His attitude changes immediately. He senses defeat. He glances at his partner. Ethan still holds the knife to his throat. ‘Don’t listen to her,’ he manages to say. ‘You know our fate should we fail this mission.’
Fear makes the first soldier’s eyes widen, creating a look verging on hysteria. ‘What do we do?’ he practically hisses.
The one with the knife to his throat suddenly kicks back at Ethan’s groin. Ethan doubles over and the soldier flicks the knife into the woods. Standing beside his partner, he says, ‘You want to know what we do? We kill them all – except him.’ He points to Ethan. ‘I think he could be the one who stabbed our master.’
Ethan moves closer to where I kneel over Charlotte. We share a worried glance. Charlotte is exhausted, and the stress of being denied the safety of her bed and midwife is taking its toll. ‘Think of something,’ I hiss at Ethan. ‘I have to help Charlotte. The baby is in trouble.’
Before Ethan has a chance to think, the air around us grows strangely hot. The tree giving Charlotte shade, and the bushes close by, make an eerie crackling sound. Their leaves begin to snap and shrivel up. I glance up and see the two soldiers concentrating fiercely. ‘Ethan, we’re in trouble. If it gets too hot—’
Before I finish my sentence, the bushes on either side, along with the tree over the top, suddenly ignite. And the temperature soars.
Ethan strips off his coat and starts beating back the flames directly overhead. But it’s so hot, the effort exhausts him.
‘We need rain to put this fire out,’ I tell him.
‘I’m not sure I can make it rain. Not for real.’
I glance up at him briefly, ‘Have you ever tried? I’ve seen you bring real live people into your illusions. I’ve walked on bridges you made solid simply with your mind.’
The air grows impossibly hot. Charlotte screams and tries to wipe her brow. Her head shakes from side to side as she mutters incoherently. She’s becoming delirious.
Ethan looks up to the sky. ‘Rain alone wouldn’t solve our problem. It wouldn’t get rid of those soldiers.’
He’s right. What do we do now? Through the growing flames the two soldiers stand back with contented looks on their faces. One of them thumps the air with his fist. ‘She’s going to be so happy with us! She’ll reward us like never before!’ He points to Ethan. ‘But I think you’re right, you know. He could be the one who stabbed our master.’
The other replies, ‘Yeah, so don’t get too ecstatic. Remember, she wants the pleasure of killing that one herself.’
As they continue to watch, Ethan goes to work. ‘Cover yourself and what you can of Charlotte. I have an idea.’
Doing as he says, I throw myself over Charlotte’s upper body, covering her face with my arm. And from the corner of my eye I see Ethan close his eyes and inhale deeply. He holds his breath, then dives over the top of both me and Charlotte. As he does, an explosion thunders around us, and the Order’s two soldiers let out a wild scream.
I peer up from beneath Ethan’s body, and see the fire has exploded outwards. Huge flames wrap themselves around the two soldiers. They run around, continuing to scream, their bodies well alight. They run into the woods, both of them calling ‘Bastian’. And with this name, the two of them disappear. No doubt they will return to their headquarters, where I assume they will spend time in their healing chambers.
Ethan runs around putting out the fires still burning in the nearby bushes. ‘What do you think she’s going to do with them now they’ve failed?’
I shake my head, returning my focus to Charlotte’s heaving body. ‘Who knows?’
‘Well at least now they’re gone, they can’t come back to this exact time. And Arkarian can be born safely.’
Charlotte’s hand grasps my arm. She lifts her head as far as she can to draw closer. ‘Do I know you?’
I see no harm in telling her at this stage of her life. ‘Do you remember a time when you had a dog? A large dog you fondly called Charlie?’
Her eyes go round and she gives a little smile, then she settles her head back on the ground as another contraction grips her strongly. Ethan takes off his vest, rolls it into a bundle, and slides it beneath her head.
‘Phillipa,’ Charlotte says, recalling my name. In her next breath she says passionately, ‘Did you bring Gascon?’
Her remembering Arkarian so fondly makes me smile. ‘He will be here soon.’
She sighs, feeling safe for probably the first time in hours. I feel the baby push down hard, eager to be born. I look around for Ethan. He finishes stomping on some grass still burning and comes over. I tilt my head towards Charlotte’s legs. ‘You’d better get ready.’
His head jerks forward, eyes squinting at me. ‘What? Do you want me to…’
‘Uh-huh. And you’d better hurry. This baby is coming fast.’ I turn my head to Charlotte. ‘Not long now. Your pain will soon be over.’
She moans and grips the blanket in her fingers as a strong contraction takes hold of her once again. Ethan moves into position, pushing her skirts up over her knees. ‘Oh God, I think I see it … him … it.’
His stammering brings a smile to my lips. I tell him what he has to do. For the next few minutes all three of us are busy, as first the baby’s head pushes through, swiftly followed by the rest of his body.
Ethan looks at me with the baby’s cord in his hand. I explain what to do. When he’s finished he hands the baby to me. I give the baby a quick check, but can sense no problem within his small body, then gently place him in his mother’s weakening arms.
Ethan indicates the enormous amount of blood gathering on the blanket without saying so out loud. ‘Is there anything you can do?’
It pains me to think this beautiful young woman is going to die, and die soon, while I stand by and watch it happen. I have the means to heal her, but cannot. I have the power to give Arkarian the mother he never knew, but must not. How different would his life be if he grew up in the Duke’s castle, with his loving mother to watch over him?
My eyes are drawn to mother and child, hers also filling with moisture. ‘He is so beautiful,’ she whispers, her lips brushing the baby’s forehead ever so softly.
As if aware of his mother’s words and gentle lips, the baby opens his eyes and looks directly at her face. She gasps softly and her mouth moves to form a smile. ‘You’re real. It was not a dream.’
Suddenly I hear the sound of hoof-beats and the running of a carriage over uneven ground. Horses soon appear; several riders jumping off as soon as they see us. The carriage also pulls up. The servants scurry over to attend to Charlotte, concern in their voices and actions, especially when they see the remains of the fire, and the gathering pool of blood.
Ethan and I step away from the scene, keeping enough distance not to be noticed. The Duchess climbs out of the carriage and turns her head away at the sight of the blood-stained blanket. ‘Get her in the carriage,’ she orders. Everyone scurries about to fulfil her command.
Ethan pulls gently on my arm. ‘Come on, we’re not needed any more.’
I swallow, as a lump the size of a rock forms in my throat. But healing Charlotte is out of my hands now. Her family and household will take care of her, though nothing will save her, not in Medieval France.
Ethan calls out Mr Carter’s name, and the frantic scene before us begins to disappear.
Chapter Eleven
Isabel
I can’t believe this! Mr Carter says we have to keep going to school. He says it would be dangerous to simply drop out. It would cause suspicion, be obvious to those that know – those of the Order he means.
OK, I get his point. Secrecy is so important to the Guard’s survival, a word is enough to arouse suspicion.
I get off the bus with Matt right behind me to find Ethan waiting. He has a weird, troubled look on his face.
‘What’s wrong?’
He shrugs, his eyes scouring the school grounds laid out before us, as a couple of hundred students arrive,
ready to begin morning classes. ‘Apart from Mum not changing her mind about the sanatorium, I’m not really sure. It’s just something about this place looks different today. Feels different.’ And then he adds in a hushed whisper near my ear, ‘Do you know that since Arkarian’s been gone, the Guard has lost more missions than we’ve won? We were lucky last night. The Tribunal members are really worried about their sectors. Some of them have even lost soldiers. And now Dad has to help Jimmy and will be away overnight.’
‘Are you worried about your mum?’
‘She hardly sleeps any more, and she’s refusing to take her sedatives. It’s really bad timing too. Mum needs constant watching.’
‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ It’s a stupid question. With every day that passes, Laura gets closer to going to the sanatorium.
He shrugs. ‘I’m trying to look after her. And Auntie Jenny’s supposed to be coming today to spend the night. Dad arranged it before he left.’
We’re quiet for a minute when Ethan’s eyes drift to a boy wearing odd socks, neither of them part of the school uniform. He frowns deeply. ‘Look at that.’
The socks sure look out of place. But then I spot a girl in Year 8 wearing chunky earrings that come almost down to her shoulders. ‘Who relaxed the uniform code?’
‘You know, with so many missions failing, Dad says we should expect changes. When too much of the past is altered, it affects the present.’
Ethan’s friend, Dillon, sees us and comes over, putting an end to our conversation. His head follows a couple of girls as they come down the stairs into the quadrangle.
Matt joins us. ‘Hey, what’s that big grin for?’
Dillon raises his eyebrows, indicating the girls’ short skirts by jerking his head at them.
They both stare at the girls until they disappear round the corner. It’s a sight not normally seen at this school. At least, not since Principal Baker came to Angel Falls two years ago, and introduced a strict uniform code – long socks pulled up to our knees, school ties, blazers with white shirts tucked in, and navy skirts for girls right down to our knees. These girls, and others too now that I look around, have more leg showing above the knee than below it!
Ethan tries to pull me aside without anyone noticing. ‘Do you know what I think is going on here?’ He starts yanking at his tie. ‘The changes are happening. You’d better shorten that skirt quickly or you’re going to stand out.’
I turn the waist of my skirt over a couple of times. ‘This is really weird, Ethan.’
Dillon and Matt come over. ‘You two look stressed,’ Dillon says. ‘You need to go on a holiday or something.’
A great idea. If only I could.
‘Speaking of holidays,’ Dillon says pointedly to Matt. ‘Is that what Rochelle’s doing? Some of the guys are saying she left school. She’s been gone for so long, they reckon she must have moved away. So where is she?’
Matt snorts loudly. ‘Maybe you should be asking Ethan that question. If Rochelle was going to tell anyone where she was going, it would have to be him.’
Ethan looks speechless. I don’t blame him. What is Matt going on about? And why is he drawing attention to Ethan? Linking him with Rochelle?
Finally Matt realises his cynical comment could be misread. ‘Look, I don’t keep tabs on Rochelle any more.’
Dillon’s eyes shift from observing Matt to Ethan and back again. ‘But you two were like … really together. What happened?’
Matt suddenly snaps. ‘She was using me, and I’m over her. Now let’s talk about something else!’
Dillon stops with the questions and starts scratching an itch behind his right ear, then makes a point of looking at his fingernails, while shifting his weight from foot to foot as if he has ants under his toes. ‘Well, speaking of girlfriends …’ he drifts off, inspiring sniggers and mock groans from Ethan and Matt.
‘You’d better get it out before you burst,’ Ethan says.
Dillon spins around, pinning us with a pair of deep green eyes. ‘I’ve found my perfect woman.’ Then to me he adds, ‘Isabel, you gotta get me a date with her.’
‘Me? I don’t even know who you’re talking about.’
His dreamy tone has everyone laughing. Matt whacks his shoulder. ‘You meet the perfect woman every week.’
‘I swear,’ he says, covering his heart with a hand. ‘This is the one. You gotta see this girl. She’s hot! And she’s sexy like you wouldn’t believe.’
‘So where is this perfect woman?’ Ethan asks. ‘Do we know her?’
‘She’s new and, well … I haven’t actually met her yet.’
Ethan and Matt groan out loud, shaking their heads. Then Ethan catches sight of Mr Carter coming out of the front office doors. ‘I really have to speak with him.’
‘Yeah? What for? I thought you hated Carter?’ Dillon is quick, considering a second ago he was in dreamland with some girl he hardly knows. Ethan hesitates, but only for a second. ‘Ah, it’s this history assignment. I’m running late.’
‘What assignment? I’m in your history class. I didn’t know we had an assignment due.’
Dillon’s back with the questions, and I’m starting to get an uncomfortable feeling inside.
‘It’s one I did last year. I got an “A” for it, and Carter wanted to show it to one of his other classes. I was going to polish it up a bit before I gave it to him.’
‘Sounds like it doesn’t need any polish. Wish I could get an “A” in some—’ He stops. Everyone’s eyes follow his to see what has him looking so stunned. ‘It’s her!’ Excited, he slaps Ethan’s shoulder, knocking him forward.
‘Hey!’
‘Sorry. But look at her. That girl is all mine,’ he adds dreamily.
Our eyes zoom in to where Mr Carter is coming out of the office with this new girl by his side. But it’s not only Dillon who’s reacting strangely at the sight of her. Even my own brother’s mouth is hanging half-way open, his eyes glued to the girl as she and Mr Carter draw nearer.
I take a moment to look at this girl that’s got both Dillon and Matt goggle-eyed. Well, she sure is beautiful, with wide oval-shaped doe eyes, flawless skin, dark hair surrounding a small heart-shaped face and cherry-red lips.
As they approach my heart starts thumping hard. This is no ordinary girl! I recognise her clearly. I’ve seen her before – she was the girl in Ethan’s illusion last year. It was her image Ethan used to distract Marduke. This is Neriah – Marduke’s daughter, though I’m pretty sure she doesn’t know that fact, or anything about Marduke. Actually I’m pretty sure she knows nothing about the Guard, or who any of us are – yet.
Mr Carter and the girl come right up to where we’re standing against the railing, where Mr Carter introduces her. Neriah exchanges a welcoming glance with me and instantly I get a sense of calmness about her. A feeling gathers inside that there’s more to this girl than I first assumed, though I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe she knows more than I have given her credit for. Even though we’ve only known each other a few fleeting moments she invokes a warm feeling of trust in me.
‘Would you mind keeping an eye on Neriah for a couple of days, Isabel?’ Mr Carter asks.
Before I can reply, Dillon jumps in. ‘I’ll do it, sir.’
Mr Carter snaps at him. ‘I wasn’t talking to you, Dillon.’ Then, as if thinking twice about the tone he just used, says in a milder voice, ‘Neriah happens to be in most of Isabel’s classes. She’s a Year 10 student, not a Year 11 like you boys, so it only makes sense that Isabel should show her around.’
Mr Carter stares silently for a second at Dillon’s face, noticing his bulging eyes that can’t seem to drag themselves off Neriah’s downcast head, and adds softly, ‘Settle down, Dillon. You’re so transparent.’
While Ethan and Matt snigger at Dillon’s mounting embarrassment, I smile at Neriah, catching her eye, and a friendship quickly begins to form. I let Mr Carter know I don’t mind chaperoning Neriah for a few days.
&nbs
p; ‘I knew I could rely on you, Isabel,’ Mr Carter says. And without saying a word he lets me know that he is asking for more. I nod to show him that I understand. ‘Good,’ he says. ‘Now you’d all better get to class.’
Right on time the morning buzzer sounds. We start to gather our bags.
‘I left mine in the office,’ Neriah remembers.
Both Dillon and Matt clamber over each other in a hurry to be the first to collect it for her.
Dillon spins around and thrusts his open palm against Matt’s chest. ‘I’ll get it!’
Neriah looks uncomfortable, her mouth forming into a small embarrassed smile. She’s obviously not used to this much attention. Dillon rushes off, almost knocking me over in his haste. When he passes, Neriah’s eyes lift and lock with Matt’s. They stay there, the two of them staring at each other. Ethan and I could be sinking in quicksand at their feet and neither of them would notice.
Slowly Neriah pulls her gaze away, focusing on her left foot, which has started moving around in funny little circles. Matt starts examining the distant hills as if he’s never seen a horizon before, or at least none so breathtaking. What’s got into him? Something about this girl has him reacting like a ten-year-old kid playing spin-the-bottle for the first time. And while his sudden interest in another girl should be a good thing, I’m not sure his interest in this one is the answer to his moving on.
Ethan snickers beside me, amused. But for some reason I suddenly feel chilled. It’s then I realise this chill is being generated by my sixth sense.
Chapter Twelve
Isabel
The day doesn’t pass fast enough as one lesson merges into another. My thoughts are with Arkarian, wherever he is. What are they doing to him? Who was that giant of a man in the crimson cloak who kidnapped him? Something about him prickles my senses. An image of Marduke comes to mind. But that’s not possible. Is it? No. No one can come back from the dead.