about to ask her who they seemed to think she was, and correct the mistake, but Andarwen dived under the willow leaves and, with a splash, was gone.
Charlotte had so many questions she didn’t know where to start. What had just happened? Who or what was the Echo? Why was the Seelie Court wary of Clarissa? Before she could formulate any of these thoughts into words though, Luned was already leaving.
‘I trust you can find your own way home from here? Good. Try to stay out of trouble if you can,’ Luned said before disappearing with a pop.
Suddenly Sang and Charlotte were alone under the willow.
‘I saw your sister,’ Sang signed to a shocked Charlotte, ‘and she has a message for you.’
The Warriors of the Oak
The ‘Save Brackenheath Park by Class 34A’ project had been installed at the Wykenhall Public Library for just over a week. It stretched across two large display boards in the main corridor and included all their stories, not only about the Brackenheath Oak, but of trees from around the world.
Sang had done a piece on how the Buddha found enlightenment under the Banyan tree, Govinder’s essay was on the Indian tradition of planting a new tree at the birth of a baby and the McNamara twins had produced write-ups on fairy trees and the Ogham tree alphabet.
Charlotte was especially interested in these. It was a language she had never come across before but it looked just like the symbol she had found in the book from Clarissa’s library. According to Connor’s essay, the double left-handed bar meant ‘oak’. It had to be more than just a coincidence. Charlotte had no idea what the
relevance of the ‘rowan’ bars to the right was though. There were no rowan trees in Brackenheath Park.
Charlotte’s list of news stories where trees had been saved from the chop – and some where bad things had happened when they weren’t – had also made the display. A certain amount of real life was always important, Mr Thomlinson had said.
It seemed Sissy and Charlie were quite the artists, so they had produced some beautiful illustrations to accompany the stories and, of course, Olly’s songs and poems were also on display. The ‘crowning glory’, however, was a number of old photographs of Brackenheath Park and the Evergreen Oak, the centre picture being that of Charlotte’s grandparents.
‘It’s been very popular.’ The librarian was clearly very pleased. ‘It has brought in so many new customers. Was it your idea? We’ll have to prick your brains for future displays, I think.’ She beamed as she handed Charlotte her books along with a bag of chocolates. ‘A little thank you,’ she explained.
Charlotte was not comfortable with her new-found celebrity as poster girl for the ‘Save our Park’ campaign and it didn’t take her long to assess that she was well and truly out of her comfort zone. It wasn’t the librarian so much as the posh do she had been invited to at the Hickling residence later that evening.
*
Isla’s house was a grand-looking town house in the suburbs of Wykenhall on the Brackenheath Road. The white stone cladding reminded Charlotte of the Pimlico buildings that housed the Stone family flat, minus the balconies. Sparkly green, helium-filled balloons bobbed from the fence posts that were also festooned with green ribbons. A tap on her shoulder made her turn round.
‘Am I pleased to see you,’ Charlotte beamed at Sang. ‘I could do with some moral support.’
Sang broke into a flurry of hand gestures that Charlotte was now fluent in.
‘Not fair,’ Charlotte protested. ‘How come you get to sneak off early?’
‘I have very important errands to run – besides, I’m not the guest of honour,’ Sang signed with a wry smile, before squeezing Charlotte’s hand in support.
Charlotte Stone and the Children of the Nymet Page 17
