Emerald Child (Kalika Magic Book 1)

by Karen Hughes

  The ground was covered with glass. The potions oozed together into a pool of bubbling sludge.

  ‘You fool!’ Aunt Sofia hissed, clutching her throat. ‘You’ve killed us both.’

  Indie could see a strange smoke rising from the sludge. It smelled foul and it burned the back of her throat. She stood still, the sword in her hands. She could see her face in the bubbles. Strong, it looked, and unafraid.

  ‘You stupid, stupid girl.’ Aunt Sofia was crawling towards her. ‘We’re both dead. Do you hear me? We’re both dead.’

  Indie gripped the sword. Aunt Sofia was wrong. Indie had never felt so alive.

  *

  ‘So it has come to this,’ said a quiet voice.

  Aunt Sofia looked up in alarm; Grandma Helki was floating above her head.

  ‘You've done it now,’ said the great Wicasa, floating next to Grandma Helki. ‘Did you not learn anything in all your years of magic?’

  ‘No,’ whispered Aunt Sofia. ‘This cannot be …’

  ‘The child is worthy of her destiny.’ Chief Wicasa looked proudly at Indie. ‘She has the courage of a true heir of Ballyndor.’

  Grandma Helki held out both her hands, her palms facing upwards. Indie felt the air around her change, as if the whole world was standing still.

  ‘You have broken the most important rule of magic,’ the old woman said, turning to Aunt Sofia. ‘Do no harm. You knew the rule, Sofia. It was the first thing I taught you.’

  ‘Do no harm,’ echoed Chief Wicasa. ‘Break the rule and you know what happens, don't you Sofia?’

  Aunt Sofia began to moan. It sent a shiver through Indie's heart that travelled all the way down the length of her spine and came out at her toes.

  ‘Not in this life,’ the aunt gasped. ‘Not this quickly.’

  ‘You’ve broken the natural law and you have been challenged. Time has nothing to do with it. Don’t you remember the old verses?’

  When pure of heart the princess comes,

  And stands before the darkened throne,

  And says to death, ‘I fear you not,’

  Then shall the spirits all rise up.

  Foul deeds shall pass in sun's bright light,

  Shadows fade and death take flight,

  For threefold are the powers that wait

  To lift the dark, to banish hate.

  The bottles on the other shelves were trembling now, their contents splashing against the sides. Some had already fallen. Indie could see the potions dripping down the walls.

  ‘Please …’ whispered Aunt Sofia.

  She held out both her hands to Grandma Helki, but the old woman was fading away. Her words floated back like a sigh. ‘You have destroyed yourself, Sofia. There is nothing I can do.’

  Bottles flew from the shelves, shattering on the ground. The room hummed. Clouds of smoke filled the air.

  The world began to spin.

  *

  Dargan and the captain, chasing the last of Tenzel's guards, were knocked backwards by the blast. They covered their heads with their hands. Dirt and splinters showered down. When they looked up, all they could see were shining drops – in every colour of the rainbow – pattering down to earth.

  Where the stables had been, there was nothing but a gaping black hole.

  Chapter 24

  Queen Tala’s Locket

  indie woke to the sound of voices: an older voice, reading, and then Kai's voice whispering, ‘Is that what it really says, Uncle Paco? Show me.’

  There was a rustling of pages, and a low whistle.

  ‘Wow, you're right. Shadows fade and death take flight. Do you think that’s what really happened? And listen to this. Two hundred years ago, Kaosha, the Seeing Tree, warned that Gort would face dark and terrible times. Kaosha said Gort would only be saved by the courage of her children.’

  ‘Yes, yes,’ Uncle Paco sounded like he was smiling, ‘We all know how brave and clever you are.’

  Indie tried to sit up, but her whole body ached and her arms wouldn’t do what she wanted them to.

  ‘Shhhh.’ It was Aunty Mai. ‘You must try to rest.’

  Indie was lying in a bed of white, her head propped on a feather pillow. She was in a small room with walls of stone. Next to the bed was a window and outside, lawns and trees.

  I'm in the castle, she thought.

  There was some kind of bandage around her forehead and she touched it, wincing.

  ‘Indie!’ Kai was almost sitting on top of her. ‘You're awake!’

  ‘We were very worried about you, Indie,’ said Uncle Paco. He leaned over from his armchair and patted her hand.

  ‘But how …?’ Indie could see Millie on the other side of the room, chatting quietly with the women from the island.

  ‘There were a few nasty spells lying around, which were made by people who should never have made them.’ Uncle Paco looked sheepishly at the book on his lap. ‘When the stables exploded, those spells were destroyed. Lucky for us.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Kai, ‘I didn't want to be a ruby for the rest of my life. It was pretty cramped in there.’

  ‘And I didn't fancy being locked up in those caves forever.’ Millie walked over to the armchair and placed her hand on Uncle Paco's shoulder. ‘Even if it was with you, Paco.’

  ‘I did what I thought was right at the time,’ Uncle Paco said gruffly. ‘I made a mistake. But it wasn't so bad for you, Millie. The spell only blocked the southern tunnel. You could still go up to Mai's house.’ He gave her a shrewd look. ‘You could still sneak Chief Wicasa's book out from under my nose.’

  ‘Well it was a good thing one of us had some sense.’ Millie gave him a kiss on the cheek. ‘Come along, you old windbag. They're bringing all the treasures back to Ballyndor today. We’d better go supervise.’

  She waved to the ladies in the corner and blew Indie a kiss. ‘Come and see us soon,’ she called, as she led the old man from the room. ‘We're living in the cottage next to the museum. I'm sure your Uncle Paco would love to show you the rest of his books.’

  When they had gone, Indie turned to her brother. ‘What happened to Aunt Sofia?’ she asked.

  Kai looked at Aunty Mai, who nodded slightly. ‘She’s gone,’ he said simply.

  ‘You mean, she’s dead?’

  ‘We think so.’ He shrugged his shoulders. ‘It was a big explosion, Indie. You were thrown clear. There nothing left of Aunt Sofia.’

  Indie flinched. Nothing left. It was a terrible thought.

  She was silent for a moment, then she asked, ‘How long have I been asleep?’

  ‘About four days,’ he said. ‘But we thought you’d wake up today. You've been talking in your sleep all morning.’

  ‘Have I? What did I say?’

  ‘Something about Grandma Helki and the Sword of Veladin and not being afraid. I don't know. It sounded like gibberish to me until Uncle Paco read that poem.’

  ‘Where is Grandma Helki?’ Indie asked. Kai looked at her and she knew in her heart what her brother would say.

  Kai looked down at his hands. ‘She died, Indie, as we were leaving the forest.’

  Indie was quiet for a moment. ‘She was with me at the stables,’ she said.

  Aunty Mai, who’d been listening with a curious look on her face, leaned over and kissed Indie on the forehead. ‘Come along Kai,’ she said, taking the boy's arm. ‘It's time to let your sister rest.’

  *

  Indie lay by herself, trying to ignore the throbbing in her head. She hadn’t even seen her father yet; had forgotten to ask Kai before he left the room. Where was he? And where was the queen? They must have found her. She must be here. Maybe she’d been hurt too.

  Easing herself out of bed, she made her way across to the window. The grounds were filled with people. Some were digging in the garden and pulling up the weeds, others were cleaning out the rubble where the stables had been. One or two saw her standing at the window and stopped to wave. She waved back, feeling as if she was in a dream.

 
‘Well, well. Awake at last.’ The king's voice made her turn so quickly she almost lost her balance. Strong arms caught her and she was lifted into a bear hug.

  ‘It’s good to have you back, my daughter,’ Eamon whispered, holding her tight. He carried her to the bed and laid her gently down.

  ‘Where is my mother?’ Indie asked. ‘Please … I want to see her.’

  The king looked away. ‘I’m sorry, Indie,’ he said. ‘We’ve searched all over the city, all through the forest. I’ve sent men to every corner of Gort, but we cannot find her.’

  Kai sneaked in behind the king and climbed into the armchair. ‘Aunty Mai keeps chasing me out,’ he said, mischief in his eyes. ‘She thinks I'm in the kitchen with Cook.’

  He stopped, his gaze caught by the locket around Indie's neck.

  ‘What's that?’ he asked. ‘Can I see it?’

  ‘It was your mother's,’ the king said, as Kai took the locket in his hand. ‘I found it in the gardens after she disappeared, before they threw me in the tower. It was the only thing I had left to remind me …’ His voice trailed away.

  Kai was staring at the locket as though he hadn’t heard a word. It felt warm, like a living creature. When he closed his eyes he could see his mother's face. She was calling to him, begging him to help her.

  He looked up; the walls shimmered as if they were made of water. Clouds of colour whirled around the room – pink and blue and green and gold.

  ‘Are you all right, Kai?’ The king's voice was a hum in the background. ‘Kai? Can you hear me?’

  Kai was a tree, an ancient tree, with his roots growing deep in the earth. He was the grass outside the window, the red owl in the apple tree.

  Words came into his head and he said them as they came.

  Spirits from the web of time,

  Nature's magic, light sublime,

  Surround me now and hear my plea,

  Release the one who calls to me.

  Indie, gazing at her brother from the safety of the bed, saw a mist rise from the locket. It swirled around the room and slowly took the shape of a woman. Her hair was dark, her dress a deep sea green. On her wrists were bands of silver. She stood in the centre of the room, as the mist cleared around her.

  ‘Tala!’ The king leapt from the bed. ‘Tala, my love!’

  Tears ran down the queen’s cheeks. ‘My darlings,’ she whispered, ‘I thought I’d never see you again.’

  Kai steadied himself and stood up. He felt nothing but love. Aunt Sofia's hatred had made the spell on the locket more powerful than any other, and now it was gone; Aunt Sofia was completely gone. He looked at his mother and smiled.

  Indie had spent a long time imagining this moment. Tears and cuddles and ‘I love you, Indie.’ Now she wasn’t so sure. This beautiful woman was a stranger. She hadn’t seen Indie since she was three years old. Indie with her wild red hair, with her cuts and bruises. What if the queen was expecting someone different? What if she was expecting a princess with nice manners and neat clothing?

  I don’t remember her, Indie thought. What if she doesn’t remember me?

  And then it all came back. A full moon, and flowers. A woman dancing with a blue-eyed baby in her arms. A little girl, tousled with sleep, watching from the shadows.

  ‘Mama,’ Indie whispered.

  The queen turned to her daughter, her eyes filled with love. ‘My beautiful girl,’ she said, holding out her arms. ‘My Indie.’

  25

  Look Out Ballyndor!

  The old groom stood at the gate, shouting pointers. ‘Keep yer head up Miss. That’s right. Guide ’im with yer feet.’

  Canto stopped and snorted. ‘What’s the matter, boy?’ Indie asked, leaning to pat his neck.

  She squinted into the distance. Was that …? It looked like Kai. Waving his arms in the air.

  Indie urged Canto across the field so she could see more clearly. Yep, it was Kai all right. It looked like he was running in circles. And there was someone with him …

  Aunty Mai. Aunty Mai was beside him. Smiling broadly and whistling.

  Indie cantered over to them. She threw down the reins and sprang to the ground, holding out her arms. ‘Tiki,’ she cried. ‘Oh, Tiki!’

  And there was Tiki, beautiful Tiki with her silly grin and her loud yap, licking Indie’s face and jumping all over her.

  ‘But how –’

  ‘Easy,’ said Kai. ‘A purple robe, a willow stick. Ki-somma, kokomi ki-somma.’

  ‘Now don’t get cocky, young man,’ said Aunty Mai. ‘You’re not a sorcerer yet.’

  ‘Oh, but I will be,’ said Kai.

  Indie laughed. She picked up Tiki and climbed back into the saddle. ‘You’ll be a sorcerer, Kai, and I’ll be a queen with a shining sword.’ She raised one arm in the air. ‘Look out, Ballyndor!’

  ‘Look out, world!’ cried Kai, pulling himself up behind her.

  ‘That will be quite enough of that,’ said Aunty Mai.

  *

  And far away in another world, on a green island shaded by apple trees, a man with a mysterious smile was making a pot of coco for a lady in a purple cloak.

  ‘Well, that was all very exciting,’ said the lady, reaching for a slice of moka bread. ‘But I think I’ll choose a quieter life this time, something a little less dramatic.’

  ‘Oh get away with you, Helki,’ said the great Wicasa with a twinkle in his eye. ‘You loved every minute of it.’

  OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:

  THE SHAMAN’S SECRET

  ‘…an engrossing tale of magic and mystery. The Shaman’s Secret is well worth unlocking.’ Colin Steele, The Canberra Times

  kalikamagic.com