Emerald Child (Kalika Magic Book 1)

by Karen Hughes

  ‘Excellent work.’

  ‘Thanks.’ White teeth shone through the leaves. ‘What do you make of the wind and fire?’

  ‘I'm guessing Kai has something to do with it.’

  ‘And the king? Any sign of him?’

  ‘Not yet.’

  ‘Tenzel doesn't have many men left. There'll be even fewer after this.’ The man sounded hopeful, but his eyes betrayed him.

  Brek’s face was grim. ‘There are still too many,’ he said.

  *

  Tenzel’s men screamed and cried. Great sheaths of flame flew up around them.

  A few tried to run through the spitting heat. They emerged on the other side with their clothes smoking and the tips of their hair on fire. They ran without thinking, blinded by smoke and terror, until they reached the river and threw themselves into the water.

  *

  Indie jumped to her feet. She couldn’t stand still, let alone sit. She could hear the screams and smell the smoke and see the flames rising from the forest. She could feel the energy of the fire running through her veins.

  The words of the Seeing Tree came back to her: ‘Open the box and you will find what you are looking for.’

  The locket showed her and her brother together, side by side.

  That was it. She finally understood. She had forgotten her family, forgotten who she was. The locket had led her to her father and her brother. And to Ballyndor.

  You will find what you are looking for.

  But my mother, Indie thought.

  What about my mother?

  Chapter 20

  Water

  water,

  Element of the South,

  Flow of emotion and awareness.

  Kai gave Indie a wicked grin. ‘This should cool them off,’ he said.

  *

  The roar of the fire faded and a hush fell. Tenzel pulled himself to his feet. Clinging to Pem with one arm, he watched his men flee through the forest. ‘Traitors,’ he muttered. ‘I’ll have them all hanged when I get back to Ballyndor.’

  Those soldiers still beside him felt the touch of raindrops and turned their charcoal faces to the sky. It had not rained in Gort for months. They opened their mouths to taste the sweet cool water, almost crying with joy.

  The sorcerer saw the change in their eyes. ‘Come on lads,’ he cried, rubbing his hands together. ‘It’s time to end this.’

  A crack of thunder rocked the ground; lightening shattered the sky. The great tree at the entrance to the tunnel was split completely in two.

  Dark clouds rolled across the sun, leaving the forest in shadow.

  The sorcerer’s men clutched their weapons. This was no ordinary magic. They’d never seen a spell bring on howling winds, circles of fire and now a mighty storm. No, this was something else entirely; and the sorcerer seemed as helpless against it as they were.

  The storm, when it hit, was like a snarling beast. The rain whipped their faces and their bodies. It drenched them to the bone and left them shaking.

  ‘We have to find higher ground,’ Pem cried, tugging at the sorcerer’s sleeve.

  Tenzel remained where he was, stunned.

  ‘The river is coming,’ Pem screamed in his ear. ‘You have to get the men out of here. We’ll all be drowned.’

  Tenzel looked about him, his eyes wide with horror. ‘Save yourselves,’ he croaked, tearing his sleeve from Pem’s grasp and running for the closest tree. He hauled himself up, fighting the rain that tore at his cloak and drove spears of water into the back of his neck.

  The men found their own trees. They scrambled up the branches as a wall of water came roaring towards them, crashing into tree trunks, dragging at their boots.

  Climbing higher and higher, some of the men found they could go no further. The branches were covered with a thick gluey sap. They lay, unable to move, while the river foamed beneath them and the rain cut into their backs. The more they wriggled, the stickier the sap became.

  The trees bent and swayed. Those men who weren’t stuck were flung into the churning waters, clinging to fallen branches and screaming for the sorcerer to save them. But the sorcerer did not save them. He clung to his branch with his eyes shut tight.

  ‘What kind of people can call the clouds to do their bidding? What kind of people can summon the river?’ He lifted his head and banged it on the branch above. ‘Arrgh … I should have burned the whole forest to the ground while I had the chance.’

  He opened his eyes. From his position high in the tree he could see the river flowing in a perfect circle. At the centre of that circle was exactly what he’d been looking for – a clearing filled with huts.

  His fear turned to anger.

  ‘So …’ he said. ‘Witches. Calling up the wind and the rain, tormenting us with their unnatural spells. And all the while their brats play by the fire.’

  He waved his fist in the air and almost fell out of the tree. ‘I will not be defeated like this,’ he cried. ‘I am the great Sorcerer Tenzel!’

  He clambered to the ground and surveyed the sorry remains of his army. Sodden. Bedraggled. Missing an eyebrow here and there. And useless too – half of the men were still up in the trees.

  ‘Get down here immediately,’ he yelled, stamping his muddy boots.

  There was a lot of shaking branches and squirming soldiers but not a single man came down.

  ‘Cowards,’ the sorcerer muttered, and he picked up his sword and stalked into the forest.

  *

  Indie heard it first – the squelch of boots and the hacking of swords. ‘He’s here,’ she whispered. ‘The sorcerer. He’s found the tunnel.’

  ‘He's still coming?’ Kai sat back, letting the book slide to the ground in frustration. ‘Then it’s no use. It’s no use, Indie! We’ve failed.’

  ‘We haven't failed. Not yet.’ Indie picked up the book and put it in his hands. ‘You said there were four elements. What about the last one?’

  ‘Earth,’ Kai said quietly. ‘It means security, stability, strength. It’s the element of protection. It’s not a weapon.’

  The boots were inside the tunnel now.

  ‘Try it,’ Indie said. ‘We have to try. We can't just give up.’

  *

  The first of Tenzel’s men to venture into the clearing was felled on the spot by sleeping darts. The next was not so foolish. He picked up a dripping branch and used it as a shield.

  The sorcerer's voice floated in behind them. ‘What are you waiting for, you idiots? Burn the huts. Bring the prisoners to me.’

  A war cry went up from the trees at the edge of the clearing. The sound of drums filled the forest. Boom taka ta. Boom taka ta. Women and children and old men appeared in their doorways, brandishing sticks and stones.

  The cry grew louder. The drums beat faster. The men of the Kalika burst from the bushes, waving their silver knives.

  Chapter 21

  Earth

  indie watched the first man fall. No, not a man: a boy. A Kalika boy. With brown skin and serious eyes, and a face very much like Kai’s.

  It’s a terrible thing when men fight.

  She grabbed her brother’s arm. ‘I’m going to find a sword,’ she said.

  ‘No you’re not,’ said Kai. ‘I need you.’

  She sat beside him, holding his hand, as he whispered the final words.

  Earth,

  Element of the North,

  Sacred mother to us all.

  Kai closed his eyes. It was hopeless. He’d done everything he’d been told to, everything Grandma Helki had asked, and still it wasn’t enough. He’d been fooling himself: he would never be like the great Wicasa. He was no different to anyone else.

  ‘You’re too hard on yourself, boy.’

  He jumped to his feet. ‘Who’s that?’ he asked. ‘Who’s there?’

  ‘Be still.’ The voice was deep and slow. ‘The others can’t hear me. Look at your poor sister staring at you. She thinks you’ve gone mad.’

  There was a chu
ckle. ‘Now sit down and finish the job. You’re more connected with Mother Earth than I had hoped; certainly more connected than I was at your age.’ The voice was fading. ‘Look after that book of mine.’

  In front of Grandma Helki’s hut stood a shadowy figure – an old man with a mysterious smile. Next to him ... no, it couldn’t be…

  ‘Sit down, Kai,’ Grandma Helki said softly. ‘Do what you must do.’

  Kai felt tears in his eyes. He looked across at Brek, fallen to the ground, a great gash across his forehead; and at the others, all locked together, their knives flashing. There was too much happening, too much to take in.

  Indie dragged him back down by his shorts.

  ‘Come on, Kai,’ she said. ‘You can’t lose it now. We have to finish this thing.’

  Kai looked over at the hut. The two shadows were still there, watching him. He could feel their love and strength flowing over him, but he was so afraid.

  ‘Kai!’ Indie was shaking him. ‘Kai! You have to finish the spell!’

  ‘I can’t …’

  ‘Yes you can.’

  ‘No … it’s no use.’

  ‘Then give it to me.’ Indie grabbed for the book. ‘I’m not afraid to try!’

  ‘No!’ Kai felt a strange calm spreading through him. His fingertips began to tingle. He closed his eyes and thought about his breathing. In, out, in, out. Gradually the screams and cries faded, and the world around him grew still.

  ‘Koko makani ki maka maka,’ he whispered.

  The words were not Chief Wicasa’s. They were his own.

  A rough hand grabbed Indie’s shoulder. She bit and kicked as the soldier dragged her away from the fire.

  ‘Kai!’ she screamed. ‘Kai! Help me!’

  ‘Get your hands off her, you brute.’ Aunty Mai flew at the soldier’s face, battering him with a stick in a futile attempt to get him to drop Indie.

  Focus… Kai took another deep breath. ‘Koko makani ki maka maka,’ he said.

  The soldier threw Indie over his left shoulder. She beat at his back with her fists.

  ‘Shut up,’ he was saying. ‘Just you wait until the Lady …’

  ‘Koko makani ki maka maka.’

  And then everything changed. The sun burst through the clouds. A tremor shook the ground. Voices filled the air.

  ‘We are with you. We are one. Do not be afraid.’

  One by one, the sorcerer's men stopped fighting and gazed around. The hard slant of their faces seemed to ease. The anger, the hatred, the fear – it was all gone as if it had never been. The Kalika could feel the change. They watched in amazement as those soldiers who still had weapons lowered them to the ground.

  ‘The forest,’ stuttered Pem, his eyes wide. ‘It’s ... it’s beautiful!’

  ‘Do you see those purple coneflowers over there?’ said one of his companions, rubbing his eyes as if he’d been asleep. ‘I hadn't noticed them before.’

  The soldier who had picked up Indie gently set her down. ‘I’m so sorry, miss,’ he said. He stared at the faces peeping out of the huts. ‘There are women and children here,’ he said. ‘I'm not hurtin' women and children.’

  ‘Nor I,’ said the man behind him. ‘An' I'm not messin' up this place. Look how tall the trees are! An' listen to those birds.’

  ‘You fools,’ Tenzel screamed. ‘You don't have to hurt anyone.’ He brandished his battered sword. ‘Just take them prisoner. I'll deal with them when we get back to the castle.’

  Not a man moved. The voices hummed around them, washing over them. ‘Look around. We are with you. We are one.’

  ‘No,’ said Pem, turning to face Tenzel. ‘We aren't takin' anyone prisoner. Not today. Not any day.’

  ‘You've got that right, friend,’ said a voice.

  King Eamon emerged from the tunnel, brushing the leaves from his hair. Dargan and the captain followed.

  ‘My men have rounded up all those who fled your army,’ the king said. ‘A sad defeated bunch they were, too.’ He laughed, and his laughter sounded bright and strong in the morning air.

  A whisper went through the ranks. ‘The king has returned!’

  Pem threw himself onto his knees. ‘Your Majesty,’ he said. ‘The General … I mean, Tenzel … he told us you were dead. He said all those who didn’t follow him were traitors and would be killed.’

  Eamon looked at the snivelling man in front of him. ‘It seems Tenzel has said a lot of things. Stand up, man. You probably don't deserve it, but I’m giving you a second chance. Come back to your king and regain your honour.’

  He looked around. ‘Soldiers of Ballyndor. You are right. Your king has returned.’

  A loud cheer rang through the clearing as he continued.

  ‘It’s time to reclaim Gort from those who have cast her into despair. This was once a joyous land, a bountiful place. This was a place where the people of Ballyndor and the people of the forest lived side by side in harmony. The self-described sorcerer Tenzel and she who calls herself Queen have forced you to live with hatred, with fear but now …’

  He stopped. ‘Where is Tenzel?’ he said, a frown of concern on his face.

  Dargan and the captain shook their heads. The men looked at each other.

  ‘I think he's gone, sir. I think he's run off to hide,’ said Pem, his eyes downcast. ‘I think that's just what he would do.’

  ‘Let him go,’ the king said, grasping the handle of his sword. ‘He’ll run back to Sofia and we’ll take them both at the castle. He is a coward and a bully, and such men are easily dealt with.’

  He paused, and looked around at the beaten faces of Tenzel's army.

  ‘Dargan,’ he said, turning to the man beside him. ‘Can you organise some food and a place for the men to rest?’

  Dargan looked at him in disbelief. ‘These men came here to kill my people, and now you ask us to feed them?’

  ‘These men are our brothers. They are soldiers of the Royal Army.’

  ‘Our brothers! It didn’t take much for them to believe the Kalika were their enemies.’

  ‘They were afraid,’ the king said, regret evident in his voice. ‘It is not hard to replace fear with hatred.’

  ‘That’s no excuse.’ Dargan's voice was a hostile whisper. ‘They came here to destroy us.’

  A young man with pale skin and hair the colour of corn walked over to Dargan. ‘I’m sorry, my brother,’ he said, holding out his hand. ‘For a long time I thought we were following the king. When the sorcerer told us he was dead, I just kept following orders. That’s what we were trained to do. Forgive me. I will not be so blind next time.’

  ‘Pray there will not be a next time, brother,’ said Dargan, clasping his hand.

  Eamon turned back to the army.

  ‘Men of Ballyndor,’ he said. ‘Dargan is right. I need to know I have your allegiance. You have all seen the damage one evil man can do – the forest burned, the trees cut down.

  ‘More than that, it seems the old stories are coming true. The lady who calls herself Queen has vowed to destroy the royal family. If the stories are to be believed, she will lead Gort into a hundred years of sorrow. We cannot let this happen.

  ‘The people of the forest have always been our allies and our friends. They stand by me in this fight. Soldiers of Ballyndor, are you with us?’

  There was another loud cheer and all the men raised their fists in the air. Not a man stayed silent.

  ‘We're coming too.’

  Eamon turned. Kai and Indie were standing beside him.

  The king laughed. ‘Well, we can hardly leave you behind after this morning's effort.’ He cast a shrewd glance at Indie. ‘I won't ask how you made it to the forest before we did.’

  Indie grinned. ‘I borrowed Canto,’ she said. ‘I was sure you wouldn’t make it in time. He's amazing! Come on. I'll show you where I left him.’

  ‘You go on ahead,’ Dargan said. ‘I'll get things organised here and follow with my men when they come back.’

  ‘And I'
ll gather my lads,’ said the captain. ‘They won't want to miss this.’

  *

  When the shuffling, broken soldiers had been led away to find food, and the captain had run back through the tunnel to find as many of his men as he could to tell them the news, the king took Kai and Indie aside.

  ‘I don't know what happened today,’ he said, looking closely at them both. ‘I don't know what to think. Perhaps the old prophecies really are coming true.’

  He sighed. ‘It will be dangerous facing Sofia. I’d be a lot happier if you stayed here.’

  ‘But we can help you,’ said Indie. ‘We're not afraid.’

  ‘That’s what scares me most,’ said her father.

  Chapter 22

  The Transformation Spell

  in the stables behind the castle, clad in a dress of flowing emerald green, Aunt Sofia stood muttering to herself. The walls around her were lined with shelves, and on each shelf stood a row of coloured bottles. Aunt Sofia studied the closest row for some time. Then she picked up a small orange bottle, walked across the room to the window, and waited.

  Tap, tap, tap.

  ‘Come in, Tenzel,’ she said. ‘The door is open.’

  The man who entered was very different to the one who had ridden out before dawn, leading his great army. Tenzel's robes were torn and muddy, his eyebrows were gone, his face was smeared with blood.

  ‘What happened to you?’ Aunt Sofia’s voice was soft, but Tenzel was not deceived. She was at her most dangerous when she spoke like this.

  ‘Witchcraft,’ Tenzel said. ‘Wind, fire, lightening, rain. It was terrible.’

  ‘You fool.’ Aunt Sofia looked at him without a trace of sympathy. ‘They have Wicasa's book, or didn’t you realise that? It was all a trick, an illusion. You imagined the whole thing.’

  Tenzel shook his head. ‘No, it was real. It was all real.’

  ‘Rubbish. No one has that kind of power. That is the work of a true sorcerer, and there hasn't been one of those around since Wicasa.’

  ‘But the child –’