‘I don’t know what you’re on about,’ Jack said - the boy had closed almost half the distance between them.
‘Jack, history only tells the story of the winning side and the winning side isn’t always the right side, is it?’
‘Don’t listen,’ said Cali clasping his arm.
‘I’m capable of choosing my own friends and my own side,’ Jack said. He did not like the way the boy looked at Cali. Jack stepped in front of her.
‘Good, that’s good,’ the boy said. He stopped a few feet away from where Jack stood. His dark hair was long and curled around the collar of his white shirt His eyes - a fiery orange - reminded Jack of someone... If he could remember… no, the memory, like a swimmer struggling in an undertow, was dragged back into the deeps.
‘As things are I’m not on anyone’s side apart from my own,’ Jack said .
‘Perhaps you would change your mind if you knew what I know,’ the boy said, his great orange eyes narrowed. To Jack they were like the setting of the sun and it flashed across his mind that the sun set right before darkness fell.
‘I won’t be changing my mind,’ Jack said.
‘You would have a better chance…’
‘I have a feeling that I’ve got little chance no matter which friends I choose. I’ll keep the ones I’ve made,’ Jack said hands fisted into tight balls.
The boy’s eyes deepened from orange to a dark red, no longer narrow but wide, crimson orbs. Without thinking, without giving the boy the chance to make another move Jack blew in to the silver pipe for a third time. The boy lost interest in Jack and Cali. He clapped his hands to his ears, and moaned low, almost imperceptible under the beautiful sound of the pipe.
The high note hung in the sharp air reverberating off every surface in the glade until Jack and Cali were surrounded with the sweet sound.
The clearing which had been still suddenly became gusty, whipping the leaves, twigs and dust from the floor and up into Jack’s face, making him cough and cover his eyes. He turned, reaching out to find Cali. Almost immediately the wind dropped. Jack opened his watering eyes searching for Cali - she was close, rubbing the grit out of her eyes, smiling. The boy was gone.
The Keeper stood in the clearing instead, huge and magnificent. Jacks jaw dropped. She stood on four immense paws. She had the body of a lioness, and her long mane of golden hair surrounded an exquisitely sculptured humanlike face, the eyes serene and a depthless gold. She was smiling. Two huge wings were folded on her back. As he watched she unfolded them; they reached right across the clearing, white and magnificent.
‘Why do you disturb me?’ she asked, her voice was soft. Jack could hear a purr. Instinctively he knew that there was also a growl and - worse - a roar.
‘We’re here to answer your riddle,’ Jack said. The strange boy, Aloysius, Gordy, Elementals, all forgotten. There was only now.
‘The rules are three: first on hearing my riddle do not speak to me unless it is your answer,’ she said.‘Second, you have three minutes on hearing my riddle to leave without answering. Finally, if you answer correctly I will answer one question and one alone. Do you understand?’
Jack nodded, his throat too dry to speak, his heart beating hard in his chest -a frantic effort to escape.He reached towards Cali standing close behind him and grabbed her hand.
‘Are you ready to hear my riddle?’
Jack turned to Cali. She nodded, her face pale.
‘Yes. Please,’ he said. The Keeper began chanting.
‘My first is in heaven and also in hell
it's found in love and hatred as well.
My second's in angel a creature of peace
in daemon and fear of what will not cease.
My third's in redemption where evil will wilt
though not in temptation, innocence or guilt.
My fourth is in daughter, mother, father
not in son or hero though you'll find it in martyr
my last is in brother, together and truth
found always in hope, in health and in youth.
You have all you need so answer me true
if you answer correctly I will answer to you.’
There was a long silence.
‘Is that all?’ Jack turned again to whisper to Cali. He had not forgotten the first rule.
‘I think so,’ Cali murmured, her eyes fixed on the Keeper.
‘I don’t understand,’ Jack whispered.
‘That’s the whole point,’ said Cali. ‘It’s not supposed to be easy. Don’t say anything and let me think.’ She sat down cross-legged in front of the Sphinx.
The first three minutes passed.
‘Your three minutes is almost over,’ the Keeper said quietly, her voice eased Jack’s grated nerves. When she spoke he drifted in a dream of warmth and calm.
‘Shall we leave?’ Jack asked Cali.
‘No,’ Cali said. ‘I’ll be able to get it. It's a Victorian riddle. I wish I had a pencil and paper.’
‘Are you sure?’ Jack said.
‘Yes,’ Cali said, face set.
Time passed.
Jack was watching clouds pass overhead when Cali spoke again.
‘I’ve got it,’ said Cali ‘I can’t believe I took so long.'
‘You've got it?’ Jack said a smile breaking over his face.
‘I’m surprised I didn’t figure it out sooner,’ she said
‘Well, what’s the answer?’ asked Jack.
‘Earth.’
‘Earth? Are you positive?’
‘Absolutely. Trust me.’ Jack looked at her. He did trust her.
‘The answer is Earth,’ he said. The Keeper nodded. Jack smiled.
‘Now ask your question,’ Cali said.
Jack began to panic. Everything had happened so quickly and now it occurred to him that he didn’t know what he was supposed to ask.
‘Why now?’ Jack asked. He was stalling - trying to think of anything Aloysius had said that would help him.
‘What’s the matter with now?’
‘Nothing,’ Jack said.
‘Hurry up then. She’s getting ready to leave,’ Cali said. Jack looked around. The Keeper had folded her wings and walked to the edge of the clearing.
‘She can’t leave,’ Jack said. ‘She owes me an answer. It was one of her rules. She will answer one question and one alone, won’t you?’ he asked. She smiled.
‘Yes. And now I have fulfilled my obligation I must leave.’
‘Wait!’ Jack said. The Keeper turned to look at him.
‘You have answered my riddle correctly. I have answered one question and one alone.’ She settled on the forest floor. ‘I will wait until the setting of the sun.’
‘But… I… you haven’t answered a question!’ Jack shouted.
‘I have. You asked me if I owed you an answer and I replied. I told you I would answer one question and one alone. My debt to you is fulfilled child.’
‘Don’t call me a child. I…’ Jack fought to keep his anger under control ‘We solved your riddle. We need your help. Please help us. You can do whatever you like afterwards, but please help us now. There’s no one else…’ The Sphinx lifted her head.
‘I know you. This is the last time we will meet though it is the first time for you,’ she smiled enigmatically. ‘Your situation does not leave me unmoved. It would give me pleasure to assist in your endeavour.’
‘What do you know about my situation?’ Jack asked curiosity distracting him from his purpose.
‘I am your humble servant until the fulfilment of your quest whensoever that may be,’ the Keeper replied.
Jack’s face broke into a smile, forgetting the question he had asked in the elation of the moment.
‘Thanks. Thanks so much,’ he said.
‘There are three conditions.’
‘Go on,’ said Jack, his smile fading.
‘First: I will speak only when spoken to.’ This mystified Jack;why would anyone impose that condition?‘Second: I ans
wer only to you, man-child.’ The cadence was like a drug - Jack was floating. He could not dredge up the will to question her.‘Third and most important: with each new request for information you must answer a riddle.’
‘Wh-what?’ Jack said, trying to gather together the strands of his thoughts, which were going every way but the right one.
‘Do you accept?’ the Keeper asked. Jack nodded – there was little else to do. The Keeper lowered her head, part nod, part bow and padded towards him.
‘Come, there is a ritual to perform.’ She walked to the centre of the glade where the large rocky outcropping stood.
When she reached it the Keeper released a sweet tone, similar to that produced by the small silver pipe. When she stopped the wind gusted high again forcing Jack’s eyes closed for a moment. When he opened them he saw a dip had appeared in the centre of the largest rock. It was filled with liquid that was clear like water, but this liquid shimmered. Next to the dip was a small wooden goblet.
‘Please?’ the Sphinx gestured Jack towards the bowl. Jack hesitated.
‘What is it?’ he asked. He leaned over the bowl looking deep into the glistening liquid. If there was anything there, Jack couldn’t see it. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain across his cheek and, almost simultaneously, heard Cali scream. He jerked his head up. Cali was staring at the Sphinx her mouth an ‘o’ of horror. The Keeper had opened her cheek with one of her massive claws and her blood was dripping into the silver liquid turning it bright red. Jack reached up to his own face, feeling warmth there and realised she must have done the same to him. Blood was falling from his face and into the basin.
Jack quickly withdrew, shaken. He pulled his hand from his face and stared at the scarlet blood that covered it.
The Keeper emitted another sound; lower than the last one. The liquid in the dip rippled and became clear. Now it was lit from within, a golden glow.
‘Drink,’ the Keeper said, offering Jack the small chalice. Jack dipped the cup into the golden liquid and drank. It was cool and sweet. He drained the goblet before replacing it on the rock. The Keeper lowered her head and drank deeply straight from the rock.
‘We are one. As long as we are bound in this contract we cannot be separated. May our quest end in victory.’
Jack, lost in the Keeper’s voice, forgot that there was blood dripping from his open cheek until Cali pressed a piece of wet cloth gently against his face. Jack reached up and covered her hand with his. She had torn off part of her sleeve and soaked it in the dregs from the bowl.
‘I’ve got it,’ he said. As she drew her hand from beneath his she gasped. ‘What is it? Are you alright?’ he asked. He glanced around and saw the cloth had dropped away. ‘Oh. I guess I didn’t have it after all.’
‘Your face…’ she said, her green eyes bulging.
‘It’ll be OK,’ he said. An ugly scar down his cheek wouldn’t be so bad. Cali shook her head as Jack scooped the cloth from the ground and held it to his face again.
‘It’s stopped bleeding,’ she said, her face pale.
‘Oh, right,’ Jack said. ‘That’s good then. Isn’t it?’ Cali nodded slowly.
‘Let’s go and find Aloysius,’ she said. Jack nodded and they walked back to the portal. Jack was conscious the whole time of Cali shooting furtive glances at him. It was only when they were back at Five Oaks that Jack realised why. The Keeper had cut open his cheek so blood was running down his neck like a river, or so it felt to Jack at the time. Why then, when he had been shown to a room and gone to have a bath, why after he had scrubbed the blood from his face and neck, why did he not have a mark on him?
Chapter 6: Gnomes
After their success with the Keeper, returning to Five Oaks triumphant, Jack thought things would move quickly. He was soon brought back down to Earth. For a start Jack expected Aloysius to do something other than give him a grim smile. Even a ‘well done’ would have been nice, but the gnome simply welcomed the Keeper and escorted her through to Five Oaks before asking Gordy to take Jack and Cali to their rooms.
The Keeper refused to be parted from Jack and wouldn’t accept a room of her own, preferring to sleep outside Jack’s door. No matter how he tried to reason with her she would simply reply with the words ‘would you like to hear my riddle?’ so in the end he gave up.
Five Oaks itself was fascinating - Jack had never been anywhere as interesting. On the rare occasions he threw off his stubborn refusal to enjoy himself, Jack and Cali would go together and prowl the high ceilinged corridors. Every time they did they discovered something new and frequently astonishing.
The first day he and Cali were amazed as they walked through the central corridor at the lack of doors. It was around midday and they were trying to find the food hall. Right in front of them a gnome popped out of the wall, a small, youngish looking gnome. Jack and Cali, staring at the gnome in astonishment, didn’t recover quickly enough to ask where he had come from before he hared off down the hall. Suddenly gnomes began popping out of the walls all the way down the corridor.
‘Erm, excuse me…’ Cali said to another gnome as she exited the wall right next to them. She looked round smiling until she realised who was speaking. The smile faded although her face still looked friendly.
‘Yes?’ the gnome asked politely.
‘Can you tell me where you came from?’ Cali asked.
‘I beg your pardon?’ said the gnome.
‘What I mean is, to us it looks like you just walked out of a wall,’ Cali said hastily.
‘Oh, yes well you don’t look like you live here,’ the gnome said, a ghost of a smile returning to her face.
‘We’re visiting,’ Jack said.
‘Whatever you say,’ she said winking.
‘Erm… the wall?’ Cali said.
‘Glamour is used to hide the doors. Security you know… It’s all very tense at the moment,’ the gnome said and it was clear that she was not going to say anything else.
‘Oh. Right,’ Cali said. There was a short pause during which the gnome took the opportunity to leave shaking hands politely with Cali and nodding to Jack.
‘Thanks,’ Cali called to her rapidly receding back. Cali turned to look at Jack her eyebrows raised. Jack knew what she meant. The reception from the Earth elementals wasn’t exactly warm. Jack had a feeling that his identity and the reason he was there was not as secret as Aloysius liked to think.
The same day they came across a much friendlier face, although stranger than most. Jack and Cali were hanging around the strange no-door corridor hoping to find someone to take them into one of the rooms when they met Bob. While most gnomes had a warm greenish tint to their skin Bob looked a little unhealthy. Grey even. Unlike most of the other gnomes he wasn’t in a rush to be anywhere. He also didn’t turn from Jack and Cali as soon as he saw them – in fact, he was the first gnome they’d met other than Gordy and Aloysius who did not recoil at the sight of the Keeper.
‘Fantastic!’ he said as Jack and Cali approached, gazing up at the Keeper with his bulbous green eyes.
‘Yeah,’ Jack said.
‘Amazing! The Empress of Time! Here!’ the gnome’s eyes were glowing with pleasure and he lowered himself into a bow.
‘She’s called the Keeper,’ Jack said bewildered at the gnome’s behaviour.
‘Of course she is. I’m Bob,’ he said.
‘Jack,’ said Jack ‘and this is Cali.’
‘Nice to meet you both,’ Bob said.
‘We were wondering if you could take us into one of these rooms,’ Jack said before Bob’s mood changed.
‘It would be an honour,’ Bob said, executing another bow.
‘Brilliant!’ Jack said.
‘Unfortunately, I can only get into my office,’ Bob said.
‘That’s OK,’ Cali said ‘anywhere is fine.’
‘Really?’ Bob asked, his eyes lighting up.
‘Yeah, of course!’ she said.
‘Well if you’re sure? It’s this way,’ Bob said. He
led them further along the corridor to a small, rather unkempt section of wall. He murmured under his breath and held out his hand palm outwards, pushing it into the wall. It looked very strange to Jack, like the gnome’s hand had been cleanly amputated. Then the wall somehow opened out into a large room that looked like a laboratory. The effect was incredible, rather like his eyes being a few hundred feet away from his body.
‘Well, what do you think?’ Bob asked looking delighted.
‘It’s great,’ Jack said trying hard to look impressed. It was difficult when all he could see were tables and chairs and a few glass phials.
‘Not many people in this department any more, more important things to do,’ Bob said, attempting to sound sombre while wearing a cheery smile.
‘What department is it?’ Cali asked politely.
‘We’re Miscellany. I’m the manager,’ Bob said glowing with pride. His greyish skin grew a little greener as he spoke.
‘Miscellany?’ Jack asked. It was an odd name for a department. It could mean anything.
‘Yes. We deal with everything and everyone that doesn’t fit anywhere else. Used to be fairly busy but now what with everything going on with the Fire’s. Well they’ve all been drafted in to the effort,’ Bob said, looking not at all sorry.
‘What kind of things?’ Jack asked his curiosity piqued.
‘Oh this and that,’ Bob said. Before Jack could press any further, Bob took them further into the room telling Jack and Cali what various instruments were for.
‘What about this?’ Cali asked, picking up a particularly odd looking contraption – it was covered in spikes and to Jack it looked like a robotic hedgehog. Bob took it from her and set it back on the table quickly.
‘Best to look with your eyes when you’re in here, not your hands,’ he said primly.
‘Oh. Sorry,’ said Cali. She folded her arms as if this would prevent her from touching anything else.
‘No, no, don’t apologise,’ Bob said ‘most things are OK, but we’ve had a few nasty objects turn up out of the blue before. I’m still not sure what that one is.’ Cali nodded and gave Bob a weak smile but she didn’t unfold her arms.
Elemental: Steele Stolen: Part 1 and 2 Page 4
