by Roger Hurn
Bogan flinched as if the Chronomage had slapped him in the face. And somehow, Ezra’s confident assertions that the Bloods would soon have Celandine in their grasp did nothing to unfreeze the fear in his heart. Bogan knew that if Celandine found out he was still alive she would come looking for him. He rubbed his cheeks hard with both hands in his anxiety and then stared at Lizzie.
‘You’ve killed me, girl, just as surely as if you’d stuck me with a dagger.’
He gave her a wintry smile and Lizzie felt guilt curdle in her stomach.
‘That’s enough of that,’ snapped Ezra. ‘You brought all your misfortunes on your own head, Bogan. So try talking to me if you want to save that worthless skin of yours.’
Suddenly, all the fight seeped out of Bogan. He told Ezra everything he knew and begged the Chronomage to hide him somewhere Celandine couldn’t find him. Ezra nodded.
‘Oh, I think I can do that for you, Bogan,’ he said. ‘I’m going to send you to the one place Celandine will never come looking for you.’
Bogan looked at Ezra with a desperate gleam of hope in his eyes. ‘Where’s that? A Chronomage safe house?’
Ezra paused for a second before replying. ‘No, I’m afraid not. It’s the Wraith Pits of Grimore!’
***
Chapter Forty-Four
It was late on that Saturday night when Lizzie returned home with her fancy hire costume ripped beyond repair. Two police cars were parked outside the house and the windows were ablaze with light. Lizzie had barely reached the front door when it was wrenched open by Mrs Brown who hugged her, shouted at her and then burst into tears before grounding her for a month. Lizzie was too exhausted to argue.
‘Mum, can I just have a bath and go to bed, please? I’ll explain everything tomorrow.’
‘Oh no you won’t, my girl. We’ve got every policeman on the island in my living room so you’ll tell them everything right now!’
In fact there were only three police officers in the house. They all smiled at Lizzie when she walked in but as soon as she sat down on the sofa between her mum and dad they became very brisk and businesslike.
‘Hello, Lizzie, I’m DS Carter, now your brother Ritchie says you went off with a teenage girl called Rona you’d both met at the carnival, is that right?’
Lizzie nodded. She knew she had to force her tired brain to come up with a story that would keep the adults off her back. It wasn’t like she could ever tell them the truth – unless she fancied spending the next ten years on the funny farm.
‘Yeah, Ritchie was trying to impress her by showing off but he was like so embarrassing that we just took off.’
‘And where did you and this Rona go?’
Lizzie shrugged. ‘I don’t know. We went down to the beach and walked for miles just talking. At first it was fun but then Rona started teasing me by saying that I fancied her cousin Jed. He’s the guy who works on the Ghost Train at the Carnival. Well, I said I didn’t but she kept on at me and things started to get a bit out of hand.’
‘How did things “get out of hand”?’ asked DS Carter.
‘I called her a bitch and then she pushed me into the sea. I fell over and got soaked so I lost my temper. I got up and ran at her and slapped her.’
‘Lizzie! What have I always told you about walking away from trouble?’
‘Yeah, well you weren’t there, Mum. Rona was being a right cow.’
Mrs Brown was shocked into silence.
‘Anyway, I knew I’d made a big mistake ‘cos Rona just lost it big time. I ran off but she chased me up onto the road. She grabbed me and my dress got ripped. Then she knocked me down and was giving me a kicking when this guy came along on a motor bike. He dragged her off me. Then I saw it wasn’t just any guy, it was Jed, Rona’s cousin. Anyway, she was still struggling to get at me but he held on to her and he told me to leg it while I still could. She was spitting and screaming and swearing, so I didn’t hang around. But when I was about 100 metres down the road, I looked back and saw Jed and Rona getting on the motorbike. I thought that they were going to come after me, but they rode off in the opposite direction towards the ferry port.’
‘So what did you do then?’
‘I felt really shaken up so I went and sat on the beach. I must have dozed off because when I woke up it was like really late.’
‘Why didn’t you phone home?’ DS Carter looked sceptical.
‘I didn’t have my mobile with me. Anyway, I figured if Mum came to fetch me she’d just give me grief in the car all the way home so I walked.’
‘Lizzie!’ Mrs Brown was hurt and embarrassed and Lizzie felt mean for saying that, but before she could apologise, DC Carter butted in.
‘So tell me what you know about Rona and Jed. Who are they? Where do they live?’
‘I don’t know. Ritchie and I met them at the Carnival. They said they were doing casual jobs and stuff, but that they were really on the Island for the Rock Festival. Maybe they’re sleeping rough or in a squat somewhere.’ Lizzie pulled a face. ‘You know, at first I thought Rona was cool, but she so wasn’t.’
By now DS Carter was pretty sure she was having her time wasted by a silly kid who’d got out of her depth. She was lucky she got away so lightly, she thought. But, at least now we don’t have a missing girl - or worse - on our hands.
She asked a few more questions but she could see that Lizzie was too tired to be of any real help. ‘OK, Lizzie,’ she said. ‘I think that what you need is a good night’s rest. But we will need you to come down to the station and give a statement tomorrow.’
Lizzie gave her a weak smile.
DS Carter and her two colleagues got up to leave, but DS Carter paused at the door, turned back to Lizzie and said: ‘Take your mobile with you everywhere you go from now on, Lizzie. You could have saved us a lot of hassle, and your family a lot of worry, if you’d just made one call.’
Lizzie promised she would.
The next day, Lizzie went with her mother and Ritchie to the police station to make a statement. She knew it was a complete waste of time. The police had no chance of finding Rona or Jed.
The police went through the motions of trying to trace them but they soon gave up. As far as they were concerned the two had almost certainly left the island after the incident. As DS Carter said to one of her colleagues: ‘All sorts of weirdos come over for the Festival but, thankfully, they never stay long.
Ritchie and Lizzie weren’t so sure. They spent the rest of the summer looking over their shoulders each time they left the house and jumping nervously every time they heard the sound of a motorbike. Lizzie drove Mrs Brown mad by covering all the mirrors in the house with cloths before she went to bed each night.
‘Why must you do it, Lizzie? she asked - but she never did get a satisfactory answer.
***
Chapter Forty-Five
At the end of September, Ezra sent Ritchie and Lizzie a message telling them to meet him at the oak tree in Pier’s Wood. He said he’d have a surprise for them.
Their spirits soared. ‘He’s going to tell us that the Bloods have nabbed Celandine,’ said Ritchie.
‘I so hope you’re right, Ritchie. That would be like the best news.’
They were in for a bitter disappointment. When they arrived at the oak they could see at once that Ezra was uneasy. Before he could say a word the children demanded to know if Celandine was behind bars.
Ezra sighed. ‘I only wish we had caught her,’ he said. ‘We’ve searched everywhere, but the trail’s gone cold and now my bosses have called off the hunt. They say we can no longer spare the time or the resources to keep on with a wild goose chase.’
Ritchie swore. ‘Great. Hasn’t anyone told your bosses that Celandine’s a psychopathic evil witch not a wild goose - and she could come for us at any time?
Ezra shook his head and tried his best to reassure them. ‘Look, don’t worry. Celandine only came here because she was after the Crystal Beast, but now that’s destroyed there’s no
reason for her to ever return to Yarfleet. I don’t know exactly where she is but, trust me, you won’t see her again.’
Ritchie and Lizzie were not so sure. ‘She hates us for wrecking her plans.’
‘Yes,’ replied Ezra,’ But Celandine also thinks that Lizzie is dead so, as far as she is concerned, she’s already had her revenge. You can both relax. You have absolutely nothing to fear from her.’
The two children looked unconvinced. ‘You said you had a nice surprise for us,’ said Lizzie. ‘But this so wasn’t it.’
Ezra admitted it wasn’t. ‘But I think you are going to like it,’ he said. He put his flute to his lips and began to play. The air shimmered and sparkled and suddenly Alice and Will appeared looking flustered but happy.
Lizzie squealed with delight. She flung her arms around Alice and hugged her. Alice hugged her right back. Will and Ritchie shuffled sheepishly for a moment then tentatively bumped their fists together.
‘All right?’ said Ritchie.
‘Yea, forsooth, I prosper,’ replied Will. ‘And thee?’
‘Yeah, I’m cool, but why have you gone back to talking like Shakespeare on a bad day?’
Will frowned but before he could reply, Lizzie butted in.
‘Err .. hello? Because Alice and Will are back with their friends in Elfhame, that’s why.’
‘Tis true,’ said Will. ‘Since the rescue, I have become the leader of all the Francheville children. Even that moldwarp, Simon Mugglesford bows to my authority.’
Ritchie pulled a face. Will sounded just a bit too smug for Ritchie’s liking.
‘Blimey, you’d better watch this guy, Alice. It sounds like he’s getting too big for his boots.’
‘Egad thou lozel,’ spluttered Will. ‘My boots fit me full well. Methinks ‘tis the custard-coffins adorning your own feet that offend.’
‘Yeah, well, that just shows what you know,’ retorted Ritchie. ‘These are box fresh designer trainers and, for your information, Mr “Leader of the Pack” …’
But Will never did get to hear what Ritchie was about to tell him as Ritchie’s rant was brought to an abrupt halt by Alice and Lizzie having a fit of the giggles.
‘I faith, I think the boys have missed each other,’ said Alice.
‘You said it,’ said Lizzie.
Will and Ritchie scowled.
‘Maids,’ said Will dismissively. ‘They cackle like dizzy-eyed hens.’
‘Nah,’ said Ritchie. ‘Dizzy-eyed hens make more sense.’
And on this the two rivals were in complete agreement.
Ezra settled down with his back against the oak tree while the four children wandered off to catch up on everything that had happened since they were last together.
‘All the children from Francheville are with foster families in Elfhame,’ said Alice. ‘Will and I live on a farm with an old couple who never had children of their own. We earn our keep by helping with the chores.’
‘What are they like this old couple?’ asked Ritchie. ‘Are they OK?’
Will nodded. ‘They are kindly enough, but they are not our parents. We want to go home.’
Alice reached out and took Will’s hand. ‘Hush, brother. You know that can never be. We must make the best of things.’
Alice smiled, but it was a strained and sad smile which didn’t touch her eyes.
Ritchie frowned. ‘It must be tough though. I don’t envy you. I’d go totally bonkers if it was me.’
‘Oh well done, Ritchie. There’s nothing like trying to cheer people up – and that’s nothing like trying to cheer people up.’ Lizzie was exasperated with her brother’s unerring ability to put his trainer clad foot in it.
‘It’s not so bad,’ said Alice quickly. ‘At least we have each other. And Ezra comes to see us when he can. He says that we will learn to be happy and that, as we build a new life in Elfhame, our memories of home will grow dim and fade.’
‘Not good enough,’ said Ritchie. ‘We’ve got to find a way to get you guys home.’
‘But you know what Ezra said,’ objected Lizzie. ‘There’s no record of the children ever returning so I guess that means they can’t ‘cos if they do it’ll change history.’
‘Listen to yourself, Lizzie. You’re the one who’s always telling me there’s no such word as can’t.’
‘Yeah, but that’s only when you claim you can’t do your homework or something else equally dumb.’
Alice and Will watched the two children argue. Then Will said: ‘Ritchie, oftentimes I curse you for a boil brained mammet, but now methinks you say sooth. If we stay long in Elfhame we will go “bonkers”.’
‘Nuff said, then. Look here’s the plan. You guys will have to go back to Elfhame with Ezra for now, but don’t worry, me and Lizzie will soon figure out a way to get you home to Francheville without changing the course of history.’
Lizzie looked sceptical. ‘Oh right. And just how are we going to do that, Mastermind?’
Ritchie bit his lip. ‘Errr … I haven’t quite got that far in my thinking, but we’ll come up with something. We always do.’
‘Huh. I fancy ‘tis Lizzie who always comes up with something,’ said Will. ‘But I thank you, Ritchie for taking our side,’ he added hurriedly as Ritchie looked daggers at him.
Alice leaned across and kissed Ritchie gently on his cheek. ‘You are a true friend, Ritchie. I know you and Lizzie will not fail us.’
Ritchie’s face turned bright red as he blushed furiously. ‘Yeah, well. Whatever,’ he mumbled.
Lizzie glanced back over her shoulder. Ezra was still sitting with his back against the tree and, as far as Lizzie could tell, he was out of earshot. She beckoned the others to move closer to her and she lowered her voice.
‘Listen up, guys. Even if we do think of something - and I’m not convinced we will - there’s no way Ezra’s ever going to agree to any plan we come up with. So we’ve got to keep him in the dark about all this.’
‘But Ezra is a good man and our friend and protector,’ said Alice. ‘Tis not right that we should plot to deceive him.
‘Yeah, but he’s also a Chronomage. He’s sworn to uphold the laws of time and space and we’ll be breaking everyone of them if we pull this off.’
‘God’s wounds, sister, Lizzie has the truth of it. Captain Ezra is now our enemy.’
‘Well, I wouldn’t go that far,’ said Lizzie. ‘But we can’t ask for Ezra’s help that’s for sure so, from now on, we’re on our own.’
‘Right!’ said Ritchie. ‘It’s us four kids against the world.’ He attempted a clumsy high five with Will. Will, who still hadn’t quite got the hang of 21st century gestures, lashed out with all his strength. Both boys hurt their hands.
‘Muppet!’
‘Clapper-clawed measle!’
Alice and Lizzie looked at each other in disbelief.
‘Way to go, guys,’ said Lizzie. ‘With team work like that we’ll have the Francheville kids back home in no time.’
‘Soft, Lizzie, I’m sure that when the time comes, Will and Ritchie will not be found wanting. They have the hearts of lions.’
‘Yeah, and the brains of wombats – but hey, we’ll muddle through somehow.’
‘Oh take a chill pill, Lizzie. Why can’t you be more like Alice?’
But Alice was looking far from chilled.
‘If we are to deceive Ezra, who then will protect us from The Hooded Lady?’
‘We’ve got no worries on that score,’ said Ritchie. ‘She’s well out of the picture.’
Alice looked at him and Ritchie could see the fear in her eyes.
‘Perhaps you are right, Ritchie, but Ezra told us he thinks Celandine is hiding in the shadows between the worlds. That is why we are safe in Elfhame and you are safe here. Yet surely we must brave those shadows if we are to find our way home.’
Before any of the children could reply, Ezra came striding up to them. ‘Sorry, but I can allow you children no more time together. I must return Will and Alice back to
Elfhame.’
‘But we’ve still got loads to talk about,’ protested Ritchie.
The Chronomage smiled. ‘I don’t doubt it. I’m sure if I let you, you could talk all day and all night and still have more to say. But there is no more time. So say your farewells.’ He raised his flute to his mouth.
‘Hold up, Ezra.’ Lizzie hit the Chronomage with her most winning smile. ‘We will get to see Will and Alice again, won’t we? Please.’
The others all joined in and begged Ezra to agree.
Ezra lowered his flute. ‘I really don’t think …’
But Lizzie wasn’t going to let him off the hook.
‘Oh come on, Ezra. We’re the nearest thing to family Alice and Will have got. You won’t let them go home to their real family and now you won’t even let them come and see us. That’s just soooo out of order.’
Lizzie’s words bounced off him. There was no way he was going to let himself be bullied by a stroppy girl, no matter how much he admired her spirit.
He cleared his throat and was about to insist they do as they were told when Alice looked up at him imploringly. She said nothing, but two silent tears rolled down her cheeks. Ezra groaned inwardly. He could no more refuse her silent appeal than he could shoot a puppy.
‘Oh very well,’ he said gruffly. ‘I suppose it can do no harm. Perhaps when I am not too busy I will arrange another visit. But, even if I do, I make no promise that it will be soon.’
‘Good man,’ said Ritchie. ‘You know it makes sense.’
Alice and Lizzie both flung themselves at Ezra and hugged him. While he was distracted, Ritchie and Will nodded knowingly at each other.
When he finally disentangled himself, Ezra asked Will and Alice to stand next to him. Then he played a melancholy tune on his flute and the three of them faded from sight.
Ritchie and Lizzie waited for a few moments as if they expected something else to happen – but nothing did. Then Lizzie turned to face her brother. ‘Well, there was me thinking that the most excitement we were going to get from now on is watching Dad check his lotto ticket on Saturday nights. But no, you decide we’re going to do the impossible.’
