‘Very good,’ Vulcan said. He lifted the cauldron of molten metal. ‘This is ready to go.’
He carried it over to her workbench and poured the enriched liquid gold into the mould she had created. Until now, most of the Olympian’s weapons had been pieces of metal pounded into shape. This was a new design and Stella was anxious for it to work.
Acrid smoke filled the forge as the metal met the mould. When he finished pouring, Vulcan inspected the cooling weapon with a critical eye. ‘There is no reason this should not work. Not if the mix is correct.’
The cooling mould was lowered into a tray of cold water. Steam shot up and covered them all in a damp film. ‘That should temper it nicely,’ Vulcan said. ‘With a bit of luck, we should be able to test it tomorrow. But we need Emily here to charge it with her powers.’
‘Have you heard from them?’ Stella asked.
Vulcan wiped a grimy cloth across his sweaty brow. ‘Chiron sent word today. They are moving. We have agreed to meet up so that Emily can enrich the weapon. We must tear down the forge and prepare to go later today.’
Stella hated moving. It was such a lot of effort to break down an entire forge and workshop. But with Shadow Titans still in Olympus, they couldn’t remain in one place very long.
While they waited for the sword to cool, they started to pack up. But with the work only just beginning, shouts came from outside the workshop and a moment later Seren and Jasmine charged in. The twin centaurs were Stella’s age and they had become firm friends.
‘Shadow Titans have found us,’ Seren cried.
‘They have fiery dragons with them,’ Jasmine added. ‘We must go now!’
Paelen was seated on Brue at the back of the workshop. He and the large Mother of the Jungle spent every day there, despite the intense heat. Paelen was now almost completely deaf and could no longer walk on his own. At the excitement, he and Brue came forward. ‘What is it?’ he shouted. ‘What is happening?’
‘Dragons!’ Vulcan yelled up to him. ‘We must flee!’
‘But the sword isn’t ready. We can’t leave it,’ Stella cried.
‘Take it with you,’ the twin centaurs shouted together.
Stella reached for the sword, still in its mould, and laid it across her wheelchair’s armrests. ‘I’ve got it, let’s go.’
Vulcan peered out of the workshop doors and cursed. ‘There are Shadow Titans coming this way.’ He pointed at the giant. ‘Theo, leave everything else. Just get Stella and Paelen out of here. Meet us at the appointed place.’
The giant nodded, but as he reached for Stella roaring filled the area.
‘The dragons are here!’ the giant cried. ‘It is too late to run!’
At the sound of the rampaging monsters, Brue growled. Over time she had proved to be a valuable member of their group as elements of the ferocious creature she had once been were now always present. Long sharp teeth protruded from her mouth. Her many legs had tearing claws on them and she could call up a fighting aggression at moments of danger. She was devoted to Paelen, but lethal to any Shadow Titans or monsters that came near.
Paelen had also been trained to use a sword and, together, seated on Brue’s shoulder, they were a lethal team.
As Brue’s two wild heads thrashed the air, snarling and biting, Paelen drew his weapon.
‘Brue, Paelen, no!’ Stella cried. ‘Stay here!’
Paelen looked at Vulcan and raised his sword. It was almost too heavy for his withered arm to lift. ‘We will slow them down,’ he shouted. ‘Get Stella and the sword away from here. Win the war!’
Before moving through the door, Paelen turned back to Stella and shot her a beaming, crooked grin. Suddenly he no longer looked like a weak, little old man. There was something in his eyes – something very young and wonderful. ‘It was an honour to know you, Stella,’ he shouted, bowing as best he could. He tossed her a small ring. ‘Please give that to Emily. Tell her that I have loved her – always.’
And with that, the Mother of the Jungle ran into the open and straight at the nearest dragon.
‘Stop!’ Stella wheeled herself to the entrance of the forge. In the bright sunshine, Brue was tearing after the dragon. The monster was more than triple her size, but that didn’t stop the fearsome Mother of the Jungle.
‘Paelen, jump!’ Stella warned. ‘Get away from there!’
But Paelen was deaf to Stella’s cries. He stabbed his sword deep into the dragon’s lower leg. Brue’s two heads attacked higher up, tearing huge chunks from the dragon and bringing the beast down.
The monster howled in pain. Its distress calls drew the other dragons away from the workshop. When they arrived at the fallen dragon, they drew in tremendous breaths.
‘Paelen, get out of there!’ Stella shrieked.
But it was too late. A deadly stream of flame shot from the dragons.
‘Paelen!’ Stella cried as grief tore through her. ‘Paelen, no!’
She could not see her friend for all the flames. All she saw was fire and the outline of the wounded dragon also being incinerated in the attack.
Theo was standing behind her, watching. ‘Paelen is dead,’ he said, ‘but he has given us time to escape. We must not waste it.’ He lifted Stella in her wheelchair and carried her away from the forge. But as he ran, his movements caught the dragons’ attention. They charged after him and struck Theo in the centre of his back with a force that knocked Stella from his grip.
Stella cradled the sword as she screamed and fell several metres to the ground. Her wheelchair took the brunt of the impact as its wheels buckled and frame shattered. Keeping hold of the prototype weapon, she started to drag herself away.
Behind her, Theo fought one of the dragons. The monster was taller, but the giant was stronger. He wrapped his hands around the creature’s neck and squeezed. A terrible cracking sound filled the air as the bones snapped.
As the dead beast collapsed to the ground, the others attacked Theo. The giant was overwhelmed and driven down to the ground. He fell just a few metres from Stella. Above him, the dragons stood together and were inhaling deeply.
Theo threw himself over Stella, keeping her protected in the crook of his arm. Lying beneath him, she heard the roaring flames of the attacking dragons and then the giant’s terrible, pain-filled screams. Theo was being burned up. But still he would not move and expose her to the dragon’s fury.
Theo took it all so that she might live.
28
Emily fired a blast of flames at the legions of attacking Shadow Titans. They were instantly destroyed. But right behind them was another wave. This was the biggest assault yet. Joel was on one side of her while Agent B stood strong on the other. Their swords were drawn and they were cutting down anything that came near.
Pegasus was behind Emily. He was screaming and struggling to rise. Emily kept her protective powers around him. But Pegasus didn’t like that. He wanted to join the fight.
Mike was running wild and attacking the Shadow Titans. For reasons none of them understood, the fearsome creatures ignored the dog, and so Mike was able to tear pieces of armour from countless Shadow Titans while Joel finished them off.
All across the battlefield, Olympians fought the Shadow Titans. Monsters that, in later myths, would be portrayed as enemies, fought side by side with Jupiter’s forces. Giant crabs caught Shadow Warriors in their massive claws and cut them in half. They scurried across the battlefield, taking down many warriors.
The deadly Harpies, daughters of a Titan, filled the skies with their screeching battle cries. The terrifying winged fighters swooped down on the Shadow Titans. With their clawed feet, they tore them to pieces.
The Hydra was also fighting on the side of the Olympians. The many-headed serpent slithered through the battle, catching hold of the Shadow Titans and bashing them together until there was nothing left.
But still, the Olympians were losing.
Chiron charged breathlessly up to Emily. A deep gash ran across his sweat-covered c
hest. ‘We are surrounded,’ he gulped. ‘There are too many and we are overwhelmed. Please, Emily, use your powers, get us away from here before they capture us all.’
Joel had a deep wound on his leg while Agent B had been struck across the back. Both were bleeding and looked on the verge of collapse.
Chiron was right. This battle was lost. Emily stood still and closed her eyes. She cast her powers out over the immense battlefield and caught hold of any ally that lived. Concentrating as hard as she could, she sent everyone to the meeting point.
One moment they were on a vicious battlefield surrounded by Shadow Titans, the next they were in a peaceful open meadow. Beautiful wildflowers covered the ground and a gentle, fragrant breeze filled the air.
This was a part of Olympus that had never seen the war. It was the Olympus Emily and Joel remembered. Not the devastated areas ravaged by war.
Emily healed Joel first and then Agent B. Then she made her way through the resting warriors, healing all she found who needed her. Before long, she was able to return and was sad to discover there was nothing she could do to ease Pegasus’s suffering. The stallion’s ageing was accelerating.
As Emily lay down beside him, Nike, the winged Victory, landed on the ground before her.
‘We are so glad you have arrived,’ Nike said. ‘Please come, we need you. Stella has been badly wounded. Vulcan fears the human child is dying.’
‘Please stay here with Agent B, Pegs. I promise I’ll be right back.’ She gave him a quick pat on the neck before lifting herself and Joel into the air to follow Nike.
Wounded Olympians were everywhere. But these were not fighters. They were the workers that supported the war effort by preparing food, making clothing and manufacturing weapons to be used on the battlefield.
‘What happened?’ Joel asked. ‘These people were supposed to stay safe and away from the fighting.’
‘The Titans attacked Vulcan’s forge,’ Nike explained. ‘We captured one of their spies. Under interrogation, he told us that Saturn knew of Stella’s sword design. Fearing it might work, he sent monsters to kill her and destroy the sword before it could be tested.’
A pair of young centaurs ran up to Emily. They were both limping badly and had deep burns across their backs.
‘Please hurry,’ Seren begged.
‘Stella is fading,’ Jasmine finished. ‘You must save her.’
They entered a tent filled with the worst wounded. Not far from the opening, Vulcan was being tended by his assistants. He was burned and had a deep head wound.
‘Vulcan,’ Joel cried. ‘Em – you’ve got to help him.’
Emily approached Vulcan, but he waved her off. ‘Not me, save Stella first.’
‘Come,’ the twins beckoned, ‘she is this way.’
Emily and Joel walked among the wounded. At the end, they approached a bed where Stella lay. She was deathly pale and barely breathing.
Emily immediately crouched at her side and touched her. ‘What happened to her?’
‘It was terrible,’ Seren started. ‘Vulcan’s workshop was destroyed. Theo tried to get Stella away, but there were too many dragons. When they attacked him, he shielded her with his body, but then crushed her when he died.’
Stella’s breathing returned to normal as Emily’s powers began to work. Colour returned to her face.
‘Hey, where’s Paelen?’ Joel looked around. ‘I thought he’d be here with Stella.’
The twin centaurs lowered their heads. ‘I am so sorry, Joel,’ Jasmine started. ‘Paelen and Brue were lost in the battle.’
‘What do you mean, “lost”?’ Emily gasped.
Seren told them of Paelen’s bravery against the dragons.
‘We tried to find his body after the fire, but there was nothing left,’ Jasmine added. ‘He and Brue were completely burned up.’
‘Paelen died saving us,’ Vulcan added gruffly, approaching Stella’s bed. ‘He drew the dragons away from the forge and gave us time to escape. He, Brue and Theo will be remembered always.’
‘Are you sure?’ Joel’s voice broke. ‘Maybe he got away.’
Vulcan patted him on the back. ‘I am so sorry, there is no mistake. He was killed by the dragons.’
‘Why?’ Joel cried. ‘Why did he do it?’
‘Joel, listen to me,’ Vulcan said. ‘Paelen was very old and fragile. He no longer had the strength of an Olympian. With the Titan weapon being developed, his ageing increased. He knew he would not last much longer so he chose his own time to die. Paelen may have been a notorious thief who liked to steal my tools, but he died a brave hero.’
Emily collapsed to the floor. She couldn’t speak and could barely breathe.
Joel fell beside her. ‘It’s my fault. I told him to stay here. I thought he and Stella would be safe away from the fighting.’
They clung to each other in disbelief.
How could this happen? They were a team. They were meant to be together always.
As night fell, a heavy silence filled the large encampment as they grieved over the many losses. No one spoke the words, but everyone feared that, even with Emily’s help, the war was lost.
A small campfire burned and cast embers into the sky as Joel fed another chunk of wood into the flames. ‘I really can’t believe he’s gone,’ he muttered.
Emily was too grief-stricken to speak. She had a special bond with Paelen and the cut ran deeper than she thought possible. Pegasus was on the ground behind her and nudged her gently.
Agent B spoke softly. ‘Listen to me,’ he said. ‘Yes, Paelen is gone. But if we win this war, if we destroy that damn weapon and hit the reset button, then when you go back to Xanadu, he will be there waiting for you. Just as young and strong and as much of a troublemaker as you remember him. Paelen’s sacrifice will not be in vain.’
Too filled with the loss of Paelen and Brue to sleep, Emily, Joel and Agent B spent the whole night sitting together.
At dawn Vulcan returned to their small camp. Everyone was surprised to see Stella with him. She was in a new golden wheelchair with a blanket covering her legs. The wheelchair was unlike anything they’d ever seen before. Stella did not have to use her arms to move it. There was no battery pack or motor to get it to go, it just moved on its own.
‘Stella,’ Joel called, ‘are you all right?’
Heaviness rested in her eyes. She looked like she hadn’t slept either. She nodded and smiled sadly at Vulcan. ‘Vulcan was up all night making this new chair for me. Her name is Maxine.’
‘Your wheelchair has a name?’ Joel asked.
Stella nodded. ‘She’s beautiful, isn’t she? Maxine will take me anywhere I ask her to. I still don’t know how he did it without his forge, but he did.’
Vulcan put his arm around Stella’s shoulders. ‘It is a special chair of wheels for a very special girl.’ He focused on Emily. ‘Up until now, Stella and Paelen would never tell me who they really were or where they came from. It was a secret they kept to themselves. But last night, Stella finally explained. She told me what happened to Olympus in the future, about Xanadu, who you all are and how you have come to destroy the Titan weapon. You have risked everything to be here for us.’
‘We had no choice,’ Emily said. ‘Not if Olympus is to survive.’
Agent B agreed. ‘This war must be won by the Olympians and that Titan weapon must be destroyed or there is no future for any of us.’
Vulcan nodded. ‘And so it will be. Now that I know what is at stake, I will do everything I can to see you all safely back home.’
Stella looked down at her hand. She pulled a ring off her finger and held it out to Emily. ‘Paelen asked me to give this to you right before he …’ her voice trailed off. She looked up at Emily. ‘He told me to tell you he loved you. He always has.’
Emily took the ring. It was a blue sapphire set in a beautiful silver band. Paelen knew her favourite stone was sapphire. ‘Where did he get it?’
Vulcan chuckled softly. ‘He stole it from Min
erva. I made it for her ages ago.’
Emily offered him the ring. ‘Here, please give it back to her.’
Vulcan shook his head. ‘No, you keep it. Paelen wanted you to have it. I am sure Minerva will understand.’
Emily put the ring on her finger. She always knew Paelen cared for her, but she never realized just how much. ‘Oh Paelen …’
Stella nodded to Vulcan. ‘I think you should show them.’
Vulcan produced a sword. It was elegant in design and made of gold. A deep channel ran down the centre of the blade.
‘This is it,’ he said softly. ‘This is what Paelen died for. Stella’s sword. Even in the heat of battle, she kept it with her and protected it. If this works, we may stand a chance against the Shadow Titans.’
‘But the forge is gone,’ Stella said. ‘Even if it does work, we can’t make any more.’
‘We can build a new forge,’ Vulcan said. ‘I know the formula to this metal and we have your mould. If it works, we can start producing swords immediately.’
‘We still need to test it,’ Stella said.
‘Indeed we do.’ Vulcan approached Emily. ‘I understand you are grieving. But we need your help.’
Emily stood, but without enthusiasm. She felt like something inside her had died with Paelen.
‘Come on, Em,’ Joel put his arm around her. ‘Paelen wouldn’t want us to be defeated by this. We’ve got to keep going.’
Emily nodded. ‘I’ll try. What do you need me to do?’
After some failed attempts, Emily found a way to use her powers to keep Stella’s sword design burning. She discovered if she cut her finger and wiped a tiny amount of blood down the central channel, it would fuel the sword.
‘OK, so it’s burning,’ Emily said softly. ‘Now what?’
Vulcan grinned triumphantly. ‘We use it to burn up the Shadow Titans.’
Joel shook his head. ‘Fire doesn’t destroy them. We’ve already tried. It’s only Emily’s Flame that can do it. So even though your sword is burning, it’s still just fire.’
‘This is not simply a fiery sword, Joel,’ Vulcan said. ‘It is very special. Tell me, what do you need to destroy a shadow?’