Calgacos

by Aubade Teyal

  **********

  The day of the Challenge Cup drew near, and excitement in the school reached an unprecedented high. Lessons became an interruption to the main event, which was a never-ending discussion as to which house was the current favourite to win. Caniformia had recently surged forward in general expectation. Bambridge, apparently, was holding nightly wrestling contests to toughen up his competitors, and Gram, the Caniformia junior member, was so far an unbeaten champion. Nighten, determined not to be outdone, was taking his team out twice daily, running them to Balreaig and back, timing them, forcing them to run faster and faster. Shergar was leaner and quicker than ever, and, watching him run back into courtyard one afternoon, Lennox knew she would struggle to outrun him. She was not doing any extra fitness training at all. Kearns had eschewed fitness and instead instructed Duncan to focus on tactical combat. Lennox had avoided all the training sessions.

  She must have been the only person in the whole of Calgacos who did not want to hear another word spoken about the Challenge Cup. With every passing day, and jibe, or comment, she resented her inclusion in the team.

  It had thrust her into a very unwelcome spotlight, and created a powerful swell of antagonism against her. Connel still wasn’t talking to her, Rick was, but had nothing nice to say and Henry had never really talked to her anyway. Kellas, too, was staying far away. After his initial outburst, he had reverted to pretending she didn’t exist. He never spoke to her, never looked her way. For her, being included in the Challenge Cup did not feel like an honour, it felt like a death sentence.

  Duncan alone sought her out. He was always around, appearing in the common room, walking past her lessons, in the dining hall surveying the tables. It took all her wits to stay hidden from him. She knew what he wanted to say and she could not avoid him for ever. Eventually he caught up with her at the end of fitness one cold, dark evening.

  She ran into the courtyard, mud splattered, wet through to her skin, her hair like seaweed, sticking to her face and back.

  ‘Lennox. You are a difficult person to track down,’ Duncan said, cornering her.

  The courtyard hushed. The juniors nearby were watching, and listening.

  Bambridge was already finished with them, and was heading back inside.

  Standing there, facing him, she felt her temperature instantly drop. Her toes and fingers were already bitingly cold.

  ‘Did you want me?’ she asked naively, then bit her lip as those closest began to snigger.

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Challenge Cup training?’ she pre-empted.

  ‘Yes. Tonight. Hand to hand in the Feliformia gym.’

  ‘Ok.’

  But she didn’t go. Even though she’d promised. Even though she knew Duncan would come and find her in the morning. Even though she knew it meant more trouble. She just couldn’t bring herself to walk through the door.

  The next morning Duncan cornered her at breakfast. She was halfway through a bowl of porridge, pretending not to listen to the conversation about the Challenge Cup.

  ‘Shergar’s becoming unbearable,’ Connel was muttering. ‘He reckons it in the bag.’

  ‘There’s something wrong with his head,’ Rick pointed out. ‘Amnesia. He must have forgotten about Gram.’

  ‘Aves aren’t up to much,’ Henry added, joining in. ‘Frank’s pulling his hair out. He’s given up already.’

  The table fell silent. Connel had paused, a spoon to his mouth, Rick froze, half way through drinking his tea. Lennox looked up. Duncan was towering over her.

  ‘Where were you?’

  ‘I was sick…’

  But it was a lie and everyone knew it.

  She stood up. It made no difference. Duncan still towered over her.

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  She tried to walk away. It was too much. Duncan, Connel, Rick, Henry, all staring at her. But Duncan hadn’t finished. He moved into her path, blocked her way.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said again, but this time she didn’t mean it. This time she meant let me go.

  ‘It’s an honour, you know, being on the squad,’ he said. These were the very words she did not want to hear. She wasn’t grateful. She was ready to scream. ‘There are others who would do anything to be in your place. The pride of Feliformia is resting on your shoulders. The least you could do is turn up to training.’

  She swallowed. She knew what Duncan said was true. He had risked his own credibility on her. He, incredibly, believed in her, when almost no one else did. But all she could say was:

  ‘I know.’

  It wasn’t enough for Duncan. She had lied once already. His face darkened.

  ‘Tonight, training is…’

  But he didn’t finish. He was interrupted by Kellas.

  ‘Leave her alone.’

  She hadn’t realised Kellas was in the hall, and now he was right next to her, his shoulder touching hers.

  ‘This has nothing to do with you, remember?’ Duncan told him. ‘Back off.’

  ‘I’ll back off, if you back off her.’

  No one spoke to Duncan like that.

  Those juniors closest held their breath. Connel’s mouth was open, suspended. Rick, who was beside Henry, elbowed him sharply. Even the juniors on the next table had noticed, and had stood up to see more clearly. The story of the confrontation between Kellas and Duncan over Lennox’s inclusion in the Cup had spread throughout the school.

  ‘Do you have a death wish?’ Duncan asked, coldly.

  ‘Just let her go.’

  ‘She’s free to go. We were talking. That’s it. Until you interfered.’

  And Kellas, to Lennox’s horror, growled, stepped forward, and squared up to Duncan.

  This was what the juniors had been waiting for. They jumped up from their benches, some leapt onto chairs nearby, and the chant began,

  ‘Fight, fight, fight…’

  But almost as soon as it had begun, the chant was over.

  A monstrous bellow filled the hall, obliterating all other sound. It died as suddenly as it arose, leaving a hall hollow with whispers, and Kearns striding through the middle of the hall, watched by everyone.

  ‘If that ever happens again,’ he roared, his voice booming through the hall, the kitchens, the basement corridor. ‘You’ll both be in solitary for a week!’

  Kellas did not hang around. With every student watching, he stalked from the hall, his proud face a mask. Duncan did the opposite. He stepped forward, and addressed Kearns coolly as if he had been an innocent bystander.

  ‘Master, the Cup is days away and I was talking to Lennox about the importance of attending training. Kellas had no place getting involved. I was simply doing what you’d asked.’

  Kearns studied Lennox with distaste.

  ‘You’re right,’ he agreed,’ about Kellas. I’ll warn him. If it happens again, I’ll demote him. But you’re also wrong,’ His eyes travelled up and down Lennox’s slender frame, ‘about her. She should never have been put on the team.’

  ‘She’ll swing it for us,’ Duncan promised. ‘I’m sure of it.’

  ‘If she doesn’t, then you’ll be demoted,’ he declared and turned his back.

  Duncan and Lennox were left where they started.

  ‘Training tonight is in the gym, again. 6pm,’ he told her. ‘And, as you can see, I really need you there.’ He smiled, seemingly unconcerned by Kearns’ threat.

  ‘I’ll come,’ she promised, and this time she meant it.

  That night, she attended her first training session. The rest of the team was already immersed in practice when she turned up at the gym. Zac and Felix were grappling. Daryl and Duncan were sparring, their fists strapped, their feet moving fast. The fight ended abruptly when Duncan saw Lennox.

  'Tell me I'm not dreaming' he cried.

  Not a dream, a nightmare, she thought, but said nothing.

  ‘Have you done any fighting before? Any martial arts?’ he asked.

  ‘No.’

  Duncan al
ways seemed to ask the wrong questions. She didn’t want to, but he forced her to lie.

  ‘Then come here.’

  He stood on the mat, beckoning her to him.

  She remained rooted to the spot.

  ‘Come on. That’s why you’re here,’ he coaxed

  She sighed. She was here because she didn’t want another scene between Kellas and Duncan; she was not here to learn how to fight.

  ‘I am not going to fight you,’ he added. ‘Look at you, look at me. I couldn’t. I’m just going to show you some moves. That’s all.’

  Duncan did not know how to take no for answer. She suspected no one had said no to him since he had arrived at Calgacos, all those years again. Tentatively, she joined him on the mat. He took charge at once. He put his large hands on her body, on her waist, on her arms, on her back, so she was standing in front of him, and he was moving her limbs, showing her what to do.

  ‘Like this, he told her, ‘jabbing forwards with an arm.’

  Daryl, Zac and Felix stopped training to watch.

  ‘We’re not putting on a show,’ Duncan told them.

  ‘Looks fun,’ Zac smiled, his eyes on Duncan’s hands on Lennox. ‘Do you want a target?’

  ‘No!’ Lennox exclaimed.

  ‘Actually, it would help,’ Duncan agreed, and so Zac joined them on the mat.

  At first he simply stood there, while Duncan directed her again and again how to move her arms, change her hands, from fists, to blunt blades, and where to aim, putting her hands on Zac. Then he stood back.

  ‘Now show me.’

  And she did, but softly, gently, staying very clear of Zac, feinting only.

  ‘You’re teasing me!’ Zac mocked.

  He was the only senior in Feliformia who joked with the juniors, who sat with them in the common room, and passed on rumours. Lennox almost liked him, and had no desire to fight him, which was a good thing. It should mean they were both safe.

  They began circling each other, testing the waters.

  ‘Come on’ Duncan urged. ‘You can do it.’

  But she didn’t. So, impatient, it was Zac who started it. A sudden lunge punch, straight at her belly. She reacted instinctively. Blocked down, hard, jerked her elbow in his face and when she felt resistance, jumped up, high and away, then turned her back and walked off the mat.

  ‘Don’t leave now!’ Duncan cried, meeting her, gripping her arms. ‘You’ve only just started.’

  But she couldn’t stay. In those few split seconds of combat, as soon as he had attacked, she had known it was dangerous.

  ‘I can’t.’

  ‘Why?’ Duncan’s hands tightened.

  Lennox looked up alarmed, at his tight jaw, his intent stare.

  ‘I’m not ready, I’m not strong enough.’ There was a shred of truth in that. ‘If I leave now, I’ll come back tomorrow. If I fight on, I won’t want to ever come back.’

  It was a bribe, and it worked. Duncan’s grip loosened.

  ‘Then tomorrow. And if you don’t come, I’ll come looking for you. You know I will.’

  So she came back, but she was careful. Every night, and every morning, for the final week of preparation, she took herself down to the gym so Duncan could show her more moves, allowing Duncan to mould her body, and place his hands on her hips and her thighs, while the other boys watched, and wanted to do the same. Every time, she was given a ‘target’, and every time she fought tentatively, and left before anything could happen.

  Typically, news on the training sessions spread.

  Connel cornered her in the middle of an English lesson. They were supposed to be discussing Macbeth, but Connel had more important matters to discuss than Elizabethan literature.

  ‘I hear you have been to training. At last.'

  ‘I didn’t really have a choice,’ she admitted.

  'You know I told Duncan it was unfair that you were on the team, and I wasn’t.'

  Lennox paled. Connel had guts, saying that to Duncan.

  ‘And it was like a knife turning in my stomach when you were picked but didn’t even bother to go to training.’

  ‘I didn’t want this.’ There was little she could say. She baulked at saying sorry. She had done nothing.

  ‘Winning that Cup means everything to me, and to Feliformia and I don’t want us going into the Cup a man down.’ He paused and Lennox understood finally what this was about. ‘So, on the day, will you turn up? I mean really turn up.' Out of the corner of his eye, Connel glanced at Shergar. 'Because anything less would be another stab in the back.'

  Lennox didn't answer at once. Unlike the rest of the school, she had been trying her best not to think about the day itself. But, looking at Connel glaring at her, she knew what she had to do. She couldn't betray her house. Her life would be over here, if she did.

  'I'll do my best.'

  'Really?' Connel was scowling. He did not believe her.

  ‘Really.'

  Connel's scowl did not lesson.

  The additional training robbed Lennox of any free time. Every night that week she collapsed into bed in her dark room, and thought of Mannik, still absent. She was his friend. Even if he had not appreciated her last visit, she owed it to him to try again. But every day was as busy as the last, and by the eve of the Challenge Cup she still had not been to the infirmary.

  The Feliformia team sat together that night. Duncan and Felix were opposite each other, talking quietly, discussing their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. Daryl was quiet, but listening intently, sometimes frowning. Zac managed to have a conversation with everyone who passed by their table, and Lennox, sitting silently amongst the team, said nothing.

  ‘Eat up,’ Duncan told her, glancing down at her plate. ‘You’re going to be working hard tomorrow.’

  She nodded, and took a large mouthful of chicken, eating was easier than talking. There was nothing she could add to Duncan and Felix’s conversation, and Daryl was more likely to own a pet rabbit than be interested in talking to her.

  Eventually Duncan stood up, and the others followed suit.

  ‘Come with me,’ he ordered.

  Every eye in the hall was on their team as they left. Perissodactyla had already left, at a sprint, and to a mock applause. Caniformia were still eating. Frank, the House Captain of Aves, lead his team out after Duncan.

  As Lennox left, she heard tables on her right and left muttering.

  'She's the joker in the pack,' someone said. 'Duncan's taken a big risk. She'll either drag them all down, or do something no one expects.'

  'Like run away...' came a reply from the same table, ‘…back to England.'

  'Where she belongs,' came the first voice.

  On the next table, they were also talking about her.

  ‘She’s only on the team cause’ she’s Duncan’s girl.’

  ‘Yeah, which is big advantage. It makes her untouchable. I wouldn’t lay a finger on her. Would you?’

  Lennox gritted her teeth and propelled herself beyond the comments.

  Once out of the dining hall, Duncan led his team into the oldest part of the castle, through the ancient Great Hall, up stone steps, along a wood panelled corridor, knocked at a plain door, and entered straight away.

  Inside, it was as gloomy as a crypt, with dark wooden walls, and drapes as thick as rugs pulled tight. The walls were adorned with stuffed animal heads. There was horse's head, its hair pure white, a kind of antelope with chestnut brown skin and short, spiky horns, a snake’s head, mouth open to reveal a black interior with no trace of a tongue, and even a small mouse's head, no bigger than a little child's hand, its teeth prominent and yellow. A large desk spanned the width of the room, it was covered in papers and ink pots and no trace of technology. Opposite the desk, was an ominous row of chairs, and behind the desk, stood Kearns. He glared at each member as they entered and took a seat.

  Lennox was the last to enter and took the last chair, furthest from Kearns. He surveyed the assembled squad coldly, one by
one, and did not appear pleased by any of them.

  'The objective is to find the target object, and bring it back. You don't know what it is, or where it is, and neither do the other teams. It is a symbol of Calgacos: when you see it, you will know. The first team to bring it back, wins the Cup. No weapons may be used in attack, and no blood may be drawn. You can, however, engage in hand to hand combat. If something goes badly wrong, set off a flare. There will be Masters close by, monitoring. Any questions?'

  'The object could be anywhere in the school grounds. Does that include inside the castle?' Daryl asked.

  'If we put had put it inside the castle, we would tell you. We haven’t. Anything else?'

  The rest of the team shook their heads.

  ‘Then you leave in 1 hour.’

  Duncan stood up, checked his watch. 'Then excuse us, we have tactics to discuss.

  Lennox was the first behind Duncan to leave. She did not want to left anywhere near Kearns. She was thankful he had not addressed her personally. She did not need to be reminded he thought her inclusion a mistake.

  Duncan took them back to Feliformia, to a small parlour room on the ground floor. Inside was a chair, two stools, a dying fire and low table. Duncan took the chair, and unrolled a map on the table. Daryl and Felix took the stools, whilst Zac and Lennox were left standing. It was the most detailed map Lennox had seen of the area, showing paths and tracks made by animals, shaded areas of forest, individual trees marked as suitable for climbing, even caves, and several pits.

  'Wow!' said Zac, open mouthed. ''Where did you get this?'

  'If you want something done, do it yourself,' Duncan replied. 'I made it.'

  He was sombre, utterly focused. His dark eyes busy. Like Kearns, he did not look at Lennox. At the moment, she was not his girl: just a member of the team, its junior member, its weak link.

  ‘This is the terrain.’ His hands, broad, and long, and pale, spread over the map. ‘From the rotten marshes on the edge of the Dark Hills, across large swathes of open land, to the Hidden Fells, and including the forests to the north up to the boundary of Balreaig itself. The object could be anywhere.’

  ‘Well we can guess what Perissodactyla will do,’ Felix said, staring intently at the map. ‘They’ll look to outrun us all. I reckon they’ll split into two, and cover the open land to the Fells, and the Forests to Balreaig, the most likely places.’

  ‘Agreed.’ Daryl added. ‘And Aves will most likely find a view point, and wait to swoop and steal. Here, I guess.’

  He pointed at the nearest range, The Edge Fells, which were climbable in hours and provided a great view of Calgacos below.

  ‘And Caniformia?’ Zac asked.

  ‘Will try to hunt us all down one after the other, and take us out of action. They will strike whenever they can. I suspect they will openly patrol the open land before Calgacos,’ Duncan waved a hand across the map.

  There was silence. Everyone was staring at the map and calculating. The problem was not the terrain. It was the other houses. Even if they knew where the object was hidden, it was returning to Calgacos that was the challenge.

  ‘So what do we do?’ Zac asked.

  ‘We use their tactics against them.’ Duncan told him. ‘And we use them.’

  Every eye was on Duncan. His low voice was their focus.

  ‘Perissodactyla we leave to get on with it. We want them to find the flag. We use them, then confront them and take it. Aves! We forget about. They’ll come for us when we have the object, but not until then, and we can handle them, easily. Caniformia…’ He looked up and round. ‘Caniformia are our biggest threat. We need to pre-empt their strike. We attack them straight away. In the courtyard. On my signal. Got it?’

  ‘Is that allowed?’ Zac asked.

  ‘You heard Kearns. The only rule is no weapons against each other. That’s it. So we go for them with fists in the darkness when they are not ready.’

  ‘Then…?’ Daryl asked, suppressed excitement in his question. He liked the plan.

  ‘Then we spread out, split up. But not too far. Instead of patrolling the open land, the way Caniformia would, we wait for Perissodactyla to bring us the object, and ambush them. But we know they’ll split up. They have to. It’s the only way they’ll cover the ground. So we split up too. We cover all approaches. Daryl, you’re our reserve, nearest to Calgacos. If all else fails, it’s down to you. I want you hidden within spitting distance of the Castle walls. Zac and Felix, you’re further across the open land towards the Hidden Fells, and just off the open track. Lennox, you’re with me.’

  It was not a surprise. So Duncan would be keeping her right by his side, for hours…

  She nodded, but inside her stomach churned.

  ‘We go into the forest. Near the track, but hidden, and not too far in. We wait until they’ve got the Flag, and are on their way back, and that’s when we strike. Got it?’

  ‘Yes.’ He was in charge; and he was the strongest, she was the weakest. It made perfect sense for them to be together.

  ‘Any questions?’

  ‘What if we wait, and wait, and miss them. What if they get through with the flag?’ It was Zac, and his question betrayed his inner doubt, his inner weakness. Like Lennox, he was lucky to be in the group.

  ‘That’s what Daryl is for.’ Duncan explained. ‘But the more warning he gets, the better. So if someone does get through, you follow. And shout!’

  Everyone nodded. The plan was good. The biggest risk taken straight away, when they attacked Caniformia. It would all be decided in the first few minutes.

  ‘Then let’s go.’