by Farr, Cathy;
‘As you can see, that log did me a bit more damage than I first thought. The horses must have taken off when the howling started. There was no sign of them after Olivia…’ Oswald seemed to grind to a halt, as if it was all simply too much. He’d got his son home, he’d told his sad story and that was it – he didn’t seem to have anything left. Leon came to the rescue.
‘As soon as it got light we worked out where we were. If they’d driven us any further we’d have gone off Nell’s Drop! It’s taken us ages to get back.’
‘Well, what with you blind and your father hardly able to hobble, I’m not surprised,’ said Morten Mortens. The puffy bags under his eyes were wet and glistening. ‘Eli, do you think you can find two beds in the infirmary for tonight?’
‘No, Morten,’ said Oswald. He leant heavily on the back of a chair and winced. ‘One will be fine. Leon needs your help, my lady, but I… I need to see my wife.’
To Wil’s surprise, Lady Élanor did not object.
‘That is perfectly understandable, Oswald. But perhaps you might let Tally bind that foot to make it a little more comfortable?’ She turned to Tally without waiting for Oswald to respond. ‘Tally, go and get some bandages and the poplar buds – I left a new batch soaking in the pharmacy. Pack them around Oswald’s toes as best you can, they’ll help with that swelling.’ She turned back to address Oswald and the Grand Wizen. Oswald was already hobbling to the door.
‘I’ll send Tally down to the house Oswald,’ she called after him and then said under her breath to nobody in particular. ‘But I’m willing to bet the pain will drive him back up here before tomorrow.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
A Friend Returns
Sure enough, before breakfast when Wil pushed his head around the infirmary door the next morning, he saw three occupied beds. Both Leon and Oswald were sound asleep; Gisella didn’t look as though she’d moved since Wil had left her the night before.
‘He came up around midnight. His wife brought him,’ whispered Tally, who had crept up behind him. ‘Eli’s pretty sure he’s broken his foot in at least three places. She’s amazed he managed to walk from Goatmed Scarp in anything less than a week! Did you know he sleeps with his eyes open?’
‘Yes, I noticed when we were at The Black Rock – scared me half to death!’ said Wil.
‘Me, too!’ said Tally, with a mischievous grin. ‘It was really giving me the creeps. I shoved some lemon balm and ashwagandha under his nose in the end – seems to have done the trick!’
‘Good idea. And, er, what about Leon?’
Tally’s eyes narrowed.
‘Gisella is getting on just fine, Wil – as that’s obviously who you really came to see at this time in the morning! As for Leon, he will mend. Thank goodness Eli put that feather blindness potion in your bag.’
‘So, will he be scarred?’ asked Wil, remembering the terrible weals across Leon’s eyes just after the eagard attack.
‘No. Eli’s confident that his sight isn’t damaged either. He’ll be as good as new in a couple of weeks, once the new skin comes through.’
Tally tucked the blankets into the end of Leon’s bed, checked the knot on his new bandage and fussed with Gisella’s pillows for far too long. Torn between annoying Tally and desperately wanting to see Gisella, Wil hung around for as long as he dared.
In the end it was Martha who broke the stalemate by calling them in for breakfast with the bell that hung outside the kitchen door for just such a purpose.
As usual the courtyard was bursting with vibrant colours and smells that made Wil feel quite light headed as he made his way back across to Lovage Hall.
‘Look, Wil,’ said Tally, skipping up to join him. Wil braced himself for another fight. But instead of berating him or being mean about Gisella, Tally looked slightly embarrassed. Wil stopped just short of the kitchen door.
‘I, er,’ Tally started, steepling her fingers. ‘Well, the thing is, I should have said thank you. You know, for getting me out of Armelia. I know I would be burnt to a crisp by now if you and … and the others hadn’t come to get me.’
She pressed her fingers together so hard that the tips went pink. Wil shrugged. Why did she always have to make everything so difficult?
‘It’s OK, Tally. I’m sure you would have done the same.’
Tally opened her eyes wide.
‘Oh, yes… for you, definitely! You know that.’
‘And for Gisella?’ said Wil.
Tally dropped her hands to her hips.
‘Oh, typical! You always have to spoil it, don’t you?’
With a sweep of silver hair, she turned and marched back into the infirmary.
‘Tally, oh, come on. I thought you were coming for breakfast?’ Wil called after her.
A tearful, disembodied voice replied.
‘Tell Martha I don’t want any!’
And with that the infirmary door slammed; one of the panes of glass shattered and thousands of tiny shards of glass exploded across the cobbles.
As the days went on Gisella’s breathing got easier and easier and by the fifth morning, to Wil’s relief, Lady Élanor instructed Tally to halve the camomile and start reducing the morphine.
When he called in to the infirmary that evening, Gisella was awake and Tally was nowhere to be seen. Oswald had gone home the previous day just after Tally had removed Leon’s bandage.
Wil nodded to Leon, lying in the bed opposite.
‘Hi, Leon, can you see anything yet?’
Leon’s eyes were almost their normal colour again.
‘Yer, much better,’ he said with a vague wave. ‘Tally said it’s mostly down to you that I’m not going to be blind?’
‘Oh, I don’t know about that,’ said Wil, feeling very awkward. He knew what it must have taken for Leon to thank him – after all, it was fairly obvious that Leon still blamed Wil for what happened to Giles on the moon chase. ‘Gisella had a good hand in it, too.’
‘It was mostly you though!’ said Gisella. ‘It seems we’ve all got something to be grateful to you for, doesn’t it!’
Her sunny smile made Wil’s heart dance a little jig.
‘You’ve woken up at last then,’ he said grinning back.
‘Well, a girl can only have so much beauty sleep,’ said Gisella, hauling herself up on her pillow. Wil jumped forward to help.
‘Here, lean forward.’
She was still bound in a thick bandage. Wil tucked the pillow carefully behind Gisella’s back and his blood froze. In the middle of the binding, right over Gisella’s lung, was a circle of blood the size of Wil’s fist.
‘Giz, are you… are you feeling okay?’ he stammered as he backed towards the door. Gisella was still bleeding – or maybe the effort of sitting up had made her start bleeding again – and it was his fault.
His boot had found Lady Élanor’s foot.
‘Ouch! I was just coming to check on my patient, Mister Calloway. I hope that you are not trying to stop me – or do you think that there aren’t quite enough occupied beds in here?’
Wil removed his foot from Lady Élanor’s slipper, leaving a muddy scrape across the delicate silver embroidery.
‘No! Oh, I’m so sorry, my Lady!’
Fortunately, Lady Élanor had other things on her mind.
‘So Gisella, how are you feeling tonight?’ She gently pulled Gisella forwards and examined the same bandages. ‘Hmm, still some blood. But I do not think it is anything to be concerned about – it was a big hole, after all.’
‘Does that mean she’s going to be alright?’ asked Wil.
Lady Élanor helped Gisella to settle back against the pillows.
‘Yes, Wil, it does,’ she said. ‘Although it might be a while before she is riding out on any moon chase – or riding any dragons, for that matter!’
A patter of light feet in the hall outside suggested that Tally might be on her way. Wil’s heart sank. He’d managed to avoid her for the past few days. But when she did poke her head around the door her
smile could not have been friendlier.
‘Hi, Wil. Hi, Gisella. Good to see you’re awake.’
Wil waited for the barbed comment about him, or about Gisella’s snoring – which Wil had put down to her lying on her back for five days. But instead Tally simply said, ‘Anyone seen Seth?’
Wil, Gisella and Lady Élanor all shook their heads.
‘Oh, he must be up there already,’ she said and ducked back behind the door only to reappear a moment later. ‘Oh, Eli, is it OK if we take Tanith out for a ride.’
‘We?’
‘Oh, just Seth and me,’ said Tally, and before her sister could answer, she said ‘Thanks,’ and closed the door.
Eyebrows raised, Lady Élanor looked from Wil to Gisella.
‘They were out on Tanith only this morning … and yesterday, too.’
Oswald Beck, still hobbling and pale with pain, came up to the Hall to collect Leon the following morning. Leon had said very little during his stay in the infirmary and his silence continued as he blinked his way into the overcast morning.
Oswald stopped at Gisella’s bed and held out his hand to Wil.
‘I know that you and Leon have your differences,’ he said gripping Wil’s hand in both of his own. ‘But he owes you his sight. I won’t forget that and I’ll make sure that he doesn’t either.’
Lost for words, Wil shook the hands offered and stood at the doorway until father and son were safely at the kitchen door on the other side of the courtyard. Then he turned to return to Gisella’s bedside. There, in the hallway of Lady Élanor’s pristine infirmary stood Phinn. The great hound wagged his tail lazily by way of a greeting and pushed his head into Wil’s chest.
‘Phinn, how did you get down here?’ said Wil. He glanced around to make sure neither Tally nor Lady Élanor were about to appear. ‘I know I’ve been neglecting you, but I think Gisella needed me just a bit more than you did.’
Phinn moved closer and leant his entire weight against Wil. Wil scratched the hound’s ear and Phinn groaned appreciatively.
‘No, you can’t see Gisella. Lady Élanor would dose me up with something highly poisonous if I let you in there. Come on, let’s go back up and see Bryn.’
Phinn padded through the main door and Wil followed him out into the mottled light of the beech wood.
‘Crronk!’
Phinn stood and let out a single booming bark.
‘Oh,’ said Wil, with a laugh. ‘You came to get me!’
Gliding down from a branch high up in the nearest beech tree, Pricilla landed a good horse’s length to Wil’s left.
‘Oh, come on, Pricilla! You can’t possibly be cross with me, too? It’s been bad enough having to battle with Tally! I had to leave you with that girl – what other choice was there? Honestly, you’d never have survived what we went though – believe me!’
Utterly disappointed, Wil retreated back towards the infirmary. Pricilla hopped after him. It was then that Wil noticed that she was dragging something behind her.
He bent down and, without being invited, the raven hopped onto his arm. There, attached to her leg was tiny roll of parchment. Wil untied the knot and unfurled the paper.
‘Please find attached – your raven. No bones broken and in time she’ll be flying straight again. Got nearly all my stuff back, but the Redback dagger was lost – that’s looters for you. Am safe back home. From – oh, never mind, we’re unlikely to meet again. Regards, The Girl with the Dragon Tooth Earring.’
Guilt and gratitude flowed over Wil in equal measure. Pricilla was back and – almost – alright. He hoped that Lady Élanor wouldn’t notice her slight drift to the right and decided it might be best if Bryn checked her over. So with Phinn happily leading the way, Wil set off towards the stables.
Wil walked into the stable block expecting to find Bryn, but it was Lady Élanor he found instead. She took one look at Pricilla perched on Wil’s arm and smiled.
‘Thank you for looking after her, Wil.’
His job done, Phinn wandered back over to his own stable and plonked himself down, nose out of the door so that he could keep an eye on what was going on. There was no sign of Bryn.
Wil felt very awkward.
‘So, Tanith’s alright, my Lady?’ he asked, for want of anything else to say.
‘Yes. Tally and Seth seem to be giving him plenty of exercise now he’s had a good rest.’
‘Oh, that’s good. It was just I… well, I had a dream and–’
Lady Élanor moved to stroke the raven’s healing wing.
‘Tanith is fine, Wil. That is the second time you have asked,’ she said extending Pricilla’s wing. To Wil’s relief there was no sign of the bolt wound. ‘You must work to control that gift of yours. It is the only way you will learn what is a genuine dream and a real vision. It will come.’
‘Er, can I ask you something else, my lady?’
‘Of course.’
‘Did you, um, did you believe Leon… you know, about hearing Giles?’
Lady Élanor’s expression did not change.
‘Leon had suffered a terrible injury, Wil. And with the storm and… well, the Alcama can play some odd tricks on an injured mind.’
Pricilla hopped onto her outstretched arm.
‘Now, you are neglecting Gisella. I will take Pricilla to Bryn. You must go check on my patient.’
The infirmary was strangely quiet when Wil went back in. Gisella was lying with her back to the door. Wil smiled – she had not been able to tolerate lying on her side since The Jackal had shot her.
But as he got closer he realised that Gisella was crying.
‘Giz, what’s the matter? Do you feel ill again? Shall I go and get Lady Élanor?’
Gisella did not move.
‘No, it’s okay Wil. I’ll be fine. I need to start doing things on my own now anyway.’
‘What do you mean by that?’
Gisella sniffed.
‘Well, now I’m getting better, you’ll be going back home. Your mother must be wondering what’s happened to you by now.’
It was only her shaking shoulders that gave away her silent sobbing.
Wil wasn’t sure what to do. True, he did have to go home soon; to tell his mother that her husband really was never coming back – but he wasn’t ready to do that just yet. Tentatively, he reached out to put his hand on her shoulder. She spoke again – this time in barely a whisper.
‘But who’s going to wonder about me?’
Wil stayed his hand.
‘What do you mean, Giz?’
‘Well, my mother’s hardly going to come visiting, is she?’ She sniffed. ‘And as she killed my father, well, that sort of leaves me on my own, wouldn’t you say?’
As Gisella seemed determined not to face Wil he moved around the bed and crossed his arms.
‘Gisella Fairfax, if you think for one moment that I’m going to abandon you to fend for yourself, you really don’t know me very well at all!’
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Home to Mother
Lady Élanor stood with Mortimer. Behind them, the Grand Wizen, Oswald Beck and Agatha Peasgood stood alongside Seth, Tally, Mia and Farrow. Tally’s own hound, Pickles, was there too.
Wil sat behind Gisella on Rhoani. For once, he’d managed to get on without too much trouble – which had amazed everyone as his arm was still in splints. Mortimer held Rhoani steady while they got ready to set off. He pointed a finger at Wil.
‘Now, understand this, Wil Calloway. I’m only lending you my new chaser. I fully expect you to return her at regular intervals for hunting practice once she’s fighting fit. And, of course, if you feel like joining in...’ Mortimer winked.
Wil risked letting go of Gisella for a brief moment. He held up his hand.
‘I’ve told you before, Mort. I’ve seen enough Wraithe Wolves to last me a lifetime! But if that’s what Gisella wants to do,’ she looked around at him with a warning glare. ‘Well, that’s up to her.’
‘An’ don’
ferget, when you come home, Gisella, there’ll be a new Fell’ound to train. You think of a name while yer way!’ said Bryn.
‘I will,’ said Gisella.
Lady Élanor stepped forward. A burgundy silk bag swung from her wrist.
‘Well, you had better go, Wil, or you will be staying another night and your poor mother will be frantic.’ She offered up the bag to Wil.
‘Oh, I don’t think I’m going to need that, my lady,’ said Wil. ‘Gisella’s got all her medicines in her own bag.’
Lady Élanor’s face was suddenly serious.
‘No, Wil, this is not first aid,’ she pressed the bag into Wil’s hand. He could feel it was full of coins.
‘Lady Élanor, I can’t– ‘
‘No, Wil, you must. It is the least I can do. My father would have wanted you to have it – he would have insisted. It is because of you the legacy is safe,’
‘But I didn’t–’
‘Take it, Wil. Give it to your mother. I have no news of Lord Rexmoore as yet, but his thugs will be back to collect his taxes before too long.’
‘Well, I’m not sure about that, my Lady’ said Wil, recalling the screams as the golden castle collapsed into the dirt.
‘Only time will tell, Wil Calloway,’ said Lady Élanor with a steady gaze.
As if knowing that they needed to go, Phinn stood at the end of the stable block and barked loudly – his amber eyes staring at his master. Wil grinned and wrapped his arms around Gisella’s waist.
‘I think we’re being nagged.’
‘Are you sure about this, Wil?’ said Gisella. ‘I mean your mother–’
‘Look Giz,’ said Wil. ‘The last time I came home from Saran, I arrived with the biggest dog my mother had ever seen and she still loves me – you, by comparison, will hardly even raise an eyebrow.’
‘Thanks!’ said Gisella. The little group on the ground laughed.
‘Well, obviously I didn’t mean it like that!’ said Wil. He recalled the last time he had left Saran – when he had managed to upset Gisella and she had galloped off the other way. At least this time they were both on the same horse!
Gisella kicked Rhoani into a walk.
