by Vance Huxley
Abel shook his head. “Sorry, the vacant trees are much further than that.”
The three dryads conferred, “What about the protection you offered at the start? In return for some magic?”
“You can spare some magic now you’ve been frightened?”
Abel knew he’d spoken sharply, but didn’t expect all three dryads to droop, their whole forms hunching over. “No, we have none to spare yet. We could promise?”
“Your ward, the Tavern ward, might be enough to keep them safe because the sorceress will see they are part of the village. The magic in the tree will be more effective with the protection hex helping, though the protection would be even stronger if the dryads allow you to link the trees.”
Abel passed that on. “Perhaps we can give you some help, if you allow us to link your trees.”
“No binding!” All three dryads flinched back.
From their reactions, Abel realised this binding business must be well known and very unpleasant. “No binding. Only a protection hex and a magical connection to each other. If one is attacked, the strength of all three trees will be available for defence.” The more Abel thought about it the better the idea sounded, but the dryads seemed unsure.
“Give magic to another tree? What about my tree?” The dryad moved back towards its own willow.
“Or mine? It barely has enough.” Another moved away a little.
“Then something comes along and takes you.” Kelis pointed at the first to move away. “Then you, then you, because none of you can stop it, not on your own.” She swept her hands together, as if joining the dryads. “Or something attacks one, and three trees smack it back, and it crawls away and never comes near you again.”
“Dryads rarely share.” Ferryl’s laughter echoed. “Dryads never share, unless the memory is in my wits.” Though the three dryads had moved closer to each other again, and were conferring. Eventually the spokes-dryad moved towards Abel.
“Could you link the fourth tree to us as well? To help? It has no dryad so losing some magic will not hurt it. Not as much.” The dryad looked from Abel to Kelis to Rob, making no attempt to be appealing or even vaguely human. “Please?”
“Yes, and we could ward the fourth tree as well. That would make the group much stronger.”
“Strong enough for all of them to live?” Kelis whirled to look at Rob and Abel. “When the fourth tree grows, it would be a home for another dryad, a protected home we could gift in exchange for magic elsewhere.”
“Probably, unless something strong and really determined came and we would know if that happened. Even then the trees might last long enough for us to help.”
Kelis turned back to the dryads. “If we protect the fourth tree, we will bring a young dryad to live there sometime in the future. You must allow that. You must also swear to give us some magic when you are strong enough, a small amount of magic we can use to ward the village.”
“Yes, yes, we promise.” The dryads crowded forward. “We will not try to trick any other humans.”
Half an hour later the very subdued Taverners walked back down Brinn’s Lane. The four trees and three dryads were linked and the trees protected, using the little kitchen knife to cut the hexes deep into the wood. In a few years the trees would grow big enough, and store enough magic, to be safe from most threats. As they grew even bigger, the trees would accumulate spare magic, some of which could be siphoned off. Even taking just a fraction of what a large tree absorbed, the amount available for powering the village barrier would grow every year after that.
“You may as well go home now, rather than us walking you back later.” Rob looked up at the big wrought iron gates. “We’ll watch you down the drive.”
“Ok, but one of you has to text me, let me know what Chestnut has to say about the bone thing, the wit.” Kelis shuddered. “I can’t be upset if the sorceress has been hurt, but losing a bit of bone? That’s gotta hurt.”
“It does. Putting it into another creature to see what it contains hurts more. The sorcerer did that and I had to tell him what each one contained. Then he took them out again.” Ferryl’s voice held bleak certainty. “You do not ever want to put in a bone glyph from another creature to read it, or cut it out again.”
Abel kept his tone deliberately light. “Which is why we are never going to do that. I’d rather whack it with a hammer.”
“I’m hiding behind Rob when you do. Ferryl said there’s magic inside it.” Kelis peered suspiciously at the tissue wrapping the bone, with Abel’s hand only holding the corners together to avoid contact. “I’m off. Please let me know?” A little smile touched her mouth, “Especially if you need honey.”
“Of course.”
“The Glyphmistress returns to her hidden identity, the innocent schoolgirl, Kelis.” Kelis took off the dressing gown with a flourish and passed it to Abel. “Thank your mum, please.”
* * *
Abel didn’t beat around the bushes when he reached the Horse Chestnut. “Dryad Chestnut, I have a question.”
“You have honey?”
“Not right now, but…” Abel explained, with Rob and Ferryl helping. “So what we want to know is, can you tell if this is dangerous?” He put the captured bone on the grass near the tree, unwrapped it and moved back.
The usual shoot extruded and moved all around the tiny lump without touching, then shot back into the tree. “If you bring this near my tree again, I will drop a branch on you! A large one!”
“Why?”
“How much honey?”
“A full pot if you give us everything you know.” Rob stared but Abel shrugged. If it frightened a dryad, they needed to know. “Delivered tomorrow.”
After a long wait, the dryad stirred. “I will risk being cheated because you helped the dryads, and to stop you using this. The combined glyphs in that bone will kill and bind, create a Bound Shade, by following a magical attack or defence back to the source. Do not activate it unless you wish to bind something, do not put it into any other creature or it may bind you. The Bound Shades you met were only sent for one purpose, to take a magic user. Possibly a dryad, but we only redirect tree magic.” Chestnut’s eyes centred on Abel. “You were lucky.”
“The sorceress made a mistake, she aimed the glyph at Abel but I countered. I could not be drawn out and Bound, because I had his protection to help anchor me.” Ferryl sounded shaken. “My wits would already know this, and possibly how to prevent it. Can we destroy it safely?” Abel realised Ferryl really must be upset, to mention her wits in front of Chestnut.
“Best not to. Save it for if the sorceress attacks again, then launch it at her. It is her bone so she will have no defence if it comes in through her own magic.” The dryad’s eyes narrowed. “Bound Shade is a fitting end for one who binds dryads.”
“I’m not keen on binding.” Abel ignored the looks from Rob and the dryad.
“Then I will study the glyph and work out a defence. You need one, we all do. I need my wits!” Abel shrugged and picked up the wrapped bone, very gingerly, because he agreed but couldn’t do much about it. On the way back the three of them discussed it, but couldn’t think of anything else to do. According to Ferryl, the sorceress should know she had no defence against the glyph, so she might stay completely clear. For now the bit of bone would go into Castle House grounds, and be buried on its own a long way from Ferryl’s wits.
Abel apologised for a little bit of mud and dust on his mum’s robe, but she had apparently expected some. He kept waiting for some comment about furry tails or lights, but all he got were a few digs about a gang of sorcerers scaring kids. Kelis delivered the honey to Dryad Chestnut the following day. It came from the stash she had persuaded her mum to buy because of the tremendous health benefits.
Despite thrashing it out when all three were together, nobody could come up with a way of finding out if the sorceress would leave them be. Dryad Chestnut’s comment about her having no defence against her own bone seemed encouraging. All the Taverne
rs relaxed, because Ferryl felt sure the sorceress had to be the one sending creatures to test the barriers. Better yet, in the five days leading up to Guy Fawkes, very few of the less savoury creatures came back into Brinsford. Even without the barrier, the Halloween Hunt had definitely made the village safer. In addition, without thornies and globhoblins rooting in rubbish and then houses, the whole place looked tidier.
The Taverners were in just the right mood for the Guy Fawkes celebrations.
5 - Troubled Times
Nothing very magical happened at Guy Fawkes, except the usual magic of lots of fireworks banging and flashing and zooming across the sky. Rob and Abel went with their parents to the big bonfire and display in Stourton, which had plenty of thornies and other small creatures attracted by the spilled and discarded food but nothing really dangerous. Even the globhoblins had plenty of discarded food to concentrate on without trying to steal magic from young or drunk humans. Kelis went to a bigger display someplace near where her Dad worked and sponsored by his firm.
Both Abel and Rob relaxed and enjoyed themselves wandering around the stalls, especially when their parents bought candy floss and toffee apples. There were quite a few people there that both of them knew, especially from school so it turned into a bit of a social occasion. Abel had just been competing with Rob’s sisters and Una, bobbing apples, when he saw Rob stagger out from between the parked cars.
He headed that way, and as he came closer Abel could see Rob’s black eye and split lip, and the way he favoured one leg. Rob lisped one word. “Henry.”
Abel looked round, ready to show Henry some real Ferryl Shayde moves. “Where?” Ferryl seemed eager as well.
“Don’t know.” Rob winced and gingerly touched his lip. “He left.”
“Your Dad will get involved now. There’s no way you picked a fight.”
“Can’t tell them.” Abel realised Rob kept moving so Abel hid him from his family.
Abel stared at him. “You can’t hide it.”
“Mystery mugger.”
“Why are you covering for him?” Abel glanced back to where his mum was looking around for him. “He shouldn’t keep getting away with it.”
“Arabelle.”
“Arabelle?”
“She wanted me to win her something on the grabby machine.” Which made sense because Rob had a knack with the coin-operated cranes, already winning a toy for each of his sisters. Rob sighed. “Then she pulled me between the stalls, out of the light, and kissed me.”
“Henry was waiting.”
“Yes. She laughed when he dragged me among the cars and beat me up. After he smacked me in the face I couldn’t concentrate enough for a glyph. They left together. Arabelle says if I blab she’ll swear I tried to, you know, and Henry rescued her.”
“Idiot.”
“I didn’t have time to think. Then it was too late.” Rob straightened. “Here we go.” Moments later his older sister, Samantha, called out and began to ask questions. Just as he’d said, Rob stuck to mystery mugger who had run off when someone came near. The two families spent some time at the Accident and Emergency, but Rob’s leg only had a nasty bruise and wasn’t seriously damaged. After a trip to the police station, where Rob couldn’t give a description because it was dark, they all went home.
* * *
Rob’s face took a while to heal, with Seraph, Arabelle, Claris and Henry smirking whenever they went past. Only a few other seraphims smirked, so Seraph hadn’t told them all. There wasn’t anything Rob or his friends could actually do except fume silently and invent retributions they daren’t carry out. Abel wasn’t sure if Kelis or Ferryl came up with the most bloodthirsty solutions to the problem, but Henry would definitely get badly hurt if he ever cornered Kelis. She still didn’t have very good control, but probably wouldn’t care about who saw the magic.
Everyone at the squeak table understood what had happened regardless of the public story. They put it down to Rob showing Henry up and then getting cornered. Arabelle sat next to Henry at breaks now, while Jenny carried on sitting at the next table with the athletes, rich, and favoured who were not invited to Seraph’s table.
“I’m going to ask for a real sword for Christmas. Then if Henry or any of the seraphims gives me trouble again I can stick them like a real mercenary would.” Una smirked. “My Dad has already sort of promised boots, long leather ones but without high heels.”
“Blimey. When do we get to see this outfit?” Warren asked but everyone looked interested.
“I won’t have the boots until Christmas, but I can manage the rest with a plastic sword so I’ll be wearing it to any Christmas parties. How many others have costumes that are near enough for public?” Seven put up their hands with varying amounts of confidence. “Warren, you are slacking, because if you get sorted out, we can have a full-dress meeting for the town Tavern. Rachel’s Tavern because we usually meet at Justin’s house and she’ll cry if we call it anything else.” Una kept her eyes on Justin, winding him up a bit but then sighed. “I’m sorry Petra, but unless you can get a lift into town?”
“Not a chance, not dressed up in a onesie with cat ears and a tail. Dad would go crackers.” Petra turned to Kelis. “How come you three haven’t got something yet? You designed the game.”
Abel, Rob and Kelis kept them all laughing with descriptions of the costumes at Halloween. “You wore those when you asked the trees about banding together for protection?” Warren chuckled. “It’s a wonder they took you seriously, dressed like that.” The whole table found that funny because none of them thought Abel actually asked a tree.
Though afterwards some betas were more thoughtful. “I reckon a long dressing gown, bath robe would make a great sorceress robe. I’m going to try and nobble my mum’s.”
“I’m going for barbarian, but with a baseball bat and maybe a pair of those leather shorts. Lederhosen?”
“My Dad has loads of thin plywood. Covered in tinfoil it would make great armour. I could ask for a sword for Christmas as well?”
“I’d try for Bonny, but Dad would kill me.”
“A ninja warrior, bodyguard to Petra the Ferryl Shayde, with lots of daggers and my judo gear. I can put the Tavern mark on my headband.” Warren made some sort of martial arts-style moves with his hands. The table broke up into discussions on how to make costumes that just had to be better than Rob’s or Abel’s.
* * *
Henry, or Seraph, seemed satisfied with their revenge, school settled back to routine, and so did life in Brinsford for Abel, Kelis and Rob. Rob began to get control of his leaf, while Kelis definitely mastered keeping the wind glyph tight and focused and started on fire glyphs. Abel could now fry a fae without the slightest danger to the surrounding countryside and would soon start on reverse wind glyphs. Better yet, the clearance of the creatures from Brinsford at Halloween seemed to have a permanent effect, with fewer about. Rob managed to fully ward his house with glyphs scratched into bricks or frames, as Abel now had. Kelis cleared her kitchen, pantry, bedroom and bathroom, with occasional relapses when the cleaner found and cleaned off or moved the hexes.
The result wasn’t completely beneficial. “My mum is complaining about the amount of muck we all trek in. She reckons we’ve got worse.” Rob sat on Abel’s bed, inspecting his shoes. “I have to stand on the doormat until I’ve scrubbed these clean.”
“My mum complains about more dust and flies, but she reckons it’s either winter or Mrs. Tabitha.” Abel sniggered. “Finding a dead mouse under the settee didn’t help. It’s a good job magic creatures dissolve.”
“This is your fault. I told you at the beginning, and then again, but you ignored me so I’ve kept quiet.” The three of them looked at a decidedly smug looking tattoo. “You have banished all magical creatures from the houses.”
“Yeuk. Too true.” Kelis mimed being sick. “They were crawling all over my bed, and my breakfast.”
“But some didn’t. What types of creatures are there in houses, usually? The be
neficial ones.” All three groaned at the clothes Ferryl now wore; she liked a picture of a university professor and now wore a mortarboard and black robe when teaching.
“Pictsies hunt insects such as flies and lice, and like a drop of warm milk. Pixies live on magic leaking from humans and clean magic residues and stuff like dandruff from clothes. Leaving Pixies a little sugar stops them playing tricks. Piskies prefer outside and stockyards, will remove animal parasites if given milk, and will play tricks if trapped inside.” Abel spoke in a sing-song voice, reciting the answers, then sat back.
Kelis used the same tone. “Faeries eat magic from fruit and vegetation, and leave little marks as they do. A few can be allowed in if there are potted plants, as they will frighten away pests and encourage the plant to be healthy. Small fae will kill plant pests and clear infestations of flies, lice or midges, and will be attracted to a little bit of lard. Larger fae hunt insects, faeries, and fairies, attack larger magical creatures in swarms, and will sting humans or animals to feed. Fairies are harmless, love flowers, are prettier, and probably extinct.”
Rob sighed. “Hoplins can be allowed to clear large numbers of rats or mice, but should be kept out otherwise or they’ll take kittens, hamsters and caged birds. Thornies like discarded food, but will scatter rubbish while foraging and invade kitchens if hungry. Brownies are the best house creatures, if not annoyed. Brownies like everything clean and tidy, and will strive to keep their surroundings that way. If they are allowed a small area to keep pristine, and left milk now and then, they will also clean up the rest of the house. If the house is too messy, or they are not appreciated, the Brownie tribe will wreck the place before leaving.” He frowned as he finished. “How do we manage that? Let some in and not the rest?”
“Top student.” A yellow star floated across to Rob and stuck itself to his forehead, glowing softly as it slowly disappeared. “None of you asked. It was all yeuk, nasty, get rid of it.” Kelis blushed a little because Ferryl managed to copy her voice almost exactly. “Now students, here is your homework.” They all groaned. “I will not be helping Abel, to make everything fair. You must trap Brownies, Pictsies and Pixies. Or maybe not Pixies, if Kelis really can’t stand them on her clothes.”
