“What old writings?” Tired of being spoken to in riddles, Edwin fished the Wychetts Key out of his pocket. “Inglenook, what is she on about?”
“The Shield Maiden is fearful, Young Master. She believes the Shadow Clan have embarked upon a dangerous venture, and I share her concern. But there is no time to explain at this moment. The Young Mistress is still in great peril, and we must hasten to her aid.”
“Sure.” Edwin was eager to get going. He knew it would be dangerous taking on the Shadow Clan with Bryony as their hostage, but with the help of the Nyx he was certain they could win through. He turned round to look for the Nyx Queen, but she had still to rise from the sewer. Then he heard a gulping voice from below.
“Young Guardian of Wychetts, we must address you.”
Edwin walked back to peer down into the opened sewer. The Nyx Queen stared up at him from the gloom. He still found it hard to read Nyx expressions, but he thought he saw regret in her bulbous fish eyes.
His suspicions were confirmed when the Nyx Queen spoke again.
“We stand before you in shame, Guardian. For our people have elected not to join your fight against the Shadow Clan.”
It took a few seconds for the Nyx Queen’s words to sink in.
“You’re not going to help us?” Edwin couldn’t believe it. “But you said we’d team up and fight them.”
The Nyx Queen lowered her scaly head. “It is our wish to join you, Guardian. But the Nyx Council has voted against such action.”
“But you’re the Queen,” gasped Edwin. “Surely you can overrule the Council?”
“We…” The Nyx Queen hesitated. “I have no lawful right to embark upon war without their support, and such support has been waning of late. Some of my subjects would rather wait for the outcome of this struggle than pledge their allegiance to me.”
Edwin knew what the Nyx Queen meant: if the Shadow Clan succeeded in their plan, whatever that might be, Grinny Greengums would try and seize the throne. The Council was reluctant to openly support the Nyx Queen if it meant making them enemies of a victorious usurper.
“That’s democracy for you,” tutted Stubby. “Which is why I never vote at elections. The last thing politicians need is encouragement.”
“The Nyx system of government is not a democracy,” said the Weather Vane. “It should more accurately be described as a ‘devolved autocracy’.”
Stubby twitched his nose irritably. “Very clever, for someone who should be more accurately described as a ‘sign post’.”
“We understand.” Inglenook addressed the Nyx Queen with his usual courteousness. “And are grateful for the help you have so far provided us.”
“But there is something more I can do.” The Nyx Queen looked up at Edwin. “I shall provide you with a tool for the coming battle.”
The Nyx Queen’s scaly head retreated into the shadows. Despite her promise, Edwin couldn’t help but feel disappointed by the Nyx Queen’s desertion of their cause.
“I thought we could rely on her,” he sighed. “We stand even less chance of defeating the Shadow Clan now.”
“You must keep faith,” urged Inglenook. “We have the power of Wychetts at our disposal, not to mention a Shield Maiden of Asgard.”
Edwin looked around for Val, but she was nowhere to be seen. He wondered if she’d also deserted, then spotted the old lady hobbling out of her cottage back door.
“I popped in for a change of clothes,” explained Val. “As we’re about to do battle with the forces of darkness, I thought I’d better wear something more appropriate.”
Edwin couldn’t see much different about Val’s apparel. “You’re still wearing pink fluffy slippers,” he pointed out.
Val nodded. “But a clean pair. And I’ve changed my cardigan. This one’s woollier. Now I suggest we get a move on. Whatever the Shadow Clan are up to, they’re not going to sit about waiting for us to turn up and spoil things.”
“Good point,” agreed Stubby. “Except I’ve yet to hear anyone mention anything resembling a plan.”
“It’s simple,” said Edwin. “We zap ourselves to wherever Bryony is being held prisoner, rescue her and then use our combined magic powers to retrieve the Thunderstone.”
“I am afraid that will not be possible,” said Inglenook. “It would be dangerous to risk a transportation spell without a precise fix on the Young Mistress’ location. The only way to reach her is by some form of vehicular transport.”
“How about that thing?” Val pointed her walking stick at the car parked outside the cottage gate.
Edwin was aghast. “We can’t use Bill’s posh company car.”
“The boy’s correct,” said Stubby. “I doubt whether foiling the plans of an evil coven is a permitted use on its business insurance policy.”
“That wasn’t what I meant,” said Edwin. “It’s a car. What we need is…”
“A driver,” said a familiar voice from behind him. “That’s what you need.”
Edwin was shocked to see Bill climbing out of the sewer.
Despite Edwin’s misgivings, Inglenook had convinced him that it would be safer for Bill and Jane to remain in the Nyx royal palace until his return, so he was surprised to see his stepfather joining them.
“You’re lucky I’m here.” Beaming enthusiastically, Bill strode through the garden gate to his car. “Come on, let’s get going.”
“We can’t go anywhere yet,” said Edwin. “The Nyx Queen said she would give us something to use against the Shadow Clan.”
“She has.” Bill waved his car keys. “Me.”
Edwin had been expecting some sort of magical charm or weapon, and found it hard to hide his disappointment. “She gave us you?”
Bill shrugged. “I’m the only one here who can drive. Now in you get, chop chop.”
Whilst Edwin stood there shaking his head, Val hobbled briskly towards the car.
“It’s been a long time since a gentleman took me out for a ride.” She smiled coyly at Bill as he held the front passenger door open.
“I bet you used to love the fast boys.” Bill helped the giggling Val into her seat before hurrying round to the driver’s door. “Come on Edwin. Don’t you want a trip in my posh company car?”
Edwin continued to shake his head. He wasn’t sure what Bill knew of their mission, but doubted if his stepfather fully realised how dangerous it would be. But Edwin knew one thing: they weren’t going to reach Bryony in that car, no matter how posh it was.
He was about to say as much to Inglenook when he felt a tingle from the Wychetts Key, and saw a pair of large wings sprouting from the sides of the car.
“That should be sufficient,” said Inglenook. “I suggest we make haste, Young Master.”
A grinning Edwin ran to the car. Bill had seated himself behind the wheel, and hadn’t noticed his car now had wings. Edwin tried to sit in the back, but getting the Weather Vane inside wasn’t so easy. In the end Bill had to open the sunroof so that Edwin could feed the Vane’s bent metal shaft through the top.
“Are you comfortable up there?” Edwin doubted if the Weather Vane approved of the seating arrangements.
“It is somewhat undignified,” sniffed the cockerel. “But at least I am on high again, and can converse with the Four Winds.”
Stubby nodded. “And if the radio reception gets dodgy, we’ve got a great secondary aerial.”
Edwin climbed onto the back passenger seat and closed the door. “Let’s go,” he urged, fastening his seat belt.
Bill started the car. “Listen to that,” he crooned. “As quiet as a mouse.”
“If only that was an accurate simile,” pondered the Weather Vane.
“And she’s got great suspension.” Bill released the handbrake. “It’s going to be the smoothest ride you’ve ever experienced.”
The car lurched, and Edwin noticed the wings had started flapping.
“Probably a couple of spark plugs need changing.” Bill still hadn’t noticed the car’s exter
nal modifications. “But don’t worry, she’ll be fine after a mile or two.”
Bill pressed his foot on the accelerator pedal. The wings flapped faster, and the car lifted off the ground.
“Didn’t expect that.” Frowning, Bill peered through the windscreen and over the bonnet. “She normally tends to move in a more horizontal direction. Now, where are we headed?”
“We need to reach Bryony,” Edwin told Bill. “She’s being held prisoner by the Shadow Clan.”
“Righto.” Bill seemed remarkably unconcerned. “If you can give me a postcode I’ll use my posh company sat nav.”
“Proceed in a south westerly direction for ten miles,” said Inglenook. “And turn left when you reach one thousand feet.”
“Weird.” Bill tapped the satnav on the car dashboard. “I haven’t told it where to go yet. And it normally speaks in a nice lady’s voice.”
Edwin looked at the Key. “I think you’d better do the driving.”
Inglenook smiled, and the car zoomed upwards.
“Don’t worry.” Bill fiddled with controls on the dashboard, seemingly unaware they were airborne. “I’ll have some cool driving tunes on in a second. There.” He sat back and smiled as the sound of pop music blared from the car stereo. “You can’t beat this album: Classic Car Anthems from the Nineteen Eighties. And this is my favourite track.”
“Mine too.” Val nodded appreciatively. “I saw these perform live, you know.”
“No way!” Bill made a bad attempt at feigning shock. “Surely you weren’t even born back then.”
Val giggled. Edwin was horrified.
“Will you two in the front stop flirting?”
Val grinned at Edwin, but her grin became a grimace when Bill started singing.
“That’s the wrong words,” she growled. “It’s not even the same song.”
“He always does this,” sighed Edwin.
“Cheer up everyone.” Bill fished a crumpled bag out of the glove compartment. “And have a mint humbug.”
“Thank you.” Val took a couple of sweets, and was about to pop them in her mouth when Bill started singing again. So she put them in her ears instead.
“Look at us.” Edwin shook his head with despair. “How are we going to take on the Shadow Clan?”
“You must keep faith,” said Inglenook. “Faith in your friends and the power of Wychetts. But most of all faith in yourself.”
“I’ll try.” Edwin nodded. “But you still haven’t told me what the Shadow Clan is up to.”
“All will be revealed,” said Inglenook. “And I believe quite soon.”
The car zoomed higher before levelling out. All around the clouds were changing; the once menacing grey masses melting into harmless white wisps. Edwin glimpsed clear sky ahead, a dab of bright blue growing steadily larger. It was a sight he’d never thought to see again, and felt a surge of renewed hope. But then he heard a cry from the Weather Vane.
“Attention! Object sighted at three o’clock!”
Bill stopped singing, and leaned forwards to check the dashboard clock. “But it’s only half past one.”
Edwin knew what the Weather Vane meant, and looked out of the passenger window to see something forming in the sky.
Val had seen it too. She leaned forwards, her eyes widening behind her tortoise shell glasses, her lips trembling as she uttered a terrified whisper.
“By the Gods. They did it.”
Chapter 18- Pure Ultimate Power
“A rainbow.” Bryony gave Katya a puzzled look. “You went to all that trouble to make a pretty rainbow?”
“That is not a just a pretty rainbow,” purred Katya. “It is Bifrost, the Bridge of Fire.”
“A bridge to what?” Bryony turned back to study the rainbow. Whilst rainbows were a common enough sight, she realised had never seen one quite like this. It stretched across the sky in a shimmering halo of banded colours, burning with an unnatural intensity. It almost hurt to look at, and she understood why the Shadow Clan had to wear sunglasses.
Katya still hadn’t answered her question, so Bryony was left to make her own guesses.
“It leads to some kind of treasure, right? Everyone knows there’s treasure at the end of a rainbow. And leprechauns.”
“The girl is a fool,” spat Dawes. “Leprechauns indeed!”
“But she is right about the treasure,” said Katya. “And the Bridge of Fire leads to the greatest treasure of all. And that is power. Pure, ultimate power.”
“No more!” Still sheltering behind Katya, Grinny Greengums gulped pleadingly. “It burns. No more!”
Katya nodded at Captain Dawes, who pressed another button on the flight controls. The window shutter closed, and Grinny Greengums exhaled a relieved belch.
Katya removed her sunglasses and fixed her emerald gaze on Bryony. “So now you understand our plan?”
Bryony nodded slowly. “You used the Thunderstone to create the Bridge of Fire, and now you’re going to cross the rainbow to get your hands on some magic power.”
“Very good,” said Katya. “But not quite right. We aren’t going to cross the Bridge of Fire. You are.”
Bryony couldn’t help but laugh at such a suggestion. “Why should I do that?”
“You are a Guardian of Wychetts,” gulped Grinny Greengums. “And only a Guardian of Wychetts can handle Rainbow Magic.”
“You’ve heard of white magic.” Katya responded to a mystified look from Bryony. “And black magic too, of course. Rainbow Magic is a multitude of colours, a cocktail of magic powers more potent than any force in nature.”
“But it is toxic to us,” explained Dawes. “We would burn to a cinder within twenty feet of it. Well…” He glanced at Twisted Bough. “Those of us not suffering from mildew.”
“That wasn’t what I meant.” Bryony spoke quickly before another argument could erupt between the Captain and the ugly tree. “I meant that I have absolutely zero intention of helping you.” She folded her arms and smirked at Katya.
“Remember what I said when you first came aboard?” Katya folded her arms and smirked back at Bryony. “We have your father, so you have no choice in the matter.”
The smile vanished from Bryony’s lips, but she remained defiant in front of her captors.
“You can’t threaten me. I’m a Guardian of Wychetts. Inglenook would never let anything happen to me or my dad.”
“Like he saved you from our trap?” Katya’s purr became a chuckle. “He failed you, and he can’t help you now. You have no choice but to do as we command.”
Katya’s words struck a chord with Bryony. It was Inglenook’s fault she’d been captured by the Shadow Clan, and she could no longer rely on the so-called Keeper of the Ancient Wisdom to save the day.
But she couldn’t let her enemies know that.
“Never.” Bryony shook her head. “I’ll never help the Shadow Clan.”
“Then I’ll make your father suffer.” Grinny Greengums sliced the air with her sharp clawed fingers. “And you with him.”
“And I’ll make you suffer too,” said Twisted Bough.
“There’s little chance of that.” Dawes sneered at the ugly tree. “Unless you’re intending to bore them to death by recounting your entire life story.”
“I’ll just give them the highlights,” promised Twisted Bough.
“Then you’re in luck,” Dawes told Bryony. “Looks like it will be over in a matter of seconds.”
“I won’t let you harm my dad.” Bryony clenched her fists as she squared up to Katya. “Or my step mum Jane.”
Katya frowned. “We do not hold your stepmother captive.”
“Your creatures kidnapped her last night.” Bryony found it odd that Katya could have forgotten such a thing. “When they invaded our cottage.”
“Miss Greengums.” Katya looked enquiringly at the dark Nyx. “Can you explain?”
“I fear the Queen’s hand in this,” gulped Grinny Greengums. “She may have discovered our plans and has alread
y moved against us.”
“No matter.” Katya’s blonde head swung back to Bryony. “Once we have Rainbow Magic at our disposal, no one will dare oppose us.”
“I won’t help you.” Bryony remained defiant. “I won’t help you destroy the world with Rainbow Magic.”
Katya’s delicate eyebrows arched. “Who said we wanted to do that?”
“We live in a dangerous age,” croaked Captain Dawes. “Another war is looming, and we must arm ourselves to secure victory.”
Wychetts and the Thunderstone Page 12
