by Jacky Gray
He tried tearing the cloth but it was too strong to tear and so slippery he could not get a proper hold. With no choice, he unsheathed his knife and delicately cut into it until he had a slit he could get his fingers into to pull it apart. Still too strong, but he felt something hard and smooth underneath. A mask, like the one Edlyn wore, but covering her whole face. At least this would protect her face, so he wasted no more time and ripped at the material with his knife. Howling in frustration at what he found under the mask, he quickly checked the other grave.
Getting up made his head swim and he staggered a step or two as a familiar pain tightened in a band around his chest. The cut on his hand throbbed and he realised the material was coated in something noxious. Poison. As his mind reeled, Bow appeared in front of him.
‘The poison is from a yew tree, Archer. It may weaken you, but you will not die. When my blood mingled with yours, it gave you strong protection. Search inside your reserves, you can get over this. Believe it cannot hurt you and it won’t.’
Under her guidance, he lay so every inch of him made contact with the damp grass and breathed in deeply, allowing the sun-charged oxygen to fill every part of his lungs, breathing out quickly before dragging in another lungful of the revitalising air.
After thirteen breaths, she bade him get up. His initial drunken lurch accelerated into a full-speed run as he headed to the house.
43 Final Torment
Archer could not believe how he’d been tricked. Edlyn’s evil mind was so warped, it seemed he would stop at nothing in his campaign to make Archer suffer. Reason asserted itself. He’d only had a few hours head start to devise these torments and it must have taken some time to fashion the mock graves so there couldn’t be too many more surprises left for him. Ganieda was still able to send messages, so the drug had only paralysed her body, not her mind. Although not particularly heavy, the dead weight would prevent her being carried too far.
Spotting the wheel-tracks, he brought up his initial image of her. She was not strapped to the table but to some kind of wheelchair, so Edlyn just had to push it back into the house, which meant she would be on the ground floor. Finding no sign of her in the kitchen, his warrior senses prickled as he kicked the door to the living room wide open so anyone hiding behind it would be trapped. She was alone but, as he bent down to release her bonds, she shook her head. Realising she was trying to mind-link but failing to do it properly, he got the image of the stairs in his head and when he glanced at her she stared at the room above the one they were in.
Slicing through the straps holding one of her arms, he gave her a pair of scissors from the kitchen drawer, kissing the top of her head before going out into the hall. There were no sounds from above, and he climbed the stairs slowly and carefully so they would not creak. The door to the bedroom above the living room was closed and he glanced into the first bedroom: still empty.
De-focussing his eyes, he used his trained memory to visualise the room’s layout: a large double bed, a table and a large closet which is where the snake must have hidden the two youngsters. He focussed on what was going on in there, but could only hear Bow’s voice telling him if he let Edlyn live again, many people would die. A nagging concern questioned whether he had what it took to kill his nemesis, suggesting it was a matter for a jury to decide.
A muffled sound, followed by a thump, then sounds of a struggle. This would be his best chance. Bursting in, he found Geraint bound from head to foot in the same sacking material which covered the death masks. He strove to knock Edlyn away from the motionless Siany who lay on top of the bed.
Without thinking, he slit through the back of the sheath and the rope binding Geraint’s hands. Those few seconds were all it took for Edlyn to jump up on the bed, holding the girl’s body in front of him like a shield with the blade of a knife pressed to her throat.
‘Drop it and kick it under the cot. Do it now or she dies.’
‘Do it, Archer. He will kill her; he’s mad.’
Dropping the knife, Archer kicked it a few feet under the bed where Geraint would be able to reach it.
‘Now you, boy. Use the rope to tie his hands behind his back. Quickly now, or she gets a new smile.’ As Geraint did his bidding, Edlyn inched his way to the edge of the bed, keeping the knife under Siany’s throat the whole time.
Archer saw the alarm on Geraint’s face as he glared at the man threatening his girlfriend. He sensed the boy was trying to mind-link with her, but she lay still and impassive. It was unlikely the drug had worn off her small body as quickly as it had on him.
‘I’ve decided she needs one anyway; it’ll keep you busy while I take my leave. Until next time.’ On the last word, Edlyn moved to slit her throat, but Geraint’s mind link had worked. She rolled her neck away from the knife and pushed herself onto the floor.
Realising he’d lost his chance, Edlyn let her go and ran to the door, looking back for a second as he opened it. He did not see Ganieda standing there and ran straight into the pair of scissors she held at just the right angle so the point dug deep through his ribcage. Staggering, he fell down the stairs which finished the job, pushing the blade up into his heart.
Ganieda calmly bent down and picked up the knife he dropped, using it to free Siany from her cocoon, asking them to tear off a piece of the sheet to stop the trickle of blood where the monster’s knife had pierced the girl’s neck.
Then she spent some time checking each of them for minor injuries, fussing over Archer’s hands and insisting he wash away the dirt where he’d dug up the graves.
‘What about Edlyn? Aren’t you going to try and save him?’
‘So he can try to harm more people? Don’t you ever listen to good advice Archer?’
‘He’s already dead. He died when he hit the third step.’ Siany’s voice was quite detached as though discussing the weather.
The whole sorry affair had taken no more than twenty minutes although it seemed like hours of mental torture to Archer. He gave a wry smile as Finn burst through the front door, knife in hand.
‘Sorry mate, you might want to go and see to Orion; I’ve been kind of busy.’
Ryder strode over to the body on the stairs and lifted the head, letting it crash back down again. ‘Looks like a nasty accident to me.’
‘That’ll teach him to carry open scissors down stairs.’ Finn’s face was deadpan as he checked for a pulse.
‘Well, he won’t be doing it again; that’s for sure.’
Archer grinned at their ghoulish humour and Finn checked every room for threats before going out to see to his horse.
Ryder directed a couple of the others to get the wheelchair and use it to remove the body. He carried Siany over the blood on the stairs, then got straight down to clearing up the mess.
A roar announced the arrival of the next bunch of riders. Rattrick had taken the time to go into the town and find Darryn. They’d ridden with Hereward and a few others who diverted off to the Open Arms to check for any information. They planned to travel to Pitivo’s tribe at Lambourn to check on the other women and children.
Both fathers were relieved to find their children physically unharmed, but it wasn’t over yet. As she hugged her father, a pain over one eye made Siany wince. He tried to insist she lay down to rest, but she had other ideas, taking one of Geraint’s hands in hers and leading him over to Ganieda. The three of them together had enough power to get a weak picture.
‘Guaril. And the little one.’
‘Alfwin. Where are they?’ Archer directed them as Kalen would.
‘I’m not sure. It’s by some wagons.’
‘Have they gone back to our camp?’ Rattrick was concerned.
‘No, I don’t recognise … wait, did you see that?’
‘The girl. He’s taking her, Guaril’s taking her.’
‘I don’t recognise her.’ Ganieda knew many of Rattrick’s tribe.
‘Why would you? That’s Pitivo’s daughter Kia.’ Geraint’s tense tone affected everyone
as he looked at Siany in alarm.
Darrack chose that moment to appear and anyone with a fresh horse joined him and Ryder on the short ride to Lambourn.
Epilogue
‘Are you sure about this? You don’t have to do it if you’re not ready.’
Two couples queued in front of them, waiting to jump across the small fire pit ten paces away from the main Samhain bonfire on top of Silburgh hill. The crowd of onlookers gasped when the lad slipped on the wet grass as he landed, but they cheered as his girlfriend stopped him from falling.
Siany squeezed his arm. ‘Oh Geraint, I’ve been ready since the first time in Tol’s garden, when you asked what my name meant.’
He hugged her to him, breathing in her lemon-scented hair with a smile. ‘God is gracious.’
‘What?’
‘That’s what your name means. I looked it up at the librarie. Apparently it’s the Welsh female form of John.’
‘Did you look yours up?’
‘Geraint was king of Dumnonia in King Arthur’s times. They called him a valiant warrior.’
‘So, it means valiant warrior. Nothing like you then.’ Her eyes glittered golden in the firelight.
He paused as Rattrick and Savannah jumped, joining in the applause as they made it over safely. ‘It actually means old, but I don’t like that as much.’
‘But that’s exactly like you, old before your time.’ Another cheeky grin flashing fire-lit eyes.
‘Thanks, that’s two insults in two seconds. Is this what I’ve got to look forward to for the rest of the year?’
‘Oh no, the rest of your life. If you jump the bonfire with me, I take it as a lifetime commitment.’
‘Does that mean we won’t need to bother with a handfasting every year? That’s fine by me.’
Slapping his arm for his cheek, she gripped his hand and they jumped, giggling at the applause and blushing at the suggestions to “Give ’er a smacker,” but complying to even greater applause. They were the last couple to jump and everyone joined hands round the main bonfire. Circling it sunwise three times, each person thought of their intentions for the year to come.
At the feasting, Geraint and Siany sat next to Tamas, but when they tried to include him in the conversation, he did not respond. His heart was still heavy from the events of the previous week.
‘Is your head still bothering you? I’m sure Savannah will have something to let you enjoy the night.’ Siany was completely smitten with the healer’s powers.
‘How can I possibly enjoy the night when that monster has Kia? Who knows what he could be doing to her?’
‘I’m sure she’ll be fine. Guaril only took her hostage because he knows he can get a huge ransom from her father – he’d pay anything to get her back.’ Geraint did his best to reassure his friend.
Tamas nodded. ‘You’re not wrong there. Pitivo summoned me to see if I had a connection to her; he must have been desperate.’
Siany caught Geraint’s eye and he asked the question they were both thinking. ‘What do you mean, a connection?’
‘After the trial, he knew I … liked her, and he wanted to know if I thought she …’
‘You mean he doesn’t mind about you and her?’
‘No. That’s why he was pleased to stop the trial and come up here. He said he’d be proud to have Kia betrothed to me.’
‘You jest. Pitivo said that? We thought no-one would be good enough for his princess.’ Geraint shook his head in disbelief.
‘Apparently, when he heard about the way I stood up to Guaril, I was like some kind of hero to him.’
‘Not just to him, Tamas. I’m fed up with girls wanting to meet you. You’re bigger than Archer right now, even Robin Hood.’ Geraint grinned at Siany who raised her eyes heavenward as Tamas bent his head, resting it into his hands.
She touched his arm. ‘Try not to worry, Tamas. Pitivo’s not on his own. I’ve never seen my father so passionate about getting all the Renegates and Townies working together. This seems to be important to him.’
Tamas’s glance at Geraint held meaning; they knew the professor would be keen to help after nearly losing his daughter to the gang. ‘I just wish they’d let me join in the searches.’
Geraint understood his friend’s anguish. ‘It’s hard, mate, but you should trust Savannah. She knows what she’s doing.’
‘She thinks my despair will interfere with the sensitives scanning each area.’ His tone was bitter.
‘Don’t take it personally. They won’t let me and Siany help even though they know we can enhance their abilities like we did with Edlyn. They just see us as children.’
‘It’s not fair. I can’t stand doing nothing.’
‘But we have to respect our elders; it’s in the code.’
Siany frowned. ‘I’m not governed by your code. If we just had something of hers …’
Tamas scrabbled around in his pocket and brought out a beautiful golden locket. ‘Pitivo gave me this. She used to wear it every day, but it broke and he got it fixed. It’s got a curl of her hair.’
Siany took the precious thing, holding it in her hand for a second before looking at Geraint, her eyes shining. ‘This would be enough. It could work.’
‘Especially tonight. It’s only a few days since full moon, so there’s plenty of power around.’
‘Not forgetting what just happened. The line of bonfires up and down the country means this whole area is filled with an extra burst of energy. Anything we try now just can’t fail.’ Siany’s faith was persuasive. ‘We should go to the long barrow.’
Despite Tamas’s long face and obvious doubts, Geraint found her enthusiasm infectious. ‘Where else? Come on, we’ll get some torches and light them from the bonfire. Do you have any candles?’
Determined to light their way, the moon showed her support for their endeavour as they followed the stream past Silburgh Hill. They found the burrow deserted, it being much too early for the drummers. Once inside, Geraint shivered at the damp musty smell which sought to overpower the smoky aroma they’d brought with them from the bonfire. As the boys sat, Siany created a small altar with the candles, and a feather, shell and crystal to represent the elements.
Putting the locket in her left hand, Siany clasped it with Tamas’s right hand, and they linked with Geraint to form a circle. She started off, guiding them through the breathing to reach the required level of meditation. As she’d never met Kia, Geraint led the visualisations, imagining her at the camp, then being taken by Guaril and Alfwin to the cave in the woods just outside Aveburgh.
Hunter had followed the tracks of the three of them but, when he got there, he only found the imp’s dead body; there were no signs of the other two leaving. They searched for some kind of hidden exit at the back of the cave for several days, using various techniques, but found nothing to suggest it went any deeper than the small chamber.
As Geraint concluded his description of the setting, a thin line of smoke from the incense curled up to the ceiling, spreading a spicy rose vapour similar to the scent she wore.
‘Imagine you can see Kia. Visualise her long honey-coloured hair and blue eyes.’ Closing his eyes, he projected a picture so Siany could focus on the image. ‘What is she doing now?’
After a few minutes’ total silence, Tamas spoke. ‘I see her; she’s lying down. Don’t let her be dead.’
‘She’s not dead, she’s asleep. There’s a man with her.’ Siany’s tone was reassuring.
‘Is it Guaril?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Yes. I see him.’ There was venom in Tamas’s voice. ‘But I do not recognise anything about where they are.’
‘Are they in a house or a wagon?’
‘I’m not sure. It looks like …’
‘It’s not a wagon; it looks like a barn or something.’
‘Are there animals or grain?’
‘Neither. It’s too small to be a barn. I can see weapons or farm tools and a couple of two-wheelers ...’
>
‘The image is fading, concentrate harder.’
It was no use; no matter how hard they tried, they could not bring back the image. When they returned, they both tried to sketch what they’d seen on a slate.
The next day, they were summoned to a meeting in Malduc’s office. Several of the Aveburgh and Renegate elders were present along with Siany’s parents, and they all looked grave as Geraint told the tale. Siany filled in a few points, and Tamas finished with a heartfelt plea.
‘She’s alive, I know she is. They’re in some kind of small barn. We need to send search parties out to look for buildings like this one.’ He held up the image he’d drawn, and Siany did the same.
Archer took them and as they passed round the room, each man studied them closely with a grunt or comment, but none of them seemed to show any signs of recognition.
The council leader’s face was grim. ‘Thank you for your information, but I must be very clear on something: None of you are ever to try anything like this again without appropriate supervision.’
Tamas started to protest, but Malduc was adamant. ‘You have no idea of the dangers involved. You’re dabbling with powerful unknown forces without the necessary skills to deal with them. I’m hoping I will not have to repeat this message but, if I discover any of you have made another attempt, I will be forced to ban you from visiting the sacred places of power for a year. Do you understand? Tamas, do I have your promise?’
The boy looked round at everyone in the room whose judgement he valued, but they were all frowning at his hesitation, even Hereward, so he nodded.
‘Your oath, Tamas, you must say it.’
‘I promise not to use magic to look for Kia.’
A hard stare said Malduc understood Tamas’s unspoken intent, but he let it go.
Tamas caught Geraint’s eye, and he nodded. This wasn’t over, not by a long shot.
