by Vance Huxley
“I don’t like it, but maybe the dryads will realise it has stopped the tree roots being eaten. They may forgive us in time.” Kelis shrugged. “But if not, then Rob is right anyway.” She glared at the little green face. “So let your little friends know. We will burn you out if you don’t agree to leave tree roots and flower bulbs alone.” Kelis pointed to the litter. “No more rubbish. You put it in bins, and you can get food from the same place.”
The ratlin looked from one to another. “No. We have tunnels all over here, so you can’t blow fire down every one. We’ll dig more now, across the gardens so you’ll never find us.” Voices from deeper inside the tunnel behind the little creature, and from the bushes either side, agreed.
Abel waited before answering, and sure enough Ferryl had a solution. “If you do not mind scorching the tree roots, the ratlin is wrong. It will take very good control of wind, but that is my speciality. Ask the goblin if his kin will hunt down ratlins on the surface, and show us all the holes. In return they can stay, as can the batlins. If you agree?”
Abel passed it on, and the goblin didn’t hesitate. “If you will allow us to live here, protected, we will help.” It bared decidedly larger teeth at the ratlin. “Usually ratlins laugh at us and hide underground. We will see if they laugh with their tunnels full of fire.” The ratlin didn’t answer, it disappeared into the hole and everyone could hear little feet scampering away.
“Collect your kin, and show us the holes. Stand clear of them because fire might come out, but be ready in case ratlins try to run back into the village.” Abel bent to shout down the hole. “We will start from this end. We will not chase any ratlin that leaves the churchyard and the village.”
Even when ‘their’ goblin had revealed every ratlin hole and told Abel the rest of its kin were ready, he still couldn’t be sure how many goblins there were. An awful lot of glimpses of green scuttling about suggested at least thirty, and at least that number of gargoyles were missing from the church. “Ready?” Kelis squeezed his hand and let go to raise both hers. Rob nodded, concentrating on one hand to get better control.
The three stood shoulder to shoulder over the first hole, so Ferryl connected to them all. “Remember, lots of tiny, very hot glyphs. Try to let them float down so I have time to catch each in a puff of wind and send it down the hole. The wind will preserve the glyph until it hits something living, a root or creature. Abel, please start.”
Abel dropped a hot glyph, trying to keep it slow, and his right hand started moving. As soon as Abel’s glyph dropped, Kelis dropped one, then another, then Rob, and Abel had another ready. Each glyph only took a little magic, so the three of them kept up a continual stream as the shrieks of ratlins and the excited shouts of hunting goblins spread out among the graves. Puffs of smoke came out from some of the nearby holes, and one of the church trees rattled branches.
“Next hole.” The trio moved to one that still smoked just a little, and continued dropping glyphs. As they moved from hole to hole, and down the back of the church, the noises and smoke spread in front of them. By the time just over half the churchyard had been cleared, a goblin reported ratlins fleeing over the church wall. “Keep going or some will stay and hide.” Abel flexed his fingers and wondered if the others were starting to feel the strain.
“We’ll need to top up from a tree after this.” Kelis shook her hands, then started casting glyphs again.
“I’ll need splints for my fingers. At least I’m only using one hand at a time.” Rob smirked. “There are advantages in being incompetent.”
“Tree magic will make you feel better. Keep out from under these trees, because the dryads are annoyed.” Sure enough, small branches flew towards the trio if they came near the big church trees. Kelis blew them aside and went back to her heat glyphs.
Eventually a very satisfied looking goblin reported smoke from every hole, and no more ratlins were coming out. “Batlins are following the survivors and will tell you if any stay in the village.” Another three goblins appeared, peering hopefully from around bushes and gravestones. “May we stay now?”
“Yes, but you’ve got to keep hidden. Don’t let the rest of the villagers see you.” Even as Abel spoke all the goblins in sight turned into stone ornaments, then back again. “Fair enough. If you clean up the ratlin litter we’ll bring you some fresh food, or fresh enough.” Abel didn’t think goblins cared about sell-by dates. He turned to the other two. “I don’t know about you pair, but I need to hug a tree.”
“I’ll bring them some pizza. There’s some frozen ones at home that neither of us will ever eat.” Kelis shook her hands. “My fingers are nearly numb.” Not too numb to hold Abel’s hand on the way to Castle House garden for tree magic. Abel savoured the walk, remembering it for after.
The three of them chose a big strong tree each and split up to cut their glyphs. “Ooh, that feels better.” Abel stretched luxuriously as the fresh, bright magic flowed in.
“Tree magic seems purer, in some way. Remember that and don’t let too many dryads in.”
“Ferryl says to keep some trees without dryads, because tree magic is better.”
“She’s right.” Kelis whirled, her arms out wide. “I feel a little bit like drunk would be, I suppose.” Her twirl ended up in Abel’s arms. “I feel really happy.” When the two of them parted, after much too long, both stared at each other in some sort of shock. “Maybe it’s the tree magic.” Kelis barely whispered, a hand going to her lips.
“Certainly magic.” Abel couldn’t think too straight because that had been wonderful, mind-blowing. Much too much, something warned him. The connection had to go. Abel kept that to himself as he walked back into the village holding hands, and mercifully Ferryl kept quiet.
Rob turned off to Riverside Close, leaving Abel to walk Kelis home, with a parting, “I’d probably starve to death waiting until you pair finish.”
Kelis giggled. “He might.” Her face sobered. “What happened?”
“Too much tree magic? That really did feel different.” The two of them walked to Kelis’s door.
“Different, or just more? We aren’t full of tree magic now?” Kelis bent her head as she spoke and Abel lifted his for the only reply.
It took Abel three tries to talk afterwards. “More. Definitely more. Is it too much more, Kelis?” He smiled. “Not for me, for you. I’m still firmly enslaved.”
“Or am I?” Kelis sighed, but a happy sigh. “It isn’t a terrible fate. Maybe once more so I can decide, later?”
Walking home after that last kiss, Abel really did try to decide if the magic might be to blame. Though either way he now knew the connection had to go, because he had to find out.
“I suppose that means you won’t be asking now.”
“Yes I will. More so now. I’ve got to know.”
“That makes a change. Humans are very good at finding reasons for doing something they enjoy, regardless of the consequences. I hope you have enough willpower to go through with it.” Abel didn’t answer, because he also hoped he had enough willpower. He couldn’t think of much else through eating tea, and until he could finally head to Kelis’s for the Tavern meeting.
* * *
Kelis might have been psychic, or had also been thinking hard. No sooner had Abel murmured that he wanted to talk to her than she asked Rob to give them a few moments alone in the library, for embarrassing stuff. As the door closed behind Rob, Abel took a deep breath. “About the feeling, the warm one inside.”
“When you kiss me? Or when I kiss you because I feel something really scary-nice that scrambles my brain.” Kelis took his hands, then let go. “I’m worried, especially after this afternoon. What happened?”
That was all Abel needed. “I don’t know, but I’m worried as well. We are both too young to feel like this, I think. I still don’t believe I’m influencing you, but we’ll never be sure while we are connected.”
“Can Ferryl fix it? Sorry, Ferryl, can you fix it?”
“Yes, bu
t you must both have intent. Abel must truly want to break the connection, and you must want that enough to burn in a proper ward, to the bone. Not Abel’s mark.”
“I’ve already drawn one of my own. I’ve had it for a while, but kept putting it off. What happens if we still feel like this?” Kelis smiled, sort of wistful. “Some books describe that sort of feeling when people kiss, so it might be real.”
“That’s in books, not real life.” Abel tried to smile back. “If it still happens, we’ll deal with it.” He bit off pointing out that wouldn’t be a terrible result. “What happens if you hate me afterwards?”
“Not hate. I liked you before the mark, or we felt the tingles. Hah, I even kissed you, on the cheek.” Kelis sighed. “Intent. I can have that, because I want to know if the mark is affecting me, or you.”
“I want you to be safe. Ferryl reminded me, again, that if the Wolf Shade had taken me, it would have taken you as well.” Abel shuddered. “That’s frightening enough for me to mean it.” Without another word Kelis went to get the ice, and Abel wadded tissues to bite on. Kelis brought a drawing out of the desk and sat memorising it with the ice on her arm. When she put it down, she came to stand in front of Abel.
“One last time.” Her little smile seemed uncertain. “For comparison, and for memory.”
Afterwards Abel didn’t think the kiss helped his intent because the whatever from this afternoon hadn’t worn off. He ruthlessly crushed how much he liked the feeling. “Ready?”
“Ready.” Kelis poised her finger on the outside of her upper arm, the opposite side of the bone to where Abel had drawn the flower.
“Ready.” Abel and Kelis bit on the tissues, and Kelis brought her finger down.
It didn’t burn Abel as badly as he’d feared. In fact it felt like a wrench, something being pulled free or breaking off before the heat. Kelis hissed in real pain, and clasped her arm for a moment. She turned that arm towards Abel. “Did it?”
Abel looked at the shape, a double circle filled with curved lines, almost Celtic, and a downward point like a spear or arrow head, all straight lines towards the point. Kelis had coloured her tattoo in shades from pale pink through to dark red. “Everything protected in two circles, with the point outside to strike at any who threaten. That suits our Glyphmistress. Can you feel anything?”
From her lack of reaction, Kelis didn’t hear Ferryl so Abel didn’t answer directly. “That’s lovely but I wouldn’t want that point aimed at me. I felt the connection break.”
“Is the flower gone?” Kelis raised her arm.
“Yes.” Abel frowned. “It was indelible marker.”
“I haven’t had to renew it for a long time. I’d sort of hoped it would stay, but not connected.” A tear appeared in the corner of Kelis’s eye and she scrubbed it away. She whispered “time to test” and leant forward.
When they parted, Abel answered the question in her eyes. “Very nice. Definitely addictive, but no warm feeling.” He hoped Kelis still found kissing addictive, but thought crossing his fingers might be a bit obvious.
“Yes, definitely a nice kiss, but no flood of warm to scramble my head. That really must only happen in books. The trouble is that now I don’t know if the kiss felt nice because of all the practice and memories. We should have a clean break until we know.” Kelis didn’t seem overjoyed, but Abel recognised the determination in her voice and face which settled one thing. The little something Abel thought he felt when they kissed wasn’t a link, it was his heart breaking. Which seemed a bit melodramatic, but Abel thought he might be justified.
At least that thought allowed him to smile at himself. “You can kiss Rob to compare? He might give up on fur if he kisses a Glyphmistress.”
“Yeuk, the barbarian? I think not. I haven’t got a candidate, or not until we have the next Tavern meeting.” Kelis smiled brightly. “After all, it’s my birthday so I can demand kisses all round.” She poised one hand to cast a glyph. “It’ll have to be someone magic or I might end up binding another sucker.”
“I agree. You have a very strong will.”
Kelis looked startled. “Really? Magical and properly warded then.” She hugged Abel, quickly. “If we still wonder in a month or two, we could find a quiet place and try again?” The laugh that followed definitely sounded too bright and forced. “Come on, or Rob will be wondering himself, about just how embarrassing we’re being.”
“We should tell him why. Otherwise he’ll think we argued and give me hell for upsetting you.” If Abel had thought it through he would have realised Rob would give him hell anyway, for making the link in the first place. At least Rob and Ferryl ganging up to berate him got Abel, and Kelis, through the rest of a very short Tavern meeting. Afterwards Abel felt strange leaving with Rob, after just a wave goodbye to Kelis.
Abel spent an hour in his bedroom drawing a homemade Valentine’s card for Kelis. Bearing in mind how much Kelis disliked slimy creatures he did his best to draw a green snail laying a trail reading ‘Please be Slime’ in a slimy-looking font. Two days later, on Valentine’s Day, Kelis immediately guessed who drew it and called him gross. Kelis’s card from Rob had a teddy bear in a collar, offering the lead with ‘I just wanna be’ above its head. Kelis sent Abel an anonymous one which showed a sorcerer in a pointy hat trying to dance with the tree, while a pretty dryad looked on disgusted. Her speech bubble said ‘Tree’s a crowd.’ Rob’s had a barbarian sucking his thumb and cuddling a teddy bear in a skirt.
* * *
The next few days until half-term were really odd, for Abel at least. Their table, the geeks and betas, all noticed but most of the other students didn’t notice because Abel, Kelis and Rob still sat together. Abel missed Kelis’s hand. He thought about her a bit too much, trudging around from lesson to lesson with his head down, lost in memories. The lessons slipped by, not really registering, and Abel ignored the occasional complaints when he bumped someone because he hadn’t even seen them. He kept going round and round everything in his head. Yes, the warm thing ended but he still really liked kissing Kelis, and he felt something. At least Ferryl must have realised he didn’t want her interfering, and kept mostly quiet.
The last day before half-term Abel walked into the wrong person, Mr. Beresford, earning himself some extra homework. Abel complained to Rob and Kelis, but without conviction. He didn’t really care, because he’d probably spend the time in his bedroom anyway. He still couldn’t work out if he’d feel better spending time with Kelis, hoping she’d change her mind, or would it be best to keep out of the way. Then she might miss him. Mr. Beresford had an office in the sports hall, so after collecting his extra work Abel mooched along the back of the school towards the bus. Everyone else would be coming out of the front so he went round the building, because right now solitude suited him. Except that around the corner he found Jenny, the star of the Acro team.
Jenny stood leaning against the wall, hugging herself with her head down. Abel wondered what might be wrong but on catching sight of him, Jenny spun away and almost ran around the next corner. Abel heard her scream above the squeal of brakes and the sounds of a crunch and clanging metal. He started running, but skidded to a halt as he came around the corner. A lorry loaded with scaffolding poles and planks had buried its back corner in the school wall, spilling about half the load. The driver got out, turned around looking baffled, and went off out of sight frantically calling someone on a mobile.
“Quickly. Look, there!” Abel’s hand jerked without volition and pointed, and he saw a hand sticking out from between the planks!
“I’ll call the ambulance.” Abel dropped his school bag, fumbling for his phone.
“She’ll die. Quickly, lift the planks. Then you can call.” That made sense, so Abel ran to the planks and put both hands under.
“No, you’ll break your hands. Remember moving the tree.” Abel put one hand on top of the other and pushed on the glyphs. “A surge to lift, toss them up then a wind glyph to blow them away. Hurry, and she lives!”
As he smacked the planks away and they scattered across the lorry. Abel wondered how he’d explain that but now he could see half of Jenny, and the amount of blood. She coughed weakly and blood dribbled from her mouth as he reached again, glyphs scattering planks and metal poles.
“She needs an ambulance.”
“She needs me! Hurry, carry her round the corner out of sight.”
“What! She’ll die.”
“She’s dying now. I can save her if you are quick enough.” Abel couldn’t argue about Jenny dying so he picked her up, wincing as her arm flopped at a totally un-natural angle. His stomach churned at the sight of her foot, crushed into a shapeless mess of flesh, bone and black leather shoe. Even as he carried Jenny round the corner, Abel could see blood spreading across her torn blouse and skirt.
“Quickly. Save her Ferryl. What do I do?”
“Hold her head up a little bit more. One moment.” Abel managed to raise Jenny’s shoulders so she was more or less sat on one arm with the other round her and her head nearly on his shoulder. Ferryl’s mist tendril shot out, connected, and Jenny’s eyes jerked open. She closed them again, blood bubbled from her lips and she started shuddering. “It is done. Kiss her.”
“No!”
“I have to be inside her to save her. She has agreed. Do it! You promised!” Jenny’s eyes opened again and Abel could see pain and pleading in there, while her good arm tightened a little and she tried to raise her head. Abel braced himself, then ducked and kissed her quickly.
He meant to be quick. Instead his lips clamped onto hers and Abel tasted blood. He couldn’t move as he breathed out, and out, and out, long after every last gasp should be gone. His head spun and his ears roared, but as Abel’s grip loosened Jenny’s tightened, holding him firmly in a real lip-lock. He felt his legs give way and tried to stay up, but couldn’t and sprawled on the concrete. At least that broke the hold, and Abel dragged in big breaths as hard as he could.
Abel looked up, head still spinning, to see Jenny stood above him. “Thank you. Debt paid.” The words bubbled out in a red froth but already the bleeding had lessened, and Jenny’s broken arm straightened and flexed as if testing. She turned, limping away but already straightening a little more.
