by Vance Huxley
“Trap? I don’t like that idea.” Abel scowled. “I don’t want prisoners.”
“These want to be inside, foolish boy, where they are safe from fae and hoplins. You must make a gap in the hexes, then judge when you have enough. None of those will touch your plate of food, and your parents do not spill enough to need thornies. Nor do they allow livestock in the house so Piskies are not required.” Ferryl smile happily. “Your parents will be surprised when the house is much cleaner.”
“My mum wouldn’t notice, and the cleaner deserves what she gets. I keep telling her to leave my hexes alone.” Kelis threw up her hands in surrender. “Let a few good ones in and trap them, I hear and obey Sensei. What if bad ones get in as well?”
Ferryl turned into a leopard that leapt onto a tattoo thorny. “Bug hunt!” The humans smiled. “Without fire or breaking windows.” Rob and Kelis laughed at Abel, though he hadn’t actually broken the window. Abel had set off a house alarm being a bit enthusiastic with a wind glyph aimed at a goblin, once he had finally seen one of the little green-skinned munchkins. Ferryl insisted he couldn’t use fire, since most goblins were really flammable once they ignited. They had been hunted to near extinction to stop them causing house fires when sleeping too near to hearths.
“Remember to check for gremlins sneaking in.” Kelis had been really annoyed when one wiped out her homework after she left her laptop on the table in the breakfast room.
“I’ve fixed Dad’s car now. There’s a drawn hex under the bonnet, and a laminated one under the carpet in the boot.” Rob grinned at Kelis. “Have you fixed your Dad’s car yet?”
“Hah! I wish Ferryl could find me a glyph to attract gremlins. Then he could break down on the way home, time after time, and not get here until Sunday teatime.” She glanced at the other two. “Sorry.”
“We’d help you fix the glyph if Ferryl found one.” Rob sniggered. “You could collect the slimy critters instead of zapping them, and shove them in his pockets. He wouldn’t know but you would.”
“A ward on a person, a hex on a building or object, though what Kelis wants is a curse.”
“I wish. I’m going to invent a creature-attracting curse in the game. Robyn or Bonny can put them on annoying customers. Something to get the victim stung by hordes of fae while being slimed all over.” She opened her sketch pad and started, and the rest set to helping her.
“I must concentrate on my own homework, getting into that glyph, the one from the sorceress. I cannot see how to use it without immediately killing and binding something, and attempts to destroy it could activate a part. That might bind something or someone to the nearest object such as a tree, or kill them and leave a wandering Shade, unable to move on.” All three knew what Ferryl would say next. “I need my wits!”
* * *
By the time the three students had trapped enough beneficial creatures in their houses, Ferryl had bad news about the glyph. “I cannot work out how to destroy the bone glyph, or make it safe.”
“We could ask for help.” Kelis didn’t look convinced. “From Vicar Mysterio Creepio?”
“Collateral? Blunt instrument? Do we really want God’s SAS rampaging through Brinsford?” Abel shook his head. “I don’t trust him.”
“Nor me, from what you two said. Maybe we could ask him to ring us about a problem?” Rob held up his phone. “But I’d rather he didn’t have my number.”
“He’s got my name already.” Abel picked his up. “Ferryl?”
“I do not trust him, but I dislike the church on principle. My kind and theirs do not agree.”
Kelis held out the card. “Here. You do it.”
Abel called the number, and a very polite voice told him the Archbishop was not immediately available. “Please tell him the young man he met outside Castle House wishes to discuss a problem. Discuss, not ask for physical help.”
“I understand. Someone will call.”
Abel turned off the speaker. “Now we wait. That bloke didn’t seem very interested.”
“He answers phone calls from people who think they have problems. Sort of a 999 for the church. They’ll have people phoning because they want to know the vintage of the communion wine.” Rob shrugged. “It’ll go on a list, someone else will look at it and cut out the worst, then it goes through four more before they’ll bother anyone important.”
“I do not believe that man handed that card out to many people.”
“Good point Ferryl, but it certainly isn’t a direct line.” Kelis turned to the game files. “We may as well get on with this.” She jumped a mile when Abel’s phone struck up with ‘People are Strange’ because an unknown number had called.
After answering Abel put it on speaker in time for the others to hear, “Have you opened the house?”
“Maybe that is his phone.” Kelis put her hand over her mouth as she realised the Archbishop would hear her.
“Not quite, but using that number and Castle House has my attention. What do you wish to discuss?” Creepio Mysterio didn’t have a sense of humour.
“The house is still sealed. We have a bone glyph, taken from a sorceress who attacked us. We do not want to activate it, but cannot destroy it without possibly killing someone. Can you help?”
“How did you…?” Creepio sounded startled. “We should speak face to face. It would be best if I saw the item. Would tomorrow be convenient?”
“We’ll be at school. Tomorrow evening?”
“Where is this item? Is it safe?” Now Creepio sounded much too interested.
“Yes, it’s inside Castle House grounds. Thank you for the cross over the food at school.” Abel shrugged at the rest. He didn’t like the bloke but fair was fair.
“I’m pleased they paid attention. Tomorrow evening, seven p.m. outside Castle House?”
“No need for God’s SAS, we don’t want collateral.” Kelis shrugged a sort of apology for interrupting. “I just want that clear.”
“Is that the witch, or is she the sorceress now? No God’s SAS, Kelis.” He chuckled so he had a sense of humour after all. “God’s SAS, I might use that. I will see you tomorrow.” With that the phone went dead.
“We must be very careful. He wanted to know where it is. Perhaps he wants to steal it.” Ferryl’s voice suddenly had a very nasty edge. “I hope he tries.”
“No we don’t because if the whatever guarding Castle House wins the battle it won’t stop in the garden.” Abel turned his phone off. “That’s where we’ll be before he arrives, inside the garden. Then if he brings heavies, the collateral won’t be one-sided.”
* * *
The following day dragged, for three people anyway, until they were home and had eaten. Rob and Abel called for Kelis, but instead of going to a Tavern meeting as her mum assumed, the three set off over the fields. They came into Castle House gardens from the rear, through the spooky wood, just in case the Archbishop had arrived even earlier than them. The next hour, waiting for their appointment, wasn’t the most comfortable, but Ferryl kept them occupied and warm. She turned the time into a lesson in either creating very faint heat glyphs or counter blasts to stop the cold gusts of wind.
As his wristwatch ticked off the last few minutes, Abel dug up the glyph while Rob and Kelis kept watch. He left it in the little silver box Kelis had brought from home so that none of them ever had to touch the bone again. Dryad Chestnut’s and Ferryl’s warnings about never activating the spell worried them all. Abel held the box and the three of them watched from behind the trees and bushes as, on the dot of seven, a car drew up.
“Vicar Creepio Mysterio,” Kelis breathed as the man with a priest-collar climbed out, followed by another man, the driver. “He must be the GSF, God’s Special Forces.”
“Stop it.” Rob chuckled. “He might be here to hold the Archbishop’s coat if there’s trouble.”
“Don’t get too near them, especially the second one. He carries something. I will only speak to Abel while they can see us.” Ferryl pulled in her creepy-ph
one attachments.
Abel raised his voice. “Hello. Only one of you, please. We’ll meet you at the fence.”
“Please keep whatever is in there in check. Otherwise my friend will respond.” At a nod from the Archbishop the second man walked back to the car and half-sat on the bonnet, arms folded.
Abel, Kelis and Rob came out onto the grass, walking slowly towards the repaired fence so they’d arrive the same time as the churchman. “We’re a bit worried, because of what your friend brought. Do I still call you vicar?”
“Please. It is a little less formal. Are you Abel or sorcerer, since this young man appears to be a warlock at least?” The vicar stopped a good metre from the fence and waited, eyes on the box Abel carried. “The bone glyph is in there?”
“We are all still training, carefully as you advised and I’m sure you already know who Rob is.” Abel held the box out a little. “I have been told you might want to take this, so I’m a little cautious. We really do want to destroy it.”
“So why did you cut it out? More to the point, how did you three hold down a sorceress long enough to do so?” His eyes narrowed. “You four, since no doubt your invisible friend is here.”
“Be careful when explaining. Not too much detail, and not my name.”
“By helping each other and being very lucky.” Abel explained briefly, but without really saying who did what and simply referring to Ferryl as our friend. “Once we had the glyph, we found out roughly what it does. Be really careful with magic near it.”
“If I may use my cross? Will the house react?” The vicar took out his cross and this time Abel could see the faint glow straight away.
“Put the box on the fence post, but resting in your hand. Warn him that if he activates the glyph while you hold the box, he will be the victim. Ask Rob and Kelis to stand behind you with a hand on your shoulder, so he cannot pull you or the box out of the protection.” Ferryl sniggered. “If he extends magic into the garden to pull all three of you, run away very fast and we’ll use the glyph on the survivor.”
Abel passed that instruction on to Rob and Kelis, including the warning about running away, then rested his hand on the fence post. “You heard what I told my friends?” The vicar nodded. “Do you want the box opened?”
“No thank you. I believe the warning and have no intention of trying to touch it.” The vicar’s hands moved just a little, tendrils crept out from the cross and Abel’s hand itched just before a slight chill touched his flower. The vicar’s eyes narrowed and the itch and chill increased, but only a little. His eyes opened in alarm, and he took a step back. “That is a trap! Whatever is in there is aimed at the church!”
“No!” Abel shouted because the other churchman stood straighter, holding one hand aloft as if poised to throw or cast a glyph. “It attacked me and I’m not church.”
“The trap must be for anything using magic, not magical. The sorceress lied. She definitely came for you or your friends, not the dryads.”
Abel continued in a quieter tone, as if the pause had been to collect himself. “You have answered a question. The sorceress came for us, not the dryads. Someone has been testing our defences, and now we are sure who.” Abel sighed. “Can you tell us how to get rid of the thing?”
“Even knowing she came for you and might come back, you would still like to destroy it?” The vicar smiled faintly, recovering from his brief alarm. “I knew there must still be someone, or three someones, with principles. How refreshing. I really wish I could oblige. I could take the box and place it somewhere very safe?”
“No.” Rob spoke before Abel could answer.
Kelis’s hand tightened briefly on Abel’s shoulder. “Not a chance.”
“The church would keep trying, and would find a volunteer to risk activation. If the volunteer survived, they would have another weapon.”
Abel forced a smile. “All my friends agree. This is as safe here as anywhere else. My mystery friend has no principles and already wanted to keep it to greet the sorceress.”
“Please hide it well, because you are unlikely to need it quickly. The sorceress will not be back.” The vicar’s smile seemed quite cheerful. “I haven’t been completely open.”
“Surprise surprise,” Kelis whispered.
“Be ready. Watch that other one.”
“I know the sorceress, or I do after hearing your story. The church heard of a fight between three sorcerers and a sorceress. She had a very potent glyph torn from her bone, and her Shades were destroyed. That weakened her and the three either killed or enslaved her, bound her, it is hard to get details.” The vicar looked over the trio he could see, slowly. “Your phone call made me wonder if you were the sorcerers. Now I know you damaged her badly, and the other three simply took the chance to finish her off.”
“Where? We can’t find any sign of a sorcerer, apart from this?” Rob shrugged at Abel and Kelis. “Sorry, but he should know.”
“In a city, the same as all the other sorcerers. That’s where the money is. Now look, you’ve got me gossiping.” The vicar looked along the repaired section of fence. “Nice job. So is the strengthening of the barrier spell. If that is all, I’ll be off.”
“Yes. Sorry to drag you out for nothing.” Abel wanted to keep on the right side of the vicar, even if Ferryl kept muttering about him wanting to steal the glyph or get to her.
“It gave me a chance to check the house, and assess you three. Congratulations, the village is looking much neater.” His little smile widened. “Have you found out yet how little food the thanks of your neighbours will buy?”
“They don’t know.” Abel grinned. “A public service. Perhaps it will catch on?”
The vicar actually laughed. “Not a chance. Try to get apprentice witches and warlocks and you’ll soon find out. Those attracted to magic like the power, and therefore the wealth.”
Kelis laughed. “We’ll have to look for a different business model. One that makes protecting villages profitable.”
“Let me know. It might work with the poorer churches.” The vicar gave a little bow. “Please tell your friend I understand the message in the fight. Not too many people would recognise the attack in time to survive, let alone actually tear out a glyph like that. The church will give such knowledge the respect it deserves.” He glanced at the man by the car. “Please do not call too often. Some people are already nervous about anyone who can walk into this garden.” With that he turned and walked back to his car.
“Marvellous. I had another million questions.” Kelis took her hand off Abel’s shoulder and as he turned she tried to copy the vicar’s voice. “Please do not call. People are nervous.” Her voice reverted. “Nervous? I nearly wet myself when he jumped back! Though after that I really do vote for burying that thing very deep.”
“Not too deep. The sorceress might not come back, but he might, and now we know it works against church magic.” Ferryl sounded really pleased with the last part.
“But we don’t want to use it. Do we?” Rob sounded confused, and Abel could sympathise.
“You might prefer using the glyph to letting the house defences wake up.” Nobody had an answer to that, and they walked back and re-buried the box without speaking.
They did plenty of talking on the way home, mainly about why the sorceress had tested and targeted them. Ferryl still thought she, or maybe a witch, had sensed the magical discharge when the Bound Shade and guardian were destroyed and Abel freed her. Hopefully what happened to the sorceress would frighten anyone else off, especially if the nearest sorcerers were thirty miles away. Rob came up with another very good reason. “You heard Archbishop Vicar Creepio. People are nervous about anyone who can get into Castle House gardens. The people might include sorcerers, not just church. Maybe I really should buy a baseball bat.” For once Rob didn’t smile after saying that.
* * *
Abel still checked the traps in his garden, but only caught a couple of hoplins after Halloween. He hoped the sorceress really had b
een the one testing, and anyone else had been frightened off. The damaged maple tree seemed to be recovering now, with both a growth glyph and a protection mark on the nearest fencepost. Putting the magic in the post had been laborious the first time. Abel, Kelis and Rob all contributed a little then waited until their levels recovered. Abel asked about leading a few fruit bushes to the post, so they could keep it topped up, and sparked another memory in Ferryl.
In the woods behind Castle House, Ferryl showed Abel how to drain magic from the root of a mature tree. The glyphs for feeding the barrier could be adapted to put magic into any object, such as a fence post. Rob and Abel filled the occasional protection post and hammered them in here and there around the edges of the village, because Dryad Chestnut had been right. The wooden posts held the magic for a long time.
To start with, Abel used the little kitchen knife to cut the glyphs in the posts. The plastic handle had warped with the heat so Abel daren’t put it back in the drawer with the rest. Experimenting proved that would repel smaller magic creatures for about three metres all round. The main restriction turned out to be topping them up once driven into the ground. The three of them daren’t top up too many or they would have never had any magic reserve of their own.
The three of them had scrounged every suitable length of wood they could, for if they could find a better way. Carving the glyphs and the Tavern Hex became much easier when Kelis had found an electric chisel in her dad’s garage. It had an attachment that cut a neat groove, ideal for the job. She sneaked off to use it during the week when her dad wasn’t at home, and carefully cleaned up any mess. Once they could work out how to keep them full of magic, or Ferryl found a way in her wits, at least half the village could be protected.
Meanwhile the willow dryads were still safe, and happy, and quite talkative even if they weren’t very knowledgeable. Dryad Chestnut stayed taciturn because he claimed that he still didn’t trust sorcerers. Just in case he changed his mind, Rob and Abel dug up two very young trees in the wood behind Castle House and took them home. They were planted in big pots, ready for potential dryad baby passengers. Neither Rob nor Abel fancied dragging the filled pot back to the wood, even in a wheelbarrow. Rob told his parents the trees were a school project, and had so far got away with it.
