‘The Goddess of Chaos wants the world at her feet. As head of her Order, she wants to rule.’
Isabel’s eyes open wide. ‘She wants to take over the world? You mean like a government?’
‘The Order’s ultimate aim is to destroy everything that we know is good, including human nature.’
I quietly watch Isabel for her reaction to this news. It’s a lot to comprehend in one hit.
‘They’ve already made two attempts to win control,’ Arkarian explains. ‘The third will be the final conflict.’
‘Good will win, won’t it?’ Isabel asks for confirmation.
‘The problem is that though the Guard is prophesied to win, Chaos works hard to change that.’
‘That’s why they tamper with history,’ I add to the explanation. ‘By changing certain past events, they can alter what we know as the present, creating havoc and destruction –’
‘Which feeds their armies,’ Isabel finishes.
Arkarian nods. ‘They mean to create an environment that nurtures their growth and success, and they are growing now at an alarming rate.’
‘So you’re saying Chaos creates things like disease and war?’ Isabel asks.
‘Widespread diseases like plagues,’ I explain, helping her to understand. ‘Where there is disaster, it’s usually at the hand of the Order of Chaos.’
‘Unbelievable! But this conflict, it’s not planned to happen for a long time, is it?’ she asks hopefully. ‘I mean, like way, way after we’ve been and gone, right?’
Arkarian avoids answering. Isabel isn’t ready to hear this yet. It will just freak her out. Instead he moves us all back to the holographic sphere of London and the goings-on inside Westminster Palace, explaining my mission: to ensure that the young Prince Richard, son of the Black Prince, grandson of King Edward III, becomes King of England. His father has already died, about a year previously in France, and soon his grandfather will join him.
‘There are plans to twist the minds of the council, but that’s not your concern, Ethan. I believe an attempt on the future king’s life will be made in the next twenty-four hours. It’s going to be your duty to protect him and thwart this assassination attempt.’
‘When do we leave?’ I ask.
Arkarian straightens and looks at us both in turn. ‘Tonight.’
‘Tonight? But it hasn’t even been two weeks! Isabel’s not ready.’
Isabel has her own ideas. ‘What are you talking about? After the things you just told me, of course I’m ready. I’m ready to do anything!’
Arkarian grins, looking pleased at her enthusiasm, and everyone’s mood lightens. But I’m Isabel’s Trainer, and enthusiasm is not enough. There are so many things I haven’t explained yet, like the transition that occurs in the Citadel for starters.
Arkarian, knowing my inner thoughts, as I haven’t bothered to shelter them, taps my shoulder. ‘Remember, Isabel is to be an observer only tonight.’
‘Sure, but there’s still so much to learn. Physically, Isabel’s ready for just about anything –’
‘Thanks,’ she says with a smile.
‘But what of her other skill? We don’t even know what that is.’
Arkarian waves my fears away. ‘You’re a talented guard, Ethan. Have some faith. Now go and instruct your Apprentice on how to prepare for her first journey. Her safe transportation is ultimately your responsibility.’
Chapter Fourteen
Ethan
As we walk down from the mountain, I try explaining what Isabel needs to know. ‘Your journey into the past will happen while you sleep in your own bed.’
‘Isn’t that a bit risky? I mean, why can’t the transfer take place –’ she shrugs – ‘in Arkarian’s chambers?’
‘I guess the transfer can take place anywhere, but it’s essential that your body and mind are in a peaceful, relaxed state. This is something that’s usually achieved when we sleep.’
‘OK, so we have to be in an unconscious state?’
‘Yeah, sort of. And while you’re home and in your own bed, sleeping, it’s unlikely anyone’s going to notice anything unusual happening to you. You see, there’s always the slight possibility of discovery, even if you’re only away for a short time.’
‘But if I’m home and appear to be sleeping normally in my own bed …’
‘And your mum walks in to check on you,’ I continue her line of thought, ‘she’ll just think you’re sleeping.’
‘All right, I get that.’
‘But if you’re in Arkarian’s chamber when you’re transferred into the past, and have to be away for longer than expected, your mum, or anyone who’s looking and can’t find you, might start asking questions. When you’re on a mission, I’ve learned, there’s always the risk of the unexpected.’
She looks thoughtfully at the ground. ‘OK, but I don’t get how it works. The whole transfer bit.’
‘It’s like this,’ I say, half turning towards her and using my hands to make sure she understands. ‘Your soul can only be in one place at one time, but it can leave your body and occupy another, temporarily.’
‘Then what happens to the owner of the body? Where’s their soul?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe visiting another time. Don’t worry about it.’
‘OK, but are you sure I’ll just look like I’m sleeping? It’s not that Mum comes in to check on me a lot or anything. But she is a worrier.’
‘Well, as long she doesn’t try to wake you, everything will be fine.’
She frowns. ‘And if she does try to wake me?’
‘You’ll look as if you’ve slipped into a coma with no ordinary vital signs.’
‘What!’
I hold my hand up for her to wait a second while I explain. ‘Don’t worry so much! You won’t be away for more than a few minutes, ten or twenty probably at the longest. Remember what I said about time and how it’s only measured on a linear basis by us mortals?’
She tries to understand. ‘Yeah, but—’
‘Look, a minute in your sleep tonight will be approximately equal to a whole day in transit or in the past. The most I was ever away was three months. And that is unusual, but I was needed badly and Arkarian watched over my mortal state for most of the ninety minutes or so.’
‘OK, I think I get that part,’ she says, but I get the feeling she’s nodding and agreeing only on the surface.
‘All the same, there are some precautions you should take.’
She tenses. ‘Precautions? Like what? Don’t leave a thing out, Ethan. There’s so much—’
‘Slow down! Remember you’re only an observer tonight. You’re not to do or touch anything, nor speak with anyone if possible – unless not speaking would appear suspicious. The idea is to fit in, watch and, hopefully, even enjoy yourself.’
‘That’s another thing: what do we do about language differences, accents and stuff?’
I curse Arkarian. Couldn’t he have given me a bit longer to prepare her? ‘There’s this place called the Citadel, it’s sort of a changing place,’ I try to explain. ‘It’s where you go before your journey, and the last place you see before returning to your mortal body.’
‘Why is it called the Citadel?’
‘I don’t know how it got its name, except that it suits. When you see it, you’ll know what I mean. It’s like a palace, and yet like a fortress or a whole village in one building. And there you’ll be endowed with everything you need for the world you’re about to inhabit.’
‘You’re talking about changing clothes and things?’
‘More than that. Your appearance, language, understanding of the appropriate cultures, basically everything you need to know.’
The more I explain, the more jittery Isabel becomes. She starts scratching invisible itches across her arms, tugging on her earlobes alternately, hugging herself and speaking rapidly. ‘I think I get it … I’m not sure, though … I’m going to forget something … Will you be there waiting?’ She spins around, grabbi
ng both my arms. ‘You will be, won’t you? Waiting in this … this Citadel place, right, Ethan?’
We’ve stopped at the beginning of her quiet lane, the place where I usually leave her to walk on ahead alone. Tonight I decide to lead her right to her front door. I prise her fingers from my arms and, holding her hand firmly, start walking down the lane towards the distant light that marks her front porch. ‘Isabel, you’re going to be fine. And if there’s anything I’ve learned about you these past two weeks, I know you’re going to enjoy this journey. I swear you will. Trust me.’
She frowns when I say these last two words. ‘Is something wrong?’ I ask.
‘No,’ she replies quickly. ‘Not really. It’s just something Mr Carter said.’
‘Whatever it was, forget it. You know he’s a jerk who’s got it in for me.’
She nods but doesn’t say anything more. And as we start down her footpath I try to remember if I’ve left anything out. ‘Just go to bed as normal, not early or anything, but as you would on any average night. Got that?’
She exhales loudly. ‘Right.’
We’re nearly at her porch and I think this might be a good place to leave her, but just then the front door opens and Matt comes out. ‘One more thing,’ I say quickly, dropping her hand. The last thing I need tonight is a confrontation with an overprotective brother who hates me. ‘Never say you’re going to bed ’cause you’re not feeling well or you have a headache or something like that. Sure as anything your mum will come in later and check on you. Or in your case, probably your mum and Matt.’
She scoffs a soft agreement and, seeing Matt make his way to the front porch stairs, runs off ahead of me, waving me away.
I decide to stand and wait exactly where I am to make sure she gets in without any hassle. As she goes to pass Matt I hear him ask, ‘How’s that history assignment going? Is it finished yet?’
Staring straight into his face, she replies, ‘As a matter of fact, Ethan and I have just asked for an extension. We’ve just got so much to cover, we reckon it’ll take at least another month.’
I can’t help grinning. Matt’s look of distress is worth waiting for. As Isabel runs inside, he turns to stare me out. I give a little wave and move back into the darkness. A few metres out of sight, I take off in a run. I have a lot to do in preparation for tonight’s mission. It has to go well. It just has to. Before tonight I’ve always worked alone, but now I have Isabel to consider, to be responsible for as my Apprentice.
And I just can’t shake this feeling that there’s more to this mission than Arkarian is letting on. My instincts tell me it has to do with Isabel, or why else would the Tribunal be rushing through her training like this? I know I should trust them completely, but I can’t help feeling uneasy.
Chapter Fifteen
Isabel
Mum’s boyfriend Jimmy is here again. I try to bypass the two of them sitting closely on the settee watching television, but Jimmy calls out, ‘Here she is, darl! Told you this little lady can look after herself. Isn’t that right, sweetcakes?’
Inside I cringe, but I don’t let it show. I sort of grunt a reply, the most I can manage. It’s not that Jimmy’s a bad person or anything, he’s just irritating. He’s small but built like a brick chimney, and his voice is like a young boy’s that hasn’t broken properly – that in-between stage where sometimes it squeaks and sometimes it reveals a hint of coming masculinity.
‘When’re we gonna meet this boyfriend of yours?’ he asks.
I really don’t feel like answering. Right now my stomach is rolling. I don’t want to get into any sort of conversation while I feel as if I’m about to spew, not with mum, and especially not with Jimmy. He’s been hanging around so much lately, staying overnight a couple of times a week. At least Mum’s happy. I can’t complain that he treats her bad or anything; he makes her laugh. And, well, Mum deserves happiness, and company for that matter. Matt and I are getting older, we’re not going to be living with her for ever. It’s just that Jimmy can be so annoying and he asks a lot of questions that are really none of his business.
‘He’s not my boyfriend.’
‘Ah,’ he says in a teasing tone. ‘But I bet you wish he was.’
Oooh!
Luckily Matt comes in. He also tries to avoid Jimmy and starts heading straight upstairs. But Jimmy’s too quick. ‘Where’s your little princess tonight, Matt?’
‘She heard you were coming over.’
Well, isn’t he in a good mood? Jimmy just laughs, an annoying whining sound. Suddenly I’m so tired I decide to go straight to bed – forget dinner, forget everything.
Mum, as always, picks up on my mood. ‘Whatever you’re doing with that boy, it’s draining you. I haven’t seen you this tired since that triathlon you competed in last month. You’re not overdoing it, I hope?’
‘No, Mum, I promise.’
‘Good. Now have you had dinner yet? We saved you a plate. I could put it in the microwave if you like.’
Her offer is tempting, but I don’t think my stomach could handle one morsel of food. ‘It’s OK, I think I’ll just go to bed. I have a bit of a headache.’ Oh no, I can’t believe I just said that! ‘Ah, I don’t really. The headache, I mean …’ I touch the side of my face where a headache is now really starting to take hold.
Mum half climbs out of her seat. ‘Are you all right, dear?’
‘Yes. Fine. The headache’s gone. Truly.’
I pass Matt, who looks at me weirdly. It’s no surprise when he follows me right into my room. I try to close the door on him, but he gets through too quickly, plonking himself down on my green plastic blow-up chair. ‘What’s with you?’
‘I’m sorry? I should be asking what’s with you! What a hide you’ve got checking up on me with my history teacher!’
He simply shrugs like it’s all part of the job – the job of suffocating me.
‘Why can’t you leave Ethan alone?’
‘I don’t like him.’ He pretends a sudden interest in his fingernails.
‘You used to be best friends.’
‘That was a long time ago. Before …’
I kick off my shoes and sit on the edge of my bed. Maybe, finally, Matt will tell me what happened to his friendship with Ethan. ‘Before?’ I coax as he seems to have come to a dead end.
‘It’s none of your business, Isabel.’
‘Oh, come on. Don’t you think it is now? I mean, you keep telling me not to spend so much time with Ethan ’cause he’s “not a nice guy”, but you don’t give me anything substantial to go on.’
‘Look, it has to do with Rochelle.’
‘Well, that explains everything,’ I say.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Where Rochelle’s concerned, you’re blind.’
He gets up, mad as hell. ‘Has he twisted your mind?’
‘We haven’t spoken a word about Rochelle, actually. We’ve got better things to do with our time.’
One eyebrow lifts in a fine arch. ‘And just what is that, by the way? You’ve been spending more time with Ethan than at home lately.’
‘Don’t switch the subject,’ I snap at him, hoping to distract him from asking any more probing questions.
We’re both quiet for a minute and my weariness must show.
‘Look, I’m sorry, Isabel. I don’t mean to be so heavy with you. It’s just the thought of Ethan and you together, it doesn’t wash with me.’
‘That’s good.’
‘What?’
‘For starters, we’re not “together”, we’re just friends working on a history project. That’s all.’ Unfortunately, that’s the whole of it. Ethan doesn’t appear interested in starting a relationship with me. Maybe he’s just being careful ’cause Matt’s so domineering. ‘And anyway, it’s not you who needs to like him. It’s me. And I do, just for the record.’
‘That’s what worries me. You’re spending so much time with him when I know how you’ve always felt about this guy. You’v
e been in love with him since you were five years old.’
I could deny it but there’s no point. And if this is the root of Matt’s concern, if I can just manage to allay his fears, maybe he’ll ease up a little. I lift my hands, trying to portray a genuine understanding. ‘Matt, I promise you I have my feelings completely under control with Ethan. I’m not that scrawny little kid with the huge crush any more. I can deal with my emotions now. You have to believe me.’
He stares at me for a long minute, thinking hard. Maybe I’ve finally reached him, ’cause he turns away with a weary kind of nod. At the door he half-turns back. ‘You’re a bad liar, Isabel. But I understand what you’re telling me. I’ll back off for now, but if I find out he’s ever hurt you, he’ll be sorry he was born.’
The door closes behind him and finally I’m alone. I breathe a heavy sigh of relief and rub the side of my face where that headache is beginning to take hold. I’m tired all right, but too edgy to sit still long enough to fall asleep. Act normal, Ethan said. Easier said than done. He’s been doing this time-shift stuff for years; but this is my first experience. I get off the bed and change into my red satin boxers and gym top. Is this what I’ll be wearing when I arrive at the Citadel? I decide to throw my flannel pyjamas over the top. I get into bed and try to relax, I must be joking. That’s impossible. Everywhere suddenly itches, even my scalp. I get out of bed and brush my hair, tying it back in a neat plait. I go back to bed but realise I have to use the bathroom. Quickly, I run down the hall and back again before I bump into Matt or Mum or worse, Jimmy, and get caught in meaningless, time-consuming conversation. This time I get into bed and try to slow down. My fingers are tingling and I’m slightly hyperventilating. Slow! I tell myself. Breathe slow.
I fall asleep and dream. Everyone is in it – Ethan, Matt, Mum, Jimmy, even Arkarian, whom I only met today. They’re all gathered by the lake where Ethan and I go to train. I can see them all clearly, talking to each other as if they’re just biding their time waiting for something. I must be in this dream too, it’s starting to feel uncomfortably real, but I’m not part of their casual group.