Wychetts and the Thunderstone

by William Holley

  Edwin nodded, but he sensed Bryony’s quietness was caused by more than just fatigue.

  “Perhaps we should be getting home too,” he ventured. “Thanks for the tea, Val.”

  “My pleasure,” said the old lady. “And thank you for helping me recover the Thunderstone.”

  Edwin studied the wedge shaped stone in the middle of the table. “Promise to look after it more carefully from now on?”

  Val shook her head. “I’ve been thinking about that. Perhaps it might be better if you guarded it instead?”

  “We couldn’t do that.” Edwin gawped at Val. “The stone belongs to you.”

  “The Thunderstone belongs to no one,” said Val. “I am merely a custodian. And getting a bit too old for such a duty.”

  “And perhaps a bit addled in the head,” said Stubby, “if you’d entrust these two with something as powerful as the Thunderstone. They might have saved the world, but I’d sooner trust a dog to cook me a drool free dinner.”

  “There is an alternative arrangement which will suffice,” said Inglenook. “Valarie, would you be so kind as to bring the Thunderstone a little closer.”

  Val picked up the Thunderstone and held it over the Key. Inglenook closed his eyes, and the Thunderstone began to shimmer. In the blink of an eye it had transformed into a large silver spoon.

  Edwin and Bryony swapped bemused glances, but Val seemed to know what Inglenook had in mind.

  “Of course. The perfect solution.” Chuckling, she held the spoon in the air and shouted. “Spooooon!”

  A bubbling noise drew Edwin and Bryony’s attention to the stream beside the garden. A giant tentacle arose from the water, its quivering tip probing the air.

  “The Knucker!” Edwin grabbed Bryony’s arm. “Quick everyone, find cover!”

  He was about to drag Bryony under the table, but Val shook her head and smiled. Then she tossed the spoon at the Knucker, which caught it deftly with its probing tentacle. The water broiled as the tentacle submerged, taking the spoon with it. Then a deep voice came gurgling from the stream.

  “Special spooooooooooon!”

  Grinning, Val dusted her hands together. “That takes care of that. No one will ever get their hands on the Thunderstone now. And I can look forward to a nice relaxing retirement. Only thing is, I’ll need to find a replacement paperweight.”

  Edwin stifled a giggle as he held up a rock cake. “How about one of these?”

  Chapter 30- You Have Proven Yourself the Stronger

  As the Nyx Queen had promised, Bill and Jane had been returned to Wychetts none the worse for their ordeal. Neither had any recollection of the days’ events, however Bill was disappointed to have received a letter stating that Gutterly Great Gutters and Downpipes Limited had ceased trading due to ‘economic difficulties’. However, he was cheered up by the news he’d won the Salesman of the Month award, and took great delight in placing the engraved plastic pipe shaped trophy on his bedside cabinet. Edwin suspected Inglenoook’s hand in that, but said nothing to dent his stepfather’s sense of achievement.

  Although Jane was naturally disappointed by Bill’s latest employment disaster, she at least seemed happy that he was home at a reasonable hour, and for the first time in weeks the family was able to share supper together. Edwin enjoyed the experience, but Bryony still seemed strangely muted.

  Later, when the rest of the family had gone to bed, Edwin slipped into the lounge to raise his concerns with Inglenook.

  “Something’s wrong with Bryony,” he told the Keeper of the Ancient Wisdom. “I’m guessing it’s down to the Rainbow Magic, but I can’t help thinking there’s something else.”

  “It has been a long day for both of you.” Inglenook’s voice was soft, deep and reassuring as ever. “Your most gruelling adventure yet. It may take some time for you to recover.”

  “I feel fine,” said Edwin. “And Bryony was supposed to be the more powerful Guardian.”

  “The Young Mistress may wield more powerful magic than you, Young Master. Yet you have proven yourself the stronger.”

  Edwin frowned. “How come?”

  “As Valarie said, there is a difference between power and strength. Power is raw force, it comes from muscle and bone. Strength comes from character and belief, from the heart.”

  “I’ve always trusted you,” said Edwin. “But for some reason Bryony doesn’t.”

  “Go to her,” whispered Inglenook. “She lies awake, and her mind is troubled.”

  “She won’t talk to me,” sighed Edwin. “She hasn’t said a word since we got home. It would be better if you…”

  “Go to her,” repeated Inglenook. “You may speak to her of things which I cannot.”

  Edwin doubted that Bryony would see him, especially at this late hour, but today of all days he wasn’t going to start questioning the Keeper of the Ancient Wisdom. He padded up the winding stairs, and on reaching the landing saw a slit of light under Bryony’s bedroom door.

  He dared not knock for fear of waking the grown-ups, so he carefully lifted the latch and eased the door open a fraction. Peering inside, he saw Bryony sitting upright in her bed, head turned to the window. The curtains were drawn, so Edwin guessed she wasn’t admiring the view.

  “Are you OK?” Edwin pushed the door open wider. “I saw the light on and wondered if…”

  “I can’t look at it.” Bryony spoke without turning round. “The moon. Why can’t I look at it?”

  Edwin shrugged. “Because you’re a werewolf? That would explain your eyebrows.”

  Bryony turned round to glare at him. “What’s wrong with my eyebrows?”

  “Nothing.” Edwin couldn’t keep the grin from his face. “They’re very pretty. Are you entering them in Crufts again this year?”

  The offending parts of Bryony’s face knotted together. “Have you come here to have a pop at me? Because I don’t want to talk to you or your pyjama pocket pal.”

  “Stubby?” Edwin shook his head as he stepped into the room. “He’s kipping under my pillow from now on. Hygiene reasons.”

  Bryony nodded. “Probably for the best. Glad you saw sense in the end.”

  “Yeah.” Edwin didn’t tell Bryony that the change to sleeping arrangements was actually Stubby’s idea. “Anyway, I didn’t come here to have a pop at you. I just wanted to say thanks. For saving me from the Rainbow Magic. It took a lot of guts.”

  Bryony scowled. “Are you saying I’m f…”

  “No.” A smile returned to Edwin’s lips. “Just that it shows what you can do if you trust Inglenook.”

  Bryony turned her head away again. “I don’t trust anyone.”

  “Er…” Edwin wasn’t sure how to respond, so he changed the subject. “I thought tomorrow we could have another game of magic chess?”

  “I’m not playing games anymore,” muttered Bryony.

  “Oh. Right.” Edwin decided against taking it further. It was obvious Bryony was in no mood to talk about anything, especially with him.

  “I suppose I’d better get back to bed.” Edwin turned to leave, but froze when Bryony spoke again.

  “She lied to me.”

  “I’m sorry?” Edwin looked round and saw Bryony was still facing the window.

  “Every day I’d ask her, and every day she’d tell me there was nothing wrong and that she would never leave me.” Bryony spoke calmly, her voice empty of emotion. “And then one day I woke up and she was gone. No note, no letter, nothing to say why or where she was headed, or if I’d even see her again.”

  Edwin held his breath. He’d never heard Bryony speak like this before, and he feared doing anything to spoil the moment.

  “She was my mum,” continued Bryony. “I trusted her more than anyone, and she lied to me. So how can I ever trust anyone again?”

  Edwin wasn’t sure if he was supposed to answer that question.

  “Except maybe one person.” Bryony’s voice became a husky whisper. “Maybe a boy. The bravest of boys, who risked everything to
retrieve the Key and save his fellow Guardian. The boy who trusted me to do the same.”

  Bryony’s head turned to face Edwin. Her lips were set in a quivering smile, and her dark eyes glistened with tears.

  Edwin returned her smile, then nodded goodnight as he left the room.

  He was sure there was more to it, that Bryony was holding something back from him, but it seemed at last they’d turned a corner. He was hopeful that in the coming days she might open up more and reveal what was troubling her.

  And it was her birthday in a fortnight, hopefully that would put a smile back on her face. Edwin resolved to make it a day Bryony would always remember, and that night started planning the family celebrations.

  But on the morning of Bryony’s birthday the letter from America arrived, and everything changed…

  Forever.

  To be continued…