Chapter Ten - Reflections
MERL'S PALE BLUE eyes looked down into mine. I felt a soft feather pillow underneath me, it was warm and dinted with the contours of my head, I must have been there a while.
"How nice of you to join us Violet." Merl stated.
"Oh Vi, You're ok." I felt Dahlia's arms pull me close. Her belly, which she had kept so well hidden until this point, felt rounded and plump.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Where's Jestin?" I asked as I propped myself up onto my elbow instantly regretting my sudden movement when a rush of blood to the head made me feel dizzy. Merl shook his head solemnly. I had been dreaming. My heart sank. My stomach lurched and then growled.
I didn't recognise the room. It was grander than the one I had previously stayed in at Thistlewick Castle. I realised I was laid in a very grand four-poster bed. The posts of which were magnificent carvings, made in the fashion of Marsh Thistles and the curtains made from shimmering silver lace that matched the floral embroidered bedding.
"This is nice." I observed as I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. I felt groggy and empty. My stomach gave another growl of hunger.
"Skylark, would you be so kind as to fetch Violet some breaded broth." The familiar guard that stood over Dahlia's shoulder nodded courteously and then disappeared off toward the door.
"How long have I been here?" I asked in a yawn, all the while trying to hide the crushing disappointment I felt at Jestin's absence.
"Three days." Dahlia answered solemnly. "We weren't sure if you were going to make it when you came to us. There was blood everywhere Vi, it was awful." Dahlia's horror at the memory was written all-over her face.
"What happened?" The last thing I knew, both Merl and I had were about to become fairy dust.
"As it happens, my accidental moth wings proved to be quite useful." Merl answered, I smiled weakly in response. "Transporting your flopping body through the forest of thorn-apple bushes was not easy, given that I also had to keep the fairy ointment from slipping through my fingers, yet I managed it in time to pass through the portal." He puffed out his thin chest proudly.
"But why didn't they attack you?" I asked.
"I have no ruddy idea." He answered honestly.
"The ointment?" I asked.
"Is here." Merl replied holding out a small vile attached with twine in a rudimentary necklace around his neck by its cork.
"And the Barghest?"
"Was rather annoyed when I flew out above his head." Merl stated. I shook my head in disbelief.
"You promised." I felt a little annoyed to have been an unwitting part of Merl's deception.
"Don't be a nincompoop Violet, a free Barghest, I think not." Merl answered. "In any case I did not promise specifically to set the Barghest free, I simply stated that I never make a promise lightly and in doing so I promised nothing."
"I don't like it." I shook my head again angrily.
"I don't ruddy care." Merl answered frankly. I felt angry that we had tricked the Barghest, yes, it was vicious but we'd as good as given it our word and Merl knew it. However, there was no point in pressing the matter, I'd find a way to deal with it myself at some point.
"What's next then?" I asked pushing myself upright as I tucked into the steaming broth that Skylark had placed at my side on the bed.
"Do you remember Cadalin?"
"Yes, how could I forget, she was the little girl that?"Merl put a finger to my lips before I could finish the sentence. Confusion washed over me for a moment before I remembered the conversation Merl had with Rosamaylind about keeping Cadalin's powers to ourselves. I pushed his bony finger away. "The little girl that read me the lovely poem, yes I do remember." I thought I saw Merl muttering 'nincompoop' under his breath but I couldn't be sure.
"Queen Dahlia has requested that we take Cadalin back to Blossomdown with us for a while. She feels that having a young Banshee who is accustomed to the Bobbin culture might help future relations between the two races." Dahlia nodded her head in agreement. She was in on this. She must know by now who Cadalin was, obviously both Merl and Dahlia had agreed that she would be our best hope of rousing Rosamaylind from her grief.
"When are we going?" I was ready to see Bettery, Balthus and all the other familiar faces of Blossomdown but more than anything right now, I was ready to take another look at Elba's map.
"Tonight, after you have said your goodbyes to Queen Dahlia who is setting out for the safety of the Silver Keep. You will be travelling through the portal alone and then I will follow with Cadalin."
"Great." I couldn't have sounded any less enthusiastic, I hated portals.
"Good, that's settled then." Dahlia stated. "When you've finished your broth, will you walk with me in the courtyard for a little while?" She asked.
"Of course." I agreed.
Dahlia led the way down the empty corridors of Thistlewick Castle gracefully, as we wandered the long halls aimlessly, even the sway of her broadening hips held a perfect rhythm. I on the other hand, hobbled behind oafishly, my calf muscles cramping because of my elongated stay in bed.
"You look so much better, more like you again." I observed as we sat on one of the luxurious window seats.
"I feel so much better." Dahlia admitted. "The night you returned from the fairy forest Merl brewed a potion to put on your wounds, it closed your wounds but you still looked so ill, so near death, we were all so scared for you. It was only when you started looking better that Merl started to brew another potion. I asked what it was for, wondering maybe if it was something to bring you round but he said it was for me." Dahlia looked touched. I think she must have appreciated that to be witness to Merl's compassionate side was a rare phenomenon indeed. "I had to tell him then that I was pregnant, I mean I had no idea what was in it. If it had been something that could have harmed Airmid I would never have forgiven myself, but he said he knew and that's what the potion was for." Dahlia smiled. "I have felt good ever since, so much better. I haven't felt this good for months. I'm sure Airmid's flutters have gotten stronger too."
"I'm glad." I smiled back. I was still afraid for Dahlia. The pressures of becoming both the Banshee queen and a mother in such a short space of time were going to be enormous for her. All that said, I was genuinely happy for Dahlia that she felt better. Before now the pregnancy seemed to be taking so much out of her.
"Look Vi about Cadalin, I know you know who she is." I nodded. I knew she was Dahlia's cousin. "She has become very precious to me during my time here. I love her as much as I do you. I know you have a lot on your mind but she's so small, so sweet and innocent and I'm so worried about her." Dahlia implored.
"Yeah but in actual years she's a lot older than you." I pointed out. Dahlia sighed in exasperation. "Ok, yes, yes of course I will look out for her Dahlia and not just because it's you."
"Thank you." Dahlia took my hand, her relief was obvious but there were still subtle traces of worry on her face.
"You know that Bettery will probably beat me to the whole guardian thing though don't you?" I laughed.
"I know she will, I love that Bobbin." Dahlia smiled again.
"Me too." I agreed.
I went off to my room to prepare for the journey with the promise from Dahlia that she would somehow let me know as soon as anything happened with the baby. Dahlia becoming a mother seemed like such a strange thought but then was it any stranger than me being the heir to a powerful wizard? Still, I was disappointed that we didn't get to spend a little more time together, even though our paths had taken us in directions we never imagined we'd go, sitting and speaking with Dahlia reminded me of home. However, packing for a journey when you are a queen takes a whole afternoon apparently. It was weird to think that in a few hours' time the once busy and vibrant Thistlewick Castle would be completely deserted. Sad that one woman could cause the upheaval of an entire race yet this was not the first time.
The Selkies had also retreated to the safety of Loch Du, choosing to live in their sealskins over the life
on the edge of the Loch and within easy reach of Agrona. I overheard one of the ambassadors say to another that the Selkie village was desolate now. I was climbing the stairs to the tower as I passed their hushed conversation. She said there had been rumours that a gang of Shellycoats have taken up residence in their cabins. I couldn't help but notice the accusation in their eyes as I passed. I guess everyone felt the same, that I was to blame for all of this. I couldn't blame them, I felt that way too, I just wish they knew how hard I was trying to put things right. Maybe then, they wouldn't look at me with quite so much contempt.
"I don't even know what a Shellycoat is." I muttered under my breath as I folded my only item of spare clothing and laid it neatly on the bed. I wasn't usually in the habit of talking to myself but after being in deep sleep for three days it felt nice to give my rusty vocal chords a bit of gentle exercise.
"A Shellycoat is a deceptive creature. They live to fool others and take a great deal of joy in doing so. Usually nothing more than petty chicanery but they have been known to cause a few deaths in their time." Merls voice startled me. I whirled round to see him stood at my doorway. I guess this meant it was time to go.
"Oh, right. So why have they moved into the Selkie's cabins?" I asked as I picked up my spare dress from where I had just laid it on the bed and stuffed it under my arm.
"Because my girl, they are what is known as a water ghoul. Living near Loch Du is perfect for them. Yet they would never have gone near the village before, far too warm. They have never had much affection for warmth."
"Aren't they scared of Agrona or the Gnarls?" I asked.
"I doubt very much that the Shellycoats' are even aware of Agrona or her Gnarls and I doubt just as equally that she would trouble herself with creatures as frivolous as them." Merl answered at the same time as he turned and began heading down the spiralling tower staircase. I followed closely behind.
"Are we going for Cadalin?" Silly question but I was hoping Merl might agree to a slight detour whilst we were here.
"Of course." He answered.
"Do you think we might be able to a short trip into the forest before we go?" I knew it was a long shot.
"Absolutely not, I cannot abide those trees."
"You could go in as a moth again, I just wanted to see if maybe Ambrose was there and Bugul." I said hopefully.
"Ambrose is old and wise; he has made many journeys in his time. He will find his way back eventually Violet. Furthermore, I would be grateful if you could inform me next time you send my beloved pet on one of your missions. Additionally, stop taking all responsibilities on your shoulders. It is not within your power to prevent and fix every situation that arises." Merl rebuked. I suppose he was right, yet I couldn't help feeling that maybe he should listen to his own advice. "Now, if you would be so kind as to stop ruddy well dithering, Cadalin is waiting for us in the courtyard."
Sure enough, when Merl and I reached the courtyard both Skylark and Cadalin were inspecting a Lilac bloom, pulling the full looking blossom in toward their faces and inhaling the scent. Cadalin's chest puffed out dramatically as she tried to take in as much as she could. She reminded me of a robin, so small and delicate with a huge inflated chest. I smiled at the image of the two as they kneeled before us. It was a moment of beauty uncorrupted by the ugliness of the world surrounding it. In my old life, I might have pulled out my phone and taken a picture. I used to believe that chronicling events in this way was important. However, after living on Falinn Galdur, without the modern concept of electricity I have begun to understand that moments like this are to be savoured and remembered in the sanctity of our minds not preserved and interrupted. That was until Merl interrupted,
"Surely it is not necessary to pull the flower right up to your noses, the whole ruddy place smells like one of Madge's pungent perfume charms ." He said. Skylark whipped round in surprise yet Cadalin carried on breathing in the scent as if she were immune to Merl's misery.
"I don't understand that reference." I said
"She isn't very bright really is she?" Came the voice of the tall Banshee guard from the dungeons who was lurking in the shadowy corner. Just like a Vampire, I thought to myself. I noticed a bow on her back and for a moment, I thought it might be mine. I felt a surge of anger rise within me but as she turned to inspect a crumbling piece of wall behind her trying to express her complete disinterest in the conversation, I realised I was mistaken.
"My beard!" Merl stated in frustration. "Every time Madge is in attendance at any form of social occasion, which thankfully is not very often, she invariably uses a perfume charm that can be detected for miles around and insists on doing so despite many requests not to. I was merely making a comparison."
"I see." I nodded, not able to comprehend why Merl was so annoyed because I didn't get that reference. That was until I remembered that Merl just liked to be annoyed.
"Hello Cadalin." I said softly as the little girl looked toward Merl and I, finally realising we were there.
"Oh, hello." She chirped back happily, it wasn't until she had fully taken us in and realising why we were there, the joy left her face replaced by apprehension maybe or was it fear?
"Are you ready to go on an adventure to Blossomdown?" I asked, trying to ease her obvious unease.
"I would happily go to Blossomdown, I've been once before and it's lovely," She chimed before looking downward at the cobble floor as she twisted her hands together nervously, "but I have already seen this moment in my dream and that isn't where I'm going."
"What!" It was a collective response from all around the little girl, at least in expression although only the Vampire guard spoke it aloud.
There was no time to react, not even Merl had the chance to move before the whole of the left side of the courtyard wall came tumbling down on top of the Vampire guard. The hugest Gnarl I had ever seen in my life spilled in with the rubble, falling directly on top of the Vampire guard where she lay, covered in rubble, on the cobbles of the courtyard.
It was a mere moment, just a flicker of a second, as fast as the flame of a candle changing direction with the breeze. Yet in that moment just before the courtyard of Thistle Castle descended into fear and chaos, I saw Merl extend his withered hand in my direction, his face tormented by indecision. I saw a wisp of light emit from his hand and travel in my direction but it must have missed, I felt nothing. As the light of Merl's spell shot passed me, a huge of chunk of wall that the giant Gnarl had tossed from his dusty body connected with Merl's feeble torso and my ancient ancestor disappeared in a cloud of dust under its weight.
"Noooooo!" It was a piercing primal scream, beginning in the depths of my stomach and making its way from my mouth in a pitch that only Banshees' ought to be able to reach.
"CADALIN RUN!" Skylark's voice sounded pained. I whipped around to find its source. I could see that one of the Gnarls, which had spilled in like sewage water after the first gigantic Gnarl had crashed through, was violently holding her down with one arm. He was trying to pour some kind of silver mixture, held in a vial, into her mouth with the other. She fought back, closing her lips tightly and thrashing her head from side to side. Some of the mixture spilled from the vial onto her cheek, instantly burning into her porcelain skin. The extreme pain of the wound was visible in her eyes but she had the sense not to open her mouth and scream out.
I acted on instinct, bounding across the courtyard and leaping over the still body of a Gnarl who had been crushed by his peers as they advanced into the castle after the little girl. As I rounded on Skylark and her attacker, I pulled back my leg and leaping into the air, I thrust it forward with as much power as I could muster. The force of the kick hit the unsuspecting Gnarl in the side of its smooth head sending it jerking sideways at an unnatural angle. The furious creature rose quickly from the ground. My heart pumped. The animalistic way it moved and its murderous tiger-eyes transported me back to the night on the belfry. My heart beat feverishly now and a cold shiver slithered like a snake down my spine
. Somehow, I did not want to run, I was not the same defenceless young girl anymore, the fear was there and I would use it to drive me. I looked into those tiger-eyes, the ones that stared me down now with a deathly glare and in the instant before the Gnarl brought his arms up to fire a blast in my direction, a shot of purple electricity travelled through my already charged body and hit the Gnarl in the middle of the chest. I hadn't spoken the spell, I wasn't even sure what spell I'd performed let alone how powerful it was, yet the Gnarl flew up into the air, the silver substance slipping from his grasp and the vile that contained it smashed into hundreds of tiny pieces. The substance trickled out quickly corroding the piece of rubble that it hit within seconds.
The Gnarl spun in the air with increasing speed, surrounded by the electric light of the hex that I had unleashed upon him until he was no longer a solid form but a blur of colours. Round and round he spun, as if he was winding around a coil and then off he flew, a massive amount of speed and energy sent him careering into the distance, away into the bog of the marshes. I didn't have time to register what I had just done. I needed to move.
Skylark stumbled to her feet, her leg bleeding at the knee. She limped into the castle in pursuit of Cadalin and the Gnarls that were chasing her. I desperately wanted to search the rubble for Merl but I knew he wouldn't thank me if I let the Gnarls capture the little girl whilst I was looking for him. Instead, I vaulted into the castle after her.
Catching Skylark easily, I pulled her arm over my shoulder and around my neck to help support her weight.
"Thanks Hele." She breathed as we stumbled onward, following the filthy tracks of the Gnarls on the pristine feathered carpets of the castle. Hele? That was the vampire guard's name. She must be stunned, but now was certainly not the time for corrections.
We raced onward, following the muddy prints, toward the royal quarters until we encountered the stationary body of one of the Banshee dignitaries lying strewn across a purple-feathered rug. My horror at the emerging situation intensified when I noticed that the corrosive silver substance was leaking from the dignitaries open mouth, melting the hard floor as it dribbled onto the surface. Skylark knelt to turn the body over but I quickly pulled her to her knees and shook my head. There was no longer anything we could do for this poor soul, I would come back for her later, and now our priority had to be Cadalin.
We hobbled along the corridor with as much speed as we could muster. The further we went, the heavier that Skylark became.
"I'm weighing you down." She said, stopping to rest against the wall. "You go, get Cadalin. Find Queen Dahlia." She muttered as her adrenaline ebbed and she began to lose strength.
"I'm not leaving you here." I whispered back before the approaching sound of voices brought an abrupt end to our debate.
"Misstressss will be pleassssed when we tell her we have the girl." Gnarls! I looked to Skylark who seemed to have disappeared like a chameleon into the scenery. Her outline was decipherable, the translucent subtle lines of her body but only because I stood so close. I wanted to jump in surprise but my instincts told me that this wasn't the right time.
"Ahhh but the heir, sssshheeesss not here, ssssshheee was ssssuppossssed to be here and the wizard. Lying Banssheee ssscum!" His companion said in frustration.
"What have you done with the liar?" The first Gnarl asked in excitement.
"I gave her sssssomething to drink." The second Gnarl sniggered. My stomach lurched. Whatever motivation the Banshee laying cold and lifeless on the floor just at the end of the corridor had for setting us up, it made me sick to think of these two evil creatures laughing at her with her ruined body so near. A small white spark flew from my hands.
"Not now." I mumbled under my breath, wiping my clammy palms on the body of my dress.
"Ssssso where next?" The first Gnarl asked.
"General Kazzzimir insistssss we take the girl back to Forge Gate, he ssssayss ssshe can tell the missstresss where the Ssscyth isss." Oh no Cadalin! She can't go there, no, she's so small, they can't take her to Forge Gate, not to her. My hands shook with panic.
"Spirits no!" I still could not see Skylark but I heard her weakening voice in my ear. "Go Hele. Find her before they take her away."
"Wait here, I'll be back for you." I promised, bounding down the corridor, following the footprints of our attackers.
The Gnarls that stood in conversation before me where initially surprised to see me rounding the corner toward them. I dispatched them as I thrust my adjoined palms toward them with all the force I could focus.
"Verja" I shouted as I ran at full pelt after my materialising shield spell, almost keeping pace with my magic. The idea of the spell was to both wind and knock my enemies off-balance but I was so pumped with adrenaline and focused by my fear that the spell sent both Gnarls flying backward. They soared out of a window disappearing from my view with expressions of shock, horror and anger contorting their features.
I continued after the footprints, taking the stairs in the great hall two at a time as they led me into Dahlia's royal quarters.
"Oh no, Dahlia no, not you too." There was no one there to hear my words. This was all me, I was alone and terrified as I sped toward the door. Still, I wouldn't hesitate, there was no time for that. My friend might be in that room. I ran at the doors and practically shoulder barged them open. The sight that met me within was gruesome.
Everywhere I looked, I saw blood. It was on the velvet-curtained wall, staining Dahlias magnificent marble fireplace and pooling on her silk bed sheets. It sprayed up the curtains that hung on the posters of her bed and dripped onto the hard floor. So much blood and torn ragged pieces of luxurious fabric, the fabric of Dahlia's dress. I opened my mouth to scream but my windpipe was so constricted that I couldn't draw in the necessary breath. I fell to my knees, numb and gasping for air.
"Oh thank the spirits Helle. I saw the wall fall on you from the window and I thought you'd been crushed." It was Dahlia's voice, was I hearing things? My heart flipped, I was giddy with confusion and hope. I looked around the room but Dahlia wasn't there, only blood. "Helle, I'm here." Her voice rung out again, still I couldn't see her in the room, that was until I noticed a curve in the glass of the mirror that began as a small bump but quickly took the shape of a young woman. As Dahlia emerged from the reflective surface of the mirror, I leaped at her with relief. Throwing my arms around her, I hugged her tighter than I ever had before. She stepped back uncertainly and I noticed her dress had been ripped in numerous places. She'd been in a skirmish.
"What happened here?" I asked.
"I really don't think that was an appropriate way to address me Helle." Dahlia looked concerned.
"What are you talking about, it's me Violet." I stated. Why was Dahlia calling me Helle too? I looked around the room again. This was Gnarl blood and at least two of them. Yes two, their headless bodies lay at either side of the bed. I was both repulsed and impressed, not only had Dahlia fought them, she had annihilated them. My pride and relief beamed back at me in the mirror on the reflection of a face that was not mine. I WAS Helle momentarily before my own red hair set fire to the sleek raven hair in the mirror, Helle's high cheekbones melted away and her thin lips were replaced by my plump ones.
"Oh my, it really is you, how on earth did you do that Vi?" Dahlia asked.
"I have no idea and I could ask you the same question." I pointed out.
"I screamed at them." She answered frankly.
"No, I mean the mirror." I corrected.
"Oh, it's a passageway to the courtyard. My mother showed it to me once." Dahlia stated. "Where's Cadalin? Does Merl have her?" My eyes widened with fear.
"No I thought she was with you." I swallowed hard. When Dahlia emerged from the mirror, I had just assumed she was safe, that she must be hiding in the mirror with Dahlia. As I stood here now I was wasting time.
"Come on." Dahlia urged, as she took my arm with her bloodied hand and led me quickly down a narrow staircase to the courtyard.
We emerged from the hard stone of the castle as if we had walked through air. Over the rubble and through the gaping gap in the wall I could see the huge muscular Gnarl make a giant leap over the moat of fog with the young Banshee Cadalin. The glass drawbridge pulled up, the Gnarls didn't waste any time trying to figure out how to lower it. Dahlia unselfishly sprung forward in pursuit but noticing the vampire guard's intact bow sticking out from between two heavy stones, I called her.
"Dahlia no. I've got this I called as I ran to grab the bow from its resting place." I was confident. Dahlia stopped immediately and seeing the bow in my hands, my chest extended, I was ready to take the shot. She seemed relieved. I took a calming breath and then fired.
My arrow flew into the distance. At first, it looked as if it was heading toward the mighty Gnarl as I fully expected it to. Instead, it veered strongly to the left, falling way short of my intended target as he made his retreat with Cadalin.
I was stunned. I had never missed before, not ever. I loaded another arrow and shot again. Once again, I missed my target but this time I hit another Gnarl in the heel, pinning his cloak to his foot as he ran. I missed again! How could I miss? I never missed. With my other bow, I never missed.
Realisation hit me like a speeding arrow shot from a magic bow. It wasn't me that never missed. It was the bow. Suddenly I was back in the room with Merl, Bettery and Jestin as the bow was being presented to me. I remembered feeling like a vital piece of information was being withheld. Something I felt wasn't for foreign ears. I knew now, in this terrible moment, that Merl had hidden the truth of the bow from me- the bow would never miss.
The Gnarl who had been scurrying away with a group of around fifteen others' swivelled and cried out with pain as he surveyed his injured heel. Looking for the source of the shot his face lit up with elation.
"The heir! The heir! Ssshee'sss there, I've found her." Horror washed over me as the rest of his group turned back and headed swiftly in my direction.