The Long Staff (The Staff Wielder Series)

by Clare Wilson

  ‘Listen, dear Lizzy,’ Torean interupted, putting an arm around her and stroking her hair softly, ‘there's no need to dwell on such things. We all survived, that's the main thing. And we wouldn't be here if it hadn’t been for your advance warning. Now, it's more important to concentrate on how we're to survive the coming week.’

  ‘Torean,’ the Laird stated seriously. ‘They're looking for you now. Lizzy and I saw them set off for Longford’s Pass this morning at first light.’

  ‘It's as I thought,’ Torean said, his face showing resigned grief. ‘Tell us everything you know.’

  ‘We will, my friend. But after this I think you will also have to share some of your information with us. We will do anything to help you, but we must understand the nature of the peril you face,’ the Laird said.

  ‘Of course, Angus,’ Torean replied, feeling ashamed. ‘I can't keep the truth from you now. Our survival may depend upon you being able to help us in this.’

  ‘Very well,’ the Laird mused. ‘I believe that Lizzy should start. She was the first one to become aware of the situation and has been privy to information which neither Wilson nor I have.’

  ‘Lizzy, please speak,’ Torean said kindly.

  Lizzy looked nervous at the thought of addressing the group, but she knew she would need to tell them everything that had happened since the night Sheriff MacDonald had come to dinner at the house. Torean must also know what she heard in the clearing the night after his farm burned down. ‘I became aware the Sheriff and Lady Naithara were planning to hurt you when he came to dinner at the house. She asked him to remove you in any way possible. And, as you know, that night I came to your farm to warn you.’

  ‘As Torean mentioned, my girl,’ Adaira said fondly, ‘we wouldn't have our lives if you hadn't.’

  Lizzy smiled, and Adaira’s words seemed to give her more confidence to continue. ‘It was two days later when the Sheriff arrived at the house with the news that your farm had been burned to the ground and you were believed dead. As he left, I overheard Lady Naithara advising him to meet her in a clearing at midnight in order to discuss things further. I was scared, but I knew I would have to go to this meeting in order to find out why all this was happening. I thought if I knew more about what were doing, I could go to the Laird and seek his help.’ She meekly took a tin cup from Adaira and nodded gratefully.

  ‘You’re welcome my dear, carry on,’ said Adaira.

  ‘I arrived at the clearing at around eleven thirty,’ she said, taking a sip of the hot tea and somehow finding her voice. ‘I found a tree to hide in safely without being seen. What happened that night was one of the most terrible things I've ever witnessed. A group of people arrived in the clearing led by Lady Naithara. There were some very important people in the community at the gathering, including the Lord Provost!’

  As she spoke the Laird noticed the sense of shock among the group.

  ‘She introduced the Sheriff,’ Lizzy said, feeling relief at finally getting to tell Torean all that she knew. ‘She told the group what he had done to you. Lady Anstruther then went on to summon some kind of being into the clearing. I couldn't see any form or spectre, but there was a thick stench in the air when she did it. The creature spoke to the group in a low sinister voice advising them you hadn't been killed, he said they would need to find you quickly if they were to escape his wrath. He was very angry and the group seemed terrified. I remember that as he was shouting, he mentioned something about moving with the moon, and told them not to summon him again until you and your staff had been destroyed. When the presence left, Lady Anstruther was extremely angry. She shouted at the men that they had best find you and destroy you, and that she would expect an update on their progress the next night. The men decided they would meet in the clearing again at dawn and dispersed. I went home but couldn't get any sleep. As I dozed, my dreams were haunted by foul ghouls. I decided to rise from bed to tell the Laird everything in time that he may join me in the clearing to overhear the men gathering in the morning.’

  ‘Well done, Lizzy,’ the Laird said, softly touching her shoulder. He could tell it had taken a great deal of courage for Lizzy to recount this tale to the group and so took the lead from there. ‘We went to the clearing as Lizzy has said, and overheard the men saying they were going to seek you out. They said that they would have to destroy you, but that it was most important that your staff was destroyed.’

  Torean noticed the Laird was not making eye contact with the group. The gruesome details of Lizzy’s story had obviously made him ashamed of his niece’s actions.

  ‘As soon as they left the clearing,’ the Laird continued, ‘we headed for Wilson’s farm. I knew I would need an old friend to help me figure everything out.’

  ‘Yes,’ Torean said thoughtfully. ‘We were alerted to your situation by a small friend who I believe was with you in the clearing this morning.’

  Lizzy and the Laird were looking at one another in confusion.

  ‘However, due to his nature we didn't know anything about what was said there.’ Torean was smiling to himself at his friends’ confusion. ‘Anyway,’ Torean continued, going back to the matter in hand while Lizzy and the Laird looked from one to the other. ‘The story you have told has confirmed my calculations. Lady Anstruther and her band intend to make their move upon the new moon, which gives us around a week. I will need to start doing daily meditations to try to make the calculation more accurate. Unfortunately there is little we can do in the meantime, except to keep ourselves out of sight of the men who aid her. I had also suspected that she had recruited some important members of the community. We will need your help in order to know what they are planning and where they intend to strike. Your information has been very helpful. We know that the creature we are dealing with isn't in physical form yet, and that he is obviously weakened, hence his not wanting to be summoned unless strictly necessary. Angus, old friend, I am sorry this has come upon your family. Naithara has obviously been consumed by something which is too big for her to control. While this may not be a comfort to you, it should make it easier for us to defeat her.’

  The Laird looked troubled. He went to speak but was glad when he was interrupted.

  ‘Old friend,’ Wilson said, sensing Angus’ shame. ‘Now is the time to tell us how you are involved in all this?’ Deep down, Wilson was also extremely curious. ‘We wouldn't normally demand such information,’ he said, trying to make Torean understand that he would not usually pry into his private affairs. ‘But considering the circumstances, we have no choice.’

  ‘Yes,’ Lizzy added, ‘and who is this boy who travels with you? I don't know him, but he looks like he could be a member of your family.’

  ‘Well to start at the beginning,’ Torean said, feeling he didn't know where the beginning of such a tale would be. ‘The whole thing relates to my staff. The MacKay family was entrusted with this staff to stop evil forces using the power which resides in Cairn Holme for their own ends. Tom here is also a MacKay. He has his own staff and has come here from elsewhere, to help me with this fight. He is a child I know, but he is a MacKay. He is strong in more ways than he knows.’

  Tom smiled as Torean said this. He had been nervous in the group until now. He knew that the three who had arrived had not fully trusted him to be a part of the conversation.

  Torean continued, ‘The staff helps to channel the power of the valley in order to protect it. I understand this all sounds rather far fetched. In spite of this, I would hope after what Lizzy has told you of the creature Lady Naithara is helping, you would be able to believe me now. Naithara has summoned some unearthly spirit which intends to use the earth-power which resides in the valley to rise again.’

  ‘Good God,’ said Wilson, staring at Torean, wide eyed.

  ‘So you have carried this burden all these years?’ the Laird asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Torean replied. ‘Although it isn't a burden, it's my destiny. I've never had any other option, but I wouldn't have chosen different
ly. Although after what happened to my son, I wish it wasn't always so hard.’

  Adaira looked up at these words. She found it hard to hear Torean talking about Abhainn. Until a few days ago she had come to terms with the accident which had taken her young husband’s life. Now she knew that what was now tearing her life apart had also taken his. The greatest part of her resentment came from the fact that Abhainn had kept this part of his life from her. She thought they shared themselves completely and hated to think he had something so important that he didn’t think he could trust her with.

  ‘Torean,’ said Lizzy inquisitively. ‘I don't mean to interrupt, but there's still something which I don't understand. You mentioned someone was in the clearing with us who provided you with information about our whereabouts. I didn't see anyone in the clearing other than the men working with Lady Naithara?’

  ‘Ah,’ Torean said, smiling. ‘The little friend of whom I speak is with us now. Come, little one,’ Torean whispered, glancing skyward. Suddenly the little bird hopped into the group, stopped in the middle and looking around began chirping at Torean, hopping in a circle in order to let everyone in the group get a good look at him. It was as though he was presenting himself so they could thank him for being so brave.

  ‘The bird!’ exclaimed Lizzy. She couldn’t believe it.

  ‘Well I’ll be damned,’ said the Laird. ‘I thought this little fellow was going to get us found out this morning!’ The Laird chuckled under his breath, ‘Helping us all along were you?’

  The bird jumped on the spot in front of the Laird as though he was also laughing at the old man’s comments.

  ‘So as you can see,’ said Torean, who was now also laughing, ‘we do have some things on our side. It's helped our spirits greatly friends, that you've taken this risk to venture here to see us.’ Torean was beaming at the three.

  ‘So, what do we do now?’ Lizzy asked.

  Tom spoke at this point. It was the first time he had spoken since the three strangers had arrived. ‘It’s a pity we don't have anyone in the clearing tonight to hear what came of their exploits today.’

  ‘You’re right,’ Torean said. ‘Perhaps we should send our little friend on one more errand? He won’t be able to provide us with the detailed information Lizzy has, but he should at least be able to show us a picture of what's taken place. Tom, come with me and we'll deal with this.’

  Tom nodded and the two went off into the darkness with the little bird hopping behind them. It was almost as if he'd understood their conversation and knew he was also part of what going to happen next.

  Lizzy watched the pair go off and wondered what they were going to do.

  Aneirin could see the puzzled expression on her face and said, ‘They need to use the staves to communicate properly with the bird. I dare say he didn’t want to overwhelm you by doing this in front of you. Besides, I think that he's used to keeping this information to himself. This has been a secret for my grandfather his entire life. It may be too much for him to share everything about the staff in one night.’

  Lizzy smiled and nodded. ‘I’m glad to see you're well, Aneirin. I was so scared when I heard what had happened to your home.’ She reached over and touched his hand.

  Aneirin blushed and hid his face as he smiled, grateful for her concern. They had known one another all their lives; he was so comforted to have her with them. It felt like a life time had passed since he had seen her. The days of him visiting the big house and making excuses to stay and talk with her seemed so long ago; it was like remembering someone else’s life. Could so much have happened in a few days? ‘I’m sorry I haven’t visited you in the last week or so, I think my granda was trying to keep me away from the house because of what was going on.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ she said, smiling, ‘although I did miss your visits.’

  Torean and Tom returned to the circle. Torean once again had been drained by the enchantment and was supported by Tom as he sat down again among the group. ‘It is done,’ he said wearily.

  The Laird and Lizzy were looking at one another, concerned by what the enchantment had done to Torean. They weren’t sure if that was the effect the staff had upon him. How could he fight Naithara if it sapped his energy in this way?

  ‘Hopefully,’ he said as Tom helped him to sit down, ‘he'll return by morning with news of what he's seen. In the meantime, I suggest we should try to get some sleep. Once we know what has occurred tonight we can discuss our next steps further.’

  The Laird stood up, ‘Yes, I am tired.’ The man was holding his lower back and trying to stretch. ‘Although I don't think that we have brought quite enough for us all to make camp.’

  Wilson smiled and opened his bag, ‘Don’t worry on that front. My Mary is very creative when she’s packing a bag. Once when we went away she tried to sneak her sewing machine into the trunk!’ At that he pulled out three blankets and passed one to each of them.

  They all started to laugh, amazed that Mrs Wilson could have managed to fit enough supplies into the small pack which Wilson had carried on his back.

  As they lay down to go to sleep, Tom thought he would never get any rest. He wished he could be there with the little bird to overhear what was happening in the clearing with Lady Naithara. As he eventually dozed off, he had visions of a tall and fearsome woman towering over a group of men. In his mind she was a terrible pale creature with dead eyes. He saw her standing by a roaring fire, her face lit only by the flames from torches surrounding her. She was shouting in rage that her men had not found the MacKays already. His heart pounded as though they were animals being hunted.

  * * *

  As the little sparrow arrived in the clearing, feeling exhausted from his journey, the band was already assembled and Lady Naithara was holding court at the head of the group. He was relieved that he had made it in time. To him they were strange big creatures, always so serious. His understanding of human behaviour was basic. He couldn't understand the loud noises they made, but he could sense emotions from them. He knew this group of people was malevolent and that the group up in the hills was good.

  ‘Well, I hope you have good news for me?’ she said in an impatient manner.

  ‘My Lady,’ the Provost said, being extremely subservient. ‘It is not a simple matter.’

  This does not sound promising, Hamish,’ she said in a voice that sounded like a cat playing with its prey.

  He didn’t like being on this side of Lady Naithara’s wrath. He wasn't used to being spoken to in this manner. ‘We have found that they were staying in Longford’s Pass.’ The Provost knew he didn’t sound as confident as usual. ‘And we believe them to now have separated. I have sent two of our group after the woman and the boy, as we believe they have fled the valley.’

  ‘Thank you, Hamish. And you believe this will help?’ said Lady Naithara, impatiently looking at her impeccable nails.

  ‘Well, we had thought if we could capture the woman and the boy they may be good leverage against the old man.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose this is true,’ Naithara responded in an almost bored tone. ‘What else?’

  ‘We started to go up further into the hills to seek out Torean, but had to turn back in order to meet you here, my Lady.’ As he finished speaking, the Provost lowered his gaze and looked at the ground, awaiting Naithara’s response.

  ‘I see,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘This looks as though I will need to get involved personally. We have around a week in which to remove Torean MacKay or there will be dire consequences for all of us. My master’s punishments are as awesome as his rewards can be sublime. We cannot set out into the hills again tonight. However, we will need to go back to where you finished tomorrow morning. I expect you all here at six o’clock. Ensure that you bring enough supplies to stay in the hills overnight. We shall need to live as he is living in order to smoke him out, I feel.’

  ‘Yes, my Lady,’ the Provost said, grovelling.

  ‘Go now!’ said Naithara angrily. His behaviour m
ade her livid. Somehow she had hoped these idiots would be able to take care of this quickly, but it was proving more complicated. Naithara was fully aware that the wrath of her master would be great if this were not taken care of immediately.

  As the men started to leave the clearing, the Lord Provost lingered behind in order to speak with Naithara privately. He had always felt that he had a special place in her service. Like most fools intoxicated by power, he somehow thought someone like Naithara actually cared about her servants. ‘My Lady, if I may?’

  ‘Yes, Hamish?’ she said curtly. ‘Please bear in mind that my patience is short this evening.’ She was in no mood to listen to his whimpering. She was longing for someone she herself could punish herself.

  ‘I apologise, my Lady, but I am worried about the Sheriff, Michael MacDonald. He has proven himself to be extremely untrustworthy and I sense in him that he is not completely committed to this cause. I merely wish to warn you of my misgivings. I know you would not want someone so unimportant to hinder the success of your plans.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Naithara. ‘I will bear this in mind. Michael was useful when I was hoping to achieve this through more conventional means. Perhaps now this has become more complicated he is not so suitable. As such he is dispensable.’

  At these words a greedy smile came over the Provost’s face. These were exactly the words he had been hoping for. He knew he would be able to dispose of the Sheriff soon. He simply needed him to make one more mistake. He stroked his moustache. It shouldn’t be too hard. The man is a walking mistake.

  ‘I would like you to watch him and report to me if you think there is any chance of him betraying us,’ she continued. ‘The last thing I need is him involving someone like my uncle in this.’

  ‘Yes, my Lady,’ said the Provost, grovelling once again. ‘Thank you for your ear, I seek nothing but to serve.’ He backed away slowly, slightly bent forward in a bow.

  ‘Yes, yes,’ Naithara said impatiently. She was not in the mood for such pandering. She swept from the clearing and back to the house. She would need to find a way to leave the house early tomorrow morning without her uncle noticing she was missing. Hopefully the old man would be absent as he had been the day before. He sometimes disappeared into his study and was hardly seen for several days. She was hoping that this would be the case now. It was strange that he could be so consumed by books, yet he had never discovered the power which lay beneath his fingertips. The fool, he would probably be too afraid to use it even if he had. With these thoughts she smiled and walked on, focused on her goal of ensuring her master would have no call to doubt her abilities again. She would be the one to finally realise the power which her family had rested upon for so long. It would make her immortal.