Behind the curtain it is concealed
Its beauty and light will secrets reveal.
Serena read the riddle again and drew aside. The rules of the competition forbade her to get any help from her team. She had to figure this out herself.
‘Your time begins now,’ said Legion turning over the enormous hour glass.
‘You have an hour to complete it.’
‘Great One,’ she whispered, ‘you’re not part of this team so I’m not breaking any rules - you are the giver of all wisdom. I need you to show me what this means and to direct me to the right place.’ She spoke softly to him, her mind clearing and a picture forming in her imagination. It was of a clearing in a forest she had passed through in Griswold.
‘I’ll be back before the hour glass runs out.’ She disappeared as fast as she could through the castle gates. The amazing thing about being one of the Great One’s team was that travel was instant when you wished it so. In the twinkling of an eye, she was standing in the clearing she had seen in her vision. Grimwood Forest was usually a dangerous, dark place. Today however, the sun streamed through the trees and danced with dappled light on the soft, mossy ground. An eye that cannot see would be a blind eye and certainly would not see the beauty around it, but then a real eye is not able to be passed through. This must refer to another kind of eye, she mused, trying to work out the first part of the riddle. What other eyes are there? She closed her eyes again and allowed the Great One to fill her mind with images. She knew the answer - it was the eye of a needle. But how would she pass through it and where was it? She thought hard of all the places in Griswold that could be relevant. The only logical conclusion was a place called Needlepoint. It was near the top of a steep mountain pass – a cave that had the opening like a needle’s eye, but it was extremely difficult to get there. Very few knew how to find the path that led to the cave as it was situated in an enchanted forest. There was a legend that great riches could be found in the cave at Needlepoint. The Dark Lord’s wizards had ensured that many a greedy traveller looking for the treasure had never found their way out of the forest ever again. Serena knew she could get there instantly if she only knew the way, but unfortunately she had no idea how to proceed.
‘What now Great One?’ she asked frustrated. The soft nuzzling and noise of a creature in the clearing caught Serena by surprise. Looking up she saw a unicorn shaking its mane. It appeared to be beckoning her. Serena laughed and thanked the Great One. These beautiful creatures were few and far between in Griswold now as they had hidden in the forests when evil made its home here. They knew every part of the forests. Serena straddled the strong unicorn and held onto its silken mane.
‘Can you take me to Needlepoint?’ The unicorn turned, galloping off into the forest, Serena clinging to its flowing mane. The climb was steep and she clung to the unicorn tightly, her hair pulled and clawed by the branches of the trees, as though they were trying to pull her from her mount and swallow her up. At last they alighted at the top of the pass where the needle-like eye rose out of the ground into the sky as a rocky outcrop. She dismounted, patting the unicorn affectionately.
‘Thanks girl,’ she whispered, ‘I can find my way back.’
Entering the cave Serena became aware of screaming, shrieking voices within the dark recesses. They were frightening and eerie. She covered her ears, moving through the cave as quickly as she could. She averted her eyes from the numerous skeletal remains that piled up along the cave walls – she guessed that some fortune hunters had found their way after all, only to come to a grisly end.
‘Who dares enter my cave?’ A gruff, angry creature stepped out blocking Serena’s way. He was at least seven foot tall, his face and body covered in wiry hair. He looked like a wolf man and his hands had sharp claws where his nails should be. Serena guessed this was how many men had met their end whilst searching for the treasure at Needlepoint. She shuddered at the thought.
‘I’m Serena – the Dark Lord has set me a challenge to find something in this cave.’
‘He obviously doesn’t like you very much then. Have you not seen what happens to those who dare to steal from me?’ He glanced at the pile of bones on the dusty cave floor.
‘Yes, I’ve seen the bones but that can’t scare me off – this challenge is a matter of life and death for someone very important to me. If I don’t help her the Dark Lord will kill her.’
‘You would trade your own life to save someone else? That’s rather noble of you Serena.’
‘Please Mr….’
‘The name’s Tremblood, but you can call me Trem. I tell you what Serena – I like you far more than any of the greedy self-seeking men who have come here before. You’re the first with someone else’s welfare at heart – that is rare indeed. I’m not usually a sentimental creature but I am not a complete brute either. I will let you pass safely if you can give me something of value in return for the treasure you seek. It’s only fair to pay for what you take.’
‘Of course Trem. What did you have in mind?’
‘That beautiful jewel entwined in your hair will make a nice payment.’ Serena smiled – there were many more jewels where this came from. She reached up and pulled the clasp from her shiny mane.
‘There we go Trem – it’s all yours.’ She left him admiring the shining jewel, turning it over in his clawed hands. She emerged from the cave into a grotto full of giant, lush plants and a cascading waterfall. The grotto was not dark, neither was it light. She looked around but could see nothing that looked valuable or treasure-like. What had the riddle said? It urged her to find treasure that was concealed, referring to a curtain. Serena looked around, drawing aside a mossy curtain that draped itself over the rock face. Nothing! What else could it be? She stood, pondering the riddle when a shaft of light poured through the needle eye, lighting up the small waterfall before her like a sparkling diamond. The light danced on the water, revealing another small cave behind it. This must be it. The water was the curtain referred to in the riddle - she was sure of it. She scrambled behind the falls, trying not to slip on the mossy stones. The rocks were damp and slick before her. The sun’s rays penetrated the waterfall, sending rays of luminous light dancing in various directions. She marvelled at the beauty admiring the reflections. This rock glinted and reflected and sparkled like a jewel - it was different to the rock outside the cave. Then Serena saw what she was looking for. She stretched out her hand, pulling hard at the shiny stone as it loosened in her grasp. She gazed in wonder at the shining crystal that came loose in her hand. She would not have seen it if the sun had not shone through the cave, but she guessed the Great One knew that. He certainly could organize things perfectly. People in this world called it coincidence, but she knew better. Carefully she placed the crystal rock into her saddle pouch and made her way back through the cave, thanking Trem as she left. She had less than a quarter hour to get back to the Dark Lord’s castle before her time ran out and she was most grateful not to be Tremblood’s next meal.
Aislinn felt nervous as she watched the sand running through the hour glass, a silent threat that mocked as each grain fell. If Serena failed this task, they would all suffer. None of the others seemed concerned and Ziah smiled at her reassuringly. The Dark Lord looked more and more confident that this challenge may be over before it began. He was counting on Tremblood devouring the helpless woman should she find the path to Needlepoint. His goblins and creatures were restless in anticipation. As the last few grains of sand trickled through the hourglass Serena appeared, making her way over to Legion. She stood before him, removing the crystal from her pouch.
‘I believe this is the treasure you speak of,’ she said handing Legion the crystal. ‘Oh, and Trem sends his regards,’ she added cheekily. His face clouded, annoyed at her success.
‘I see you have conquered the task, but there are still two challenges to come. We shall see. The second challenge is a challenge of power. I choose the flame-haired man to compete.’
&n
bsp; Aedan smiled. At last it was his moment to silence this evil once and for all.
‘My wizard will cast a spell, and you need to produce something that will neutralize that which he has created,’ said Legion. Aedan had a twinkle in his eye. This challenge was perfect for him. Falstaff stepped forward chanting a spell. This was his moment to make the Master proud. A venomous snake materialized and slithered toward Aedan, rearing up, ready to strike its target.
‘Nasty,’ Aedan murmured unperturbed as the onlookers all backed away in fear. He struck the ground with the heel of his foot, the snake transforming into a lizard that scuttled off as fast as its four legs could carry it. Falstaff looked momentarily impressed then a little annoyed at how easily Aedan had dismissed his magic. There was not even an ounce of fear in the man. Immediately he chanted another spell that covered Aedan in boils and sores that oozed a sickening green substance. Maybe now he would feel a little more fearful.
‘This is becoming a little personal,’ he complained to Falstaff. ‘I don’t take too kindly to that.’ The onlookers watched, startled as his skin began to glow, appearing like fire, becoming so bright that everyone shielded their eyes from the glaring light of his body. When it seemed everyone would be struck with blindness his body returned to normal, but it was no longer covered in sores. It was charged with power that had the little goblins gasping in admiration and fear. ‘How did he do that,’ they all chorused.
‘Silence!’ roared the Dark Lord. Falstaff was visibly disconcerted now. He prided himself on his wizardry talents and this man was making him look like an amateur. It was time for the trump card. Chanting aloud he invoked his final test. A loud rumbling filled the skies, a combination of a rushing and explosive sound. Everyone gazed up into the clouds, curious but dreading what would soon descend upon them. A ball of fire shot down from the heavens, scorching a wagon in the courtyard and sending goblins and people running with shrieks of terror. Fascination turned to fear as Draco swooped over the castle wall and into the courtyard, his fearsome, powerful limbs shaking the foundations of the stonework. Ziah grabbed Aislinn, shielding her as she trembled fearfully. Draco had eyes only for Aedan as his fiery red hair glinted in the sunlight. Everyone had hidden in places that would provide little protection, if any at all, but Aedan stood his ground facing the menacing dragon.
‘Come to papa,’ he called taunting. Nothing seemed to scare the man! The dragon lunged forward clumsily, trying to manoeuvre his huge body in the confined courtyard, as Aedan transformed himself into a whirlwind. He spun around the dragon at such a speed, causing him to run in circles as though he were a dog chasing his tail. When he was sure the dragon was disoriented, he looked up to the sky and shouted. The heavens responded, opening like a stage curtain for the final scene, a bolt of lightning snaking down from the wispy summer clouds striking the confused dragon between its eyes. Draco’s huge body shuddered and slumped to the floor shaking the walls as it did so. There was a deathly hush - the goblins realizing the Dark Lord had been defeated yet again. This man was far more powerful than their wizard– he had power that clearly came from another source. Even the heavens obeyed him. Falstaff flushed crimson, dreading the recourse that would surely come from the Master.
Legion realized that trying to outwit the Great One’s team was futile – he should have known better. He may have been overly confident, but the final card he would play would surely cause the team to fail.
CHAPTER 29 - TRUTH
‘The next challenge is a truth challenge and I select Aislinn to compete.’
‘I object,’ Ziah interjected. ‘You said our team would compete for Aislinn, so surely she can’t be considered to compete for her own freedom.’
‘As far as I can tell she has not indicated to me that she is part of my team, which clearly makes her part of your team and therefore she is eligible to compete in the challenges. Are you afraid she will fail Ziah? I thought love could never fail?’ Ziah looked angry momentarily. This man was a scheming liar through and through – this was nonsense.
‘It’s okay Ziah,’ Aislinn said stepping forward. ‘I think I can handle this challenge.’ Ziah was a little concerned, but seeing her confidence he smiled at her.
‘All right Aislinn, if you feel you can do it then we believe in you.’ The others nodded in agreement, calling out words of encouragement. Legion handed Aislinn the crystal that Serena had returned from the cave.
‘Look into the crystal and you’ll see pictures before you. Each scenario will require you to judge whether it is the truth or a lie. There will be three pictures. If you get even one wrong, then you fail the challenge.’ Aislinn gazed into the crystal looking carefully to see what it would reveal. It became murky then cleared revealing their little house in Griswold and the attackers closing in silently on the family. Aislinn gasped, recognizing the awful event that started this whole drama for their family. Could she bear to watch this again? She willed herself as the men silently lit their home. She watched the cloaked man draw his sword and slash her father viciously. His face filled the crystal and for the first time she saw his true identity - it was the face of her father’s friend, Cillian. No it couldn’t be, everything in her mind screamed. They were like family. Legion smirked seeing her pale, shocked face. He knew the Great One well enough to know that he would protect the Hamilton Children from this truth. Seeing her hurt expression gave him incredible satisfaction. He would hurt her as much as he could. Aislinn was tempted to cry out that it was a lie but she remembered the ring on her finger and looked down at it tentatively. She could not allow her emotion or pain to rush her answers – she must trust the ring. She hoped with all her heart the stone would be gleaming yellow, but as she looked she saw that it was a deep shimmering purple. The pain of that ripped at her soul.
‘Well,’ said Legion menacingly, ‘what is it - the truth or a lie?’ Aislinn’s voice trembled and the pain on her face was evident as she stammered, ‘it’s a…a… a …the truth.’ Legion flushed angrily but nodded his head. Aedan’s fury at his cruelty made his hair and eyes glow. The Great One had kept this truth from the Hamilton children for a reason and now this evil creature had tormented her again. Oh, how he wished he could crush him.
‘The next scene will appear shortly so pay attention.’ Aislinn peered into the murky crystal again. She saw Mitchell playing outside Rozanne and Morelock’s home. In childish curiosity he wandered off chasing a butterfly, oblivious to where he was going. He followed the flitting creature into the trees at the bottom of the field. As he ran alongside the little stream, reaching out trying to catch the elusive butterfly, he tripped over a protruding root and tumbled headlong into the icy water. His little body struggled but he was unable to swim and soon he lay still and cold, his face down in the water. Aislinn gasped, all colour draining from her beautiful face.
No, it can’t be true. Please don’t let it be true, she prayed silently to herself. She felt shock take hold of her body – fear coursing through her veins like a deadly drug. She was too afraid to look at the ring but knew she had to. She glanced down, terrified of what she might see. Still, she had brought them all to this place and to this challenge and she must not allow her courage to desert her now, no matter what she saw. She wept out loud, relief flooding her when she saw the yellow stone gleaming. ‘It’s a lie,’ she spat out with loathing at the Dark Lord. ‘Mitchell’s not dead. I would know it if he was.’
‘Not bad Aislinn,’ said Legion looking impressed at her ability. He’d been convinced she would crumble under the emotional strain and he couldn’t help but admire her feistiness and spirit. He was playing mind games with her, but she held her resolve. Had he known that it was the ring giving her the answers he would have been less impressed. The truth was that without the ring, she would have been undone.
‘The final challenge will surely test you. It’s not over yet,’ he spat menacingly. Aislinn just wanted it to be over. She looked again into the crystal. What she saw confused her momentarily. I
t was not of the past or present – in fact it wasn’t anything she recognized. She saw a young woman in childbirth. The woman was in agony as she laboured to bring her baby to birth. She cried out in pain and held fast the hand of a young man beside her. She could not see their faces but he mopped her brow, worried at his inability to help his young wife. It was clear that he adored her.
‘Come on Aislinn, you can do it,’ he encouraged her. She realized in surprise that this was the future she was seeing. She watched, fascinated at the event wondering about her future and the young man that was part of the vision she saw. This soon turned to horror as she watched herself haemorrhage and bleed out on the bed. The baby was stillborn and her husband sobbed as he hugged her lifeless body. This was horrific. Surely she wouldn’t die that young and her baby … not her baby too? She looked at Legion, shock etched on her face.
‘Truth or a lie?’ His mocking eyes challenged her. He could see her uncertainty – her fear and distress at what she had seen.
‘How can I possibly know the answer to the future?’ she snapped.
‘So you surrender then?’ He mocked.
‘Not a chance of that happening,’ she retorted. Even if she got this answer wrong she would go down fighting. She looked at the ring, emotionally depleted - she would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her crumble. Surely the ring would help her. To her dismay it showed no colour at all. It was clear and Aislinn looked at Ziah, panic in her eyes. She didn’t know the answer. Not even the ring knew the answer – they were sunk.
‘It’s all right Aislinn, he encouraged seeing uncertainty written all over her face. ‘Go with your heart. What is it telling you?’ he said.
‘I don’t know,’ she cried. ‘How can anyone know the future?’
‘Remember what I’ve always told you when times have been tough,’ Regent said. She thought hard. She and Regent had shared many conversations over the last few weeks. Which conversation was he talking about and what had he repeated to her more than once? Now was not the time to play riddle games with her. Her mind was in overdrive. Whenever she was afraid or unsure Regent always said to her, ‘Nothing’s impossible for those who believe.’ That must be it.