by Shane Mason
‘But Mum said ─ ’
‘Yes, but losing it was not part of her plan, I bet.’
Like a sheen deep beneath her skin, Melaleuca saw frustration creep across Lexington’s face.
‘Lexington, relax,’ Melaleuca said. ‘We are doing fine. Stop thinking so much.’
‘But it is what I do!’ And anyway I loved today. There is much to solve in this land, to which I am suited. As for our parents - going back to find them, you will see I am right.’
Lexington read over the sheets of paper in detail. Upon completion her face lit up.
‘So at least we know why this place is called New Wakefield. It was probably named after the statue on the fifth floor.’
Outside the costume room, in the attic, a loud crash sounded, like someone falling over. Altogether they rushed toward the open door, peering into the darkness.
‘Can’t see anything,’ Ari whispered.
‘The door needs to stay shut all the time,’ Melaleuca said.
They waited and waited in silence, but no more noises came from the attic. On Melaleuca’s instruction they shut the door and headed for their rooms.
***
The sun had barely risen the next morning when Pemily and Petruce came separately to their rooms, waking them and ushering them out into the corridor. They shooed them along in a great hurry, until they met at the top of the Grand Ascension Stairs. Still bleary eyed and waking up, they asked what was happening.
Pemily whispered to them, ‘Shhh. Tis a great honour indeed.’ Pride rang out from her tones. ‘The Lady of the Mansion said you could use these stairs today.’
‘Shh,’ Petruce said. ‘Here they come. Follow me.’
Voices chattered five stories below. Harsh inaudible words rose up, echoing faintly in the Cathedral-Mansion roof. Pemily and Petruce trotted down the Grand Ascension Stairs, arms clasped in front, an air of importance about them. The cousins wandered behind them.
At the third storey set of stairs, Pemily and Petruce turned around to the cousins. Dismayed at their meandering, they hissed at them to get into a line. The cousins formed a line across the stairs.
‘No. Behind each other,’ Petruce said.
‘Why?’ Lexington asked.
Before Petruce could reply, people shuffled into sight and gathered at the foot of the stairs. Three men and two women stood alongside Aunty Gertrude.
Unsure, the cousins slowed their pace, studying the strange people. Deep, blue capes draped off them and they all wore uniforms of red, tough-looking wool. Gold and silver stripes traced lines across the chests of their uniforms, and a belt strapped itself tight across their waists, with another belt slung over their left shoulder which attached to their waist belt. Gnarled, naked knees protruded through holes cut into their black trousers, and out from under their high, calf boots, naked feet poked. Each of their left arms had what looked like a leather glove extending all the way up to their shoulder. Covered in belts, buckles, barbed wire, bamboo, and strips of thin leather, it looked like the arm of a suit of twisted armour.
‘What are they?’ Quixote said.
Pemily and Petruce shot looks of horror at the cousins and then at Aunty Gertrude and the gathered people.
Aunty Gertrude swung around to face them, and the gathered people looked up. Aunty Gertrude raised her left arm to calm the maids. The same weird looking leather glove clad her entire arm as well.
‘It’s alright girls I expect better manners from a dog. Leave them.’
The maids rushed back up stairs.
The lines on the faces of the caped people seemed deeply etched, adding a heavy, graven weight to them. They appeared as if they had never laughed or smiled.
Melaleuca did not like them. An ill feeling came off them.
‘Who are these people?’ Melaleuca asked.
With a smile full of vengeful relish, Aunty Gertrude replied, ‘These people are to be your pedagogues and discipliners.’
The words meant little to the cousins, though Lexington picked up on the word Pedagogues.
‘You mean teachers? Of what?’
‘I am sending you to the Vahn.’
With blank expressions the cousins gawped at her, none the wiser.
‘Ohhh ignoramuses. I am sending you to New Wakefield’s school of discipline!!!! And believe me when I say discipline, I mean suffering, pain, and hardship.’
Chapter 21 - The Vahn
‘School? Really?’ Quixote jumped up and down on the spot. ‘Are you for real?’
The stern group eyed Quixote’s questions with great disgust.
‘See their impertinence,’ Aunty Gertrude said.
The tallest of them, a skinny man with a face like crumbling bricks, stepped forward with an awkward gait.
‘I am Sah Task-Master Keen. DO not speak unless spoken too.’
‘Not this again,’ Lexington said.
He looked at her, then at Melaleuca, a flash of recognition crossing his face.
‘You look familiar...’ He turned his grey eyes to Aunty Gertrude.
‘My Lord, none of these children have ever been here before.’
‘Hummph,’ he replied.
A short, rotund lady surged forward, with a face like a pig’s head on a neck-less shoulder.
‘I am Task-Matron Bircher. Don’t talk back.’
She raised her podgy arms to hit them. Ari leapt in front of his cousins, blocking her. Shocked, Task-Matron Bircher recoiled. From behind her Task-Master Quenlein, a thickset man, with a scabby, sun-burnt looking face leapt out, swinging his right arm at Ari. Ari blocked the blow, surprising all the adults. Eyes ablaze with defiance, Ari gritted his teeth, uttering in a deep voice, ‘No one touches us.’
Task-Master Quenlein roared like an animal in his face.
‘Had I used my Galeslar-clad left arm, you would not be standing.’
Ari held his gaze though Task-Master Quenlein’s eyes reflected back his steel will.
‘Task-Master Quenlein, desist,’ Sah Task-Master Keen said.
He backed off growling at Ari, shaking his left arm at him. The leather-metalled armour that clad it covered his arm like an outer shield.
With its bits of belts, buckles, barbed wire, bamboo and other paraphernalia, Ari felt glad Task-Master Quenlein had used his right arm.
‘You have strength boy,’ Sah Task-Master Keen said to Ari. ‘It might hold you in good stead.’
He turned to the remaining man, a younger version of himself, though a face full of scars, as if barbed wire had been raked across it. ‘Master Phrenia, note all this down.’
Master Phrenia nodded.
‘These were the best that could be found?’ Sah Task-Master Keen asked.
Aunty Gertrude arranged a smug smile.
‘Sadly these are the best.’
The cousins prodded Melaleuca, asking her what to do in a whisper. Her instincts said to do nothing, but wait.
Alarmed, Lexington whispered to Melaleuca, ‘I want to stay here.’
‘SILENCE!’ Aunty Gertrude shrieked.
‘Matron Henlenessy, are they suitable?’ Sah Task-Master Keen asked.
Matron Henlenessy moved forward, a younger looking version of Aunty Gertrude with fuller lips. She eyed them up and down with a cold eye, and pronounced, ‘A few days or weeks will soon answer that.’
Sah Task-Master Keen chortled, explaining, ‘She is a Matron of the House of Knives. Given to her order is the gift of judgment and decision making. Seems she is on your side.’
Quixote broke away from his cousins, falling at the feet of Task-Master Quenlein. He grabbed his knees and protruding toes, laughed and said, ‘I can see your toes, and ya pants have holes in them.’
Task-Master Quenlein reached down and with his meat-cleaver sized hand, picked up a smirking Quixote and drew his other hand back to hit him. Sah Task-Master Keen held his hand up, stopping him.
‘The imp has no fear. Admirable.’ He turned to Aunty Gertrude. ‘They may be suitable, yes. I sh
all inform the Head Discipliner.’
Task-Master Quenlein put Quixote down. With an out of place gentleness, Master Phrenia grabbed slowly for Quixote’s hands, guiding them to his protruding kneecaps.
‘Feel them boy, feel them good.’
Quixote slapped both his hands on his knees. A puzzled look crossed Quixote’s face.
‘What do you feel boy?’
Quixote looked up at him and then his cousins. He knocked on a single kneecap.
‘It feels like hard wood.’
Master Phrenia pulled bits of barbed wire out of his pocket and threw them on the floor, standing with all his weight on them. After jumping up and down a few times, he lifted his boot, showing it had no underside. Despite the barbed wired, neither puncture wounds nor blood could be seen.
‘Do that one day and you’ll prove worthy enough to stand with the best of us.’
Despite his ugliness and gruffness, Ari responded to his admonition feeling he could be that tough.
Incensed, Lexington said, ‘How disgusting. What about the intellect, great books, literature, science ─ ’
‘SSSSSS,’ Aunty Gertrude hissed, making a throat cutting gesture. ‘My lord, I ─ ’
Sah Task-Master Keen held his hand up.
‘Say no more. They will buckle under.’ He looked at the other discipliners. ‘Come, leave. Matron Gertrude, ready them for their first day.’
They tossed their capes over their shoulders and walked out of the grand hall, the cousin’s watching after them, especially at the way Sah Task-Master Keen walked; spastic, like his legs were broken in many places.
‘Only few ever attain the rank Sah Task-Master,’ Aunty Gertrude said. ‘Despite falling to his near-death, he dragged himself back injured and he walked months later. Only the hardest dream of his sort of pain.’
An air of admiration hung around Aunty Gertrude. After a few moments lost in thought she faced the cousins. A cruel victor’s wry smile spread across her face. She clapped her hands together, and the maid-servants came running, carrying grey cloth.
‘Put these on.’
‘And if we decide not to go?’ Melaleuca said.
‘Oh but you will,’ Aunty Gertrude replied with an uncomfortable ease. ‘How can you not? Aren’t you curious to see where your parents went?’
Before they could answer, Aunty Gertrude rushed toward them, pushing through them, and sat, lady like, on the stairs. She patted the stairs beside her.
‘Sit.’
They looked amongst each other, confused.
‘Come. Sit. Let me explain.’
Lexington sat first with the others following. Aunty Gertrude reached out and semi-hugged them.
‘Our ways seem harsh, but we are the hardiest people on earth. None are tougher. You children are more special than you can ever imagine.’
Melaleuca opened her mouth to speak, though Aunty Gertrude placed one of her bony fingers onto Melaleuca’s lips with an out of place gentleness.
‘Do be good children. Put the uniforms on. At the Vahn you will find answers to your questions.’
A genuine smile exposed her yellow-stained teeth, and her mottled grey gums.
Melaleuca stood.
‘I don’t trust you.’
‘Then you must flee, because they will come for you. They know you are here. It is an offence to not attend. Either that or be banished to the Southern Wasteland.’
Melaleuca sensed her cousins thinking of the costumes.
And if we use the costumes, you old crow.
Melaleuca braved a smile at their Aunt. ‘We shall go to this Vahn, only to investigate.’
‘Good. Now put these on.’
‘They look like sacks,’ Lexington said.
‘They are your Vahn uniforms,’ she said and clapped her hands, laughing.
Browny-gray and coarse, they looked like a sack with holes cut in it for the head and arms. The only one excited about wearing it was Quixote, who threw it over his head.
‘Take your clothes off first,’ Aunty Gertrude said.
Quixote stripped down naked.
‘BUT LEAVE YOUR UNDERGARMENTS ON!’
He put them back on and then hauled the sack-like uniform over top, dancing about laughing.
The others put their uniforms on; discomfort showing on their faces. No matter where they moved it, or what they did, the sackcloth penetrated their undergarments and irritated their skin.
Aunty Gertrude gloated at their discomfort.
Lexington’s skin reddened more than the others. Scratching made it worse so she tried rubbing her skin with the ends of her fingers. She placed her head by Melaleuca’s ear. ‘We need the bracelets.’
She walked up the stairs a few steps.
‘I must return to my room. I have for ─ ’
‘You are already late. It is time to go,’ Aunty Gertrude said.
Pembrooke wandered in, saying, ‘The cart is ready, m’lady.’
‘Get them out of here. NOW!’
The cousins trotted behind him, scratching. Aunty Gertrude called out, ‘Best not mention you are related to me or your Uncle.’
Lexington whirled about.
‘What are you not telling us?’
‘All your questions will be answered at the Vahn.’
‘But we are not allowed to ask questions.’
‘Oh for heaven’s sake girl, use your brain, eyes and ears, look and listen. If anyone asks, I found you homeless wandering the street of a town.’
Outside, Pemily stood before a small cart with two horses attached to it, waiting for them.
‘Do you suppose we have to spend the whole day in these?’ Ari asked scratching.
‘Hop aboard,’ Pemily called, dead-pan.
‘I say we grab the bracelets, the costumes and flee,’ Lexington said.
Melaleuca screwed her face up with intense itching.
‘My decision is correct. We go.’
‘Let’s hope so,’ Lexington said.
In the back of the cart, dry, scratchy, hay-dust lay littered about the deck. They climbed up, and headed off at a slow pace, trundling down the driveway, with flecks of hay lodging in their eyes, ears, noses and in their sack cloth.
‘If only we could go back and get the bracelets,’ Lexington said, breaking out in red blotches.
‘We’d need costumes too,’ Ari added
He stood and grabbed the back of Pemily’s seat, and despite the swaying of the cart, yelled, ‘How about stopping so we can run back and get something we forgot.’
Pemily cackled.
‘Not worth it. I would be flogged.’
The wheel of the cart bounced over a small rock, sending hay flying into Ari’s face, making him cough and splutter.
‘At least stop so that we get rid of the hay!’
Ignoring him she yelled, ‘Yeee haa!’ to the horses.
***
From a warped, ground floor window, Aunty Gertrude watched the cart head away, satisfied; hoping the worst would befall them. She chuckled to herself. Her disgusting nieces and nephews would be like lambs slaughtered by ferocious bulls. Supremely confident they would not last the day, she turned to leave the window to resume her daily activities.
From out of the darkness the Harbinger said, ‘What have you done?’
Aunty Gertrude spun about facing him.
‘I suggest you remember where you belong. It’s no longer any business of yours.’
‘You witch. Where have they gone?’
She turned back to the window.
‘Gone?.....They have gone to the Vahn.’
‘To the Vahn? They were supposed to stay here!’
She spun back around.
‘Stay here!! Until what? Until they were discovered and this...’ She held her arms out indicating the building they stood in. ‘...this great house, the last remaining of the 24 great houses that once girdled this land, until they bring this house down, destroy it.’
‘Crone...I should ─ ’
<
br /> ‘I have the power to ─ ’
‘To witness and that’s all.’ The Harbinger held a fist to her and then dropped it. ‘This is not the last house. There is the house of Varkinell. Given to them is ─ ’
‘Are you mad as well as decrepit? You mean the tomb of Varkinell? Daquan Varkinell is a recluse, a madman; weak and frail. His great house crumbles around his ears.’
‘You have no idea what you are dealing with.’
‘Pray I do not turn you in. I suggest you address me correctly and be about your duties.’
She stormed off in anger.
The Harbinger shuffled to the window, peering through it. Lost in a haze of thoughts and fears, a feeling of powerlessness washed over him. All these years, all the careful plans they had laid down could be sunk in one day, all because of a woman with a heart of stone. His only strength lay in trusting that the cousins were ready.
***
Ari motioned for the others to look at Quixote, who hung his head as far over the side of the cart and sang.
‘Are you not itchy Qui?’ Ari asked.
‘Yes. But I’m more excited about where we are going.’
The girls smiled, their spirits lifted by his bravado.
The cart came out of the oak forest and carried on speeding down the hill, the New Wakefield Valley spreading out before them. In the distance over the rows of hedges and patches of fields, and lazy spires of smoke, they could see the strange roof tops of a small town.
‘Hey look.’ Quixote laughed. ‘Someone’s watching us.’ He pointed to the sky.
Looking up, they saw the faint outline of a young boy or girl’s face, blended into the whole sky. It appeared to be studying them.
‘Pemily,’ Melaleuca asked. ‘What is that in the sky?’
Pemily looked and said, ‘I see nothing. Better not play silly games where you are going.’
The face disappeared.
Quixote prodded Lexington, ‘That’s one for you to work out.’
She sighed. ‘Just add it to the list.’
As they headed toward the town, a large building appeared out of nowhere, springing up in the direction of the town.
‘Look! Where’d it come from?’ Ari asked.
