Sardan E-Book

Indie D

• Herausgeber: Grosvenor House Publishing
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 430

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

As the final battle draws closer, the groups hunt spirals further into the depths of chaos. With only each other against a horde of new rivals, they press forward toward the unknown.

Leseprobe

This book is dedicated to my friends. My chosen family, who put up with my disappearing acts...

Love you muchly.

‘I realised, as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it’s also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real.’

Ready Player One Ernest Cline

‘The total disorder of an isolated system alwaysincreases over time.’

The second law of thermodynamics

CONTENTS

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

A thundering siren pierced through the bleak streets of Valkyrios city centre. Sam clutched her hands over her ears grimacing as Ben began to wail from his buggy. She swung round, pulled the thick scarf from round her shoulders and tied it over his ears.

She peered up to see an enormous grey cloud appear atop wall Frances and begin to waterfall over. Cries of horror were swept away by the siren as folk fumbled for their wares and scurried away as fast as they could. Sam strapped Ben into his buggy tight, catching her finger in his buckle, she winced as she pulled both their gas masks over their heads. Ben squirmed and cried as Sam began to sweat and race to maneuver the pram through the crowds as she ran. She peered back, the cloud was the darkest she’d ever seen. Panting, she watched as the mass consumed a furiously coughing young couple. Skidding round a corner, Ben had managed to wedge a finger between his cheek and the mask to rip it off and fling it onto the cobbles, the front door to Sam’s mothers house, yards away. ‘Benny no!’ Sam muffled under her mask as she skidded to a halt, spinning to run back and grab it. She stared wide eyed at the dark cloud pummeling towards them. Its outstretched wisps licking her fingers as she clawed for the mask and scrambled back to the pram.

She grabbed the handles and sprinted as hard as she could for the front door. As she reached the front steps, the cloud beginning to curl round her feet, she hoisted the pram off the ground and climbed the steps. Heaving the door open, she thrust her small body against the wood of the door, sweating as it swung open and slammed against the hallway wall. Sliding the pram inside she pushed the door with all her might against the strong winds that had now partnered with the grey.

Sam began to tear as she willed the door to close its last few inches, papers swirling up and around her mother’s living room as she cried out.

‘MUM!’

Ben screamed as Sam’s mother Celine flew down the stairs, her scarf whipping off her neck and joining the papers as she slammed her body beside Sam’s. The door crashed shut and the small tornado of living room detritus, floated to the floor.

‘What. On. Earth!’ Celine panted as both her and Sam slid to the floor in exhaustion. ‘When did the grey start getting that aggressive! I’ve never seen anything li...’ She peered round to see Sam with her face in her hands sobbing.

‘Oh darling you’re ok.’ She put an arm round Sam’s shoulders and pulled her close, stroking her head. As she tightly hugged Sam’s trembling body, Celine peered up to see a crack in the wall where the door had slammed. The small jagged shapes of pain began to softly expand and retract and she squinted as the fragments of brick behind it tumbled away, falling to the floor. A small green vine gently pushed its way through the wallpaper, its tendrils curling round the hole as the vine crept through and towards the door frame. Celine clutched her eyes shut as Sam frowned at the sight of her mother’s expression.

‘What is it?’

She looked round to see the vine, having crept along the wall and across the door frame, was now delicately producing a small purple flower on her shoulder. Sam wearily closed her eyes, then slowly stood, unclicked Ben from his buggy, picked him up then shuffled to the living room sofa and collapsed in it. Newspaper pages that had settled beneath her from the winds crunched as she cupped her hands over her eyes, tears trickling down her cheek.

Ben wiggled his way out of Sam’s arm and shuffled across the room to a basket of toys in the corner.

‘Darling.’ Celine quietly stood in the doorway. Sam sniffed.

‘Darling I think we need to have a talk.’ Celine reached down for a stray insert of newspaper that had wedged itself between some sofa cushions. Picked it up and sat down next to Sam, the paper in her hands.

‘What?’ Sam sniffed as she wiped at her nose and looked over to her mother. Celine handed her the paper and Sam gasped, cupping over her mouth as she read the headline of the small clipping.

CREATURES OF EVIL TO MEET IN THE RING

COME WATCH IN A SHOW TO END ALL SHOWS!

The photographs beneath took Sam’s breath away. There sat in a jail cell, shackled to various sections of a wall, sat Fei and Cora beside to women with dark hair, a huge man and a smaller woman with brown curls and glasses. All of which looked half asleep. Beside their picture was another of a horrific creature. Far larger and more monstrous looking than a Tok.

‘What is that thing.’ Whimpered Celine.

Sams lip trembled. ‘A Barghest.’

‘A what!?’

‘A demon of a creature, I remember learning about them in school. I wouldn’t even class it as an animal, more like a soulless demonic weapon.’

‘Oh god...Do they stand a chance?’ Celine’s hand began to shake.

‘Not if they don’t know how.’ Sam sobbed, her face in her hands.

‘Do you know how?’

‘Not enough.’ Sam whimpered, her cheeks glistening as she wiped her face on her cuff and peered across the hall to the vine creeping its way towards her. Then to Ben playing in the corner.

‘I can’t keep hiding. I should’ve left with Fei when I had the chance.’ Sam threw the paper to the sofa behind her as she stood to stare out the window obscured by the darkness of the grey.

‘Darling you mustn’t punish yourself, you were only doing what you thought was best for Ben, which it was. Why, you would’ve been away from him for almost a month and a half at this point. He’s still so little.’

‘If I don’t help now, there won’t be a world for him to grow big in.’ Her lip trembled. Celine nodded, her face scrunching with the effort not to cry as she stroked Sam’s back.

‘You know I’ll look after him.’

Sam nodded and they hugged, their tears soaking into each others shoulders.

‘When is this happening? Where do I need to go?’

Celine turned, picked up the paper and handed it to Sam. Tomorrow morning, Brunas Peak city centre. Sam wiped her eyes, folded the paper and slid it into one of the pockets in her dress.

‘Ok, if I take the over night train I should be there by dawn.’

‘That leaves in a few hours, I’ll call a taxi to take you to the station so you’re not rushing on foot. I don’t want you feeling any more stress than necessary.’ They gazed over at the vine that had found itself settled above the sofa. A larger, more vibrant purple flower shining through the dullness of the room.

Sam nodded. ‘I’ll go and pack.’

Celine squeezed her hands and Sam made her way upstairs, brushing her hand over Ben’s head of curls as she sniffed.

***

After two hours had passed and the grey had mostly cleared, a heavy knock on the front door pulsed through the house.

‘I’ll get it.’ Celine gave a weary smile and opened the door to an older man in a cloaked black suit and top hat. A horse attached to a small black carriage, snorted behind him.

‘Evening madam, I’m here with your taxi.’ He smiled, his strong old arms holding up a large lantern to his weather wearied face.

‘Well be just a moment.’ Celine smiled.

‘Not to worry madam I’ll just be waiting for you by the carriage.’

‘Thank you.’ Celine left the door partially open and turned to pick up Sam’s small carpet bag sitting on the floor. Sam stood in the hallway, Ben giggling on her hip she kissed him on the forehead. A tear falling over her cheek. Her arms weak, she gently passed him over to Celine who gave him a small squeeze and handed her the bag. Sam sniffed and they hugged tight.

‘Please look after yourself darling. You are too loved to be lost.’

‘I will. I love you both too.’ They moved apart and Sam watched as the vine above the doorframe began to sprout more buds. She inhaled and wiped her face as a small wave of adrenaline shot through her body.

‘Mama.’ Ben whined, reaching forward for Sam.

‘I love you Benny be good.’ Sam stroked his face then turned as quickly as she could before she started crying again. Blocking out Ben’s cries behind her she hurried down the porch steps and into the carriage, hastily shutting the door behind her.

‘Valkyrios station was is madam?’ Shouted the driver from outside.

‘Yes please.’ Sam’s voice shook as she closed her eyes and felt the jolt of the carriage push them forward into the night.

CHAPTER TWO

Four days earlier.

Bisou barked and they all turned to look at him facing the other way back down the hill. Fei let down her arm holding the dagger, breaking the beam.

‘Aye pup.’ Rabina nodded then turned back to Fei.

‘Moth.’ Said Fei feeling along the dagger’s hilt carved with three delicate four-leaf clovers. The group nodded.

‘I need to rest for the night, I will feel better in the morning. As of this moment soy un poco inútil.’

‘Never useless, just perhaps a smidge temporarily incapacitated.’ Alfie smiled and rubbed her back.’

Clyde munched on the lush valley side grass as Cora swanned past him, giving his bottom a little scratch as she squinted her eyes down towards the bridge.

‘That deserted town we came through, we could maybe find somewhere to sleep in there for the night? At least then if anyone did survive the castle, I imagine the first place they’ll look for three Nathair is the forest.’

‘Aye. Gud lass, thinkin’ like a Sardan already. Nessa, ye gonnae be alright tae walk?’

‘Sí, I will borrow one of Alfie’s arms to lean on.’

Alfie slightly limped behind Nessa, placed his hands under her armpits, effortlessly lifted her off the ground and wrapped one of his large arms round her as they began to hobble forward together.

Fei gave Clyde’s thick neck a stroke, picked up his lead reign and they made down the Hill, lead by an excitable Bisou.

Cora slowed and waited for Fei to catch up to her.

‘So what rascals do you expect we’ll encounter on this next leg?’ Said Fei. The pair chuckled as they plodded along.

‘Well assuming Moth has pre-emptively incapacitated said potential rascals before our arrival. Hopefully zero.’ Cora smiled.

‘That would be helpful. Although we do still know of two particularly rascally rascals that wait for us in their various dark corners of the world.’

‘Can’t wait...’ Nodded Cora nodding at her sister.

‘Can barely control my excitement.’ Fei snorted back.

‘Whatever waits for us ahead surely can’t be any worse than what we’ve already been through.’ Said Cora, smirking as she watched Rabina tentatively grab hold of the robe barriers of the bridge over the valley.

‘I bloody well hope not, cos there’s only so much more putting on a brave face I can do before I actually lose my mind.’ Fei forced a slightly loopy looking smile.

Cora raised an eyebrow. ‘Sister lets be honest, I genuinely think you might get back a little more sane.’

Fei chuffed. ‘Dunno bout that like, If they didn’t like me then, they’ll hate me now. I’ve seen stuff, experienced things.’ Fei dramatically reached an arm out to claw her hand out and bring it to her chest. ‘I’ll be going back a whole new woman.’ She laughed.

Cora scrunched her face in cool amusement. ‘I take the sane thing back.’ She muttered smiling.

‘All the best people are insane...you know...a little bit anyway.’ Fei wiggled her eyebrows and dashed a look at Cora then sighed. ‘You’d have to be to agree to what we agreed to.’

Cora cocked her head and nodded in agreement. ‘If you’re gonna be a bear...?’

The pair arrived at the bridge to see Rabina on the other side waving. ‘What ye waiting for? tis gonnae be dark soon.’ Her muffled bellow wafted across the bridge, followed by a bark from Bisou.

‘...Be a grizzly.’ The girls smiled at each other, turned to see Alfie and Nessa close behind them, moved to stand either side of Clyde and began to shuffle along the bridge.

After deciding the ‘Creamery’ would potentially now host a multitude of smells and bugs, which swiftly saw Cora retreating from the shop in protest. The group set their sights on settling in the clinic with the smashed windows nearby. The possibility of stumbling across some medicine seemed unlikely but even that was more inviting than encountering a hoard of insects.

‘Hells bells. Tis bin wiped clean.’

‘Are we surprised? It’s the first place I’d look to loot in a crisis.’ Said Alfie kicking away a pile of dried leaves and placing Nessa down in a corner.

The clinic was now an empty room of dark wood apothecary shelves behind a counter, on which sat a tin cash machine that’s side had been dented but what the group assumed was the hammer on the floor beside it. A flash of lightning lit up the dim room and the group turned in surprise as the rumble of thunder shortly followed. Fei released Clyde’s lead rope, moved to pick up the dusty hammer, then began knocking away the shards of glass poking out of the bottom of one of the large shop front windows. Kicking the shards to one side, she gave Clyde’s rope a tug, to which he loafily heaved his mammoth hooves over the pane as small rain droplets began to bounce of his tail, making his last hoof skip over the pane with a little more energy. She gave him a pat and removed his saddle and head collar. He took a large breath in, shook his head and closed his eyes.

The group sat in a circle, a small fire in the middle as they watched the rain and ate the remnants of the food Nessa had collected in Leos. Clyde had mowed down the patch of grass Fei had made for him and was now laid across it, deep asleep as Fei knelt beside him massaging the slight dent in his coat where his girth sat. Rabina and Cora has shuffled off to explore behind the counter and had found a roll of bandage wedged beneath the leg of a ladder and a shelf, and half a vile of painkiller. Which they all took a micro swig of, It kicked in fairly fast rendering them all more than a little sleepy. Except for Alfie, they realised the dosage required for him to feel the same level of effects would had have to have been substantially more...substantial. This annoyed him somewhat, as he felt feeling sleepy, and indeed a good nights rest would have eased his mind from the persistent guilt he felt about Byrdie, and that how much he missed him, hurt more than his battered body.

He hung his head and felt his eyes begin to warm. They widened as he watched a small hand slowly hover over his thigh, palm up. He smiled and felt his face get even hotter as he squeezed the hand, the bottom of an old Sardan symbol tattoo peeking out beneath Rabina’s sleeve as he turned to looked into her magnified eyes.

‘Ah promise ye we’ll find him, a feel it in mah bones that he’s alive.’

Alfie’s eyes glazed over. ‘I just feel so guilty B.’ He sniffed. ‘I left him, I said I would never do that.’

Rabina squeezed his hand, making him wince in surprise. ‘Believe me whin ah tell ye m’eudail. Byrdie wull know ye didnae just up ‘n’ abandon him. He would’ve pushed ye along on this mighty quest just as yer destiny has. He loves ye, ‘n’ he knows ye love him too. ‘n’ that what ye’r doin’ now, is for the goodness in that pure giant heart in that pure giant chest of yours. ‘n’ ye know thats what he loves most about ye.’

Alfie smiled, then his lip began to tremble as his tears fell onto their hands. ‘I know...But...My hearts still hurts so much.’ He chocked back tears.

‘Aye. Thats love m’eudail. It bluddy hurts. Do ye think if ah didnae love ye bunch o’ bastards as much as a do that ah wid be here? cos let me tell ye it’s bluddy hurt so far!’ She smiled warmly and squeezed his hand again.

‘We must all be mad.’

‘Oh without a doubt, bit all th’ best folk are.’ She grinned. Alfie smiled. ‘Tis been love ‘n’ madness that’s gotten us this far, ‘n’ it’ll be love ‘n’ madness that steels us to the end.’

‘Well aren’t you the regular poet.’ Alfie smiled, gazing out the window to the rain now beginning to ease off.

‘Aye. Am a woman o’ many talents dinnae ye know.’

‘Oh im well aware.’

‘Then it’s aboot time fur ye to kip ‘n’ dream sweet dreams o’ my poetry. Or at least a wee kip fur a few hours till tis mornin’, as time’s running oot ‘n’ am getting impatient, c’mon.’ She pulled the blanket over him and beckoned for him to shuffle down the wall and turn over.

‘Right you are boss.’ He gave a weary smile and tucked himself in beneath the moth eaten blanket. Then turned to Rabina, and gave a hand another squeeze.

‘Ah will look after Byrdie in mah head fur a wee while for ye.’

‘Thank you Bina.’ Alfie felt his world lighten. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Fei strained open her eyes to the sound of furiously rustling leaves. She heaved her body up and squinted over the top of Clyde’s large round belly. A blur of green sped past the window back and forth, Cora chuckling away as she watched Bisou blaze up and down what would’ve been the main street, but was now buried beneath dry leaves, which Bisou was thoroughly enjoying sending shooting in all directions.

Fei gave a small smile and peered round at the others. Nessa and Alfie were still asleep and Rabina she imagined had left early in the morning to find some semblance of something to eat. She quietly slid over Clyde’s bottom and joined Cora outside, stretching and feeling her whole body click in places that upsettingly never used to.

‘Where’s Bina?’

Cora pointed behind Fei’s head. She turned and squinted at a small figure striding through a small patch of grey. Bina lifted her hand up, containing what looked like a sack miscellaneous items and pointed at it. The girls assumed she was beaming beneath her mask.

Bisou blazed over to her and began dancing around her, to which Bina skitted around in circles sending Bisou spiralling into a frenzy of excitement as he tucked his tail between his legs, spun around several times then blazed back to the girls.

‘Found a wee local settlement, got some bread, tell me th’ quickest wey to Brunas Peak, should be a seventy-two hour journey if we dinnae dawdle.’ She beamed.

Fei furrowed her brow. ‘How long were you gone for?’

‘About four hours ago mibbie, doesnae take long for me to make friends mind. Ah just introduce them tae Bina junior one.’ She held up one clenched fist. ‘‘n’ Bina junior two.’ Then held up the other.

The girls shot her a concerned look.

‘Ahh a’m just joking lassie.’ She bellowed with laughed and slapped Fei on the arm. ‘Ah paid them.’ Then shuffled into the apothecary muttering, ‘some of them.’ Under her breath, as Alfie over heard and shook his head smirking.

The girls snorted and followed after her.

‘How’s your leg Alfie? Reckon you’ll be up to Bina’s marching?’ Fei peered over at the taught white bandage Alfie began to unravel from his leg.

‘It certainly hurts less that for sure, took an extra sip of the painkiller halfway through the night. Knocked me out cold but it did the job.’

‘Ah got hold o’ some alcohol in that wee settlement, we’ll douce ye all once with some o’ that, wrap ye back up ‘n’ that should hopefully do the job till we git to Moth.’

Fei pulled a face and looked to Cora, who pulled a face back. That was sure to be loads of fun. They had almost forgotten about their various wounds. The worst of the pain in Fei’s arm had cleared up over night and Cora had always been the child that didn’t scream after falling over. Besides, Nessa had been the worst hit, so they gave the majority of what they had scavenged to her. She was still asleep and they knew the longer she was out, the more she’d heal.

They took it in turns to hiss as the rubbing alcohol was furiously dabbed into their injuries by Rabina, then subsequently too furiously tied up with white bandage and given a soft tap to finish.

Fei hungrily reached for a slice of bread and took in a breath of satisfaction as the taste filled her dry mouth. Clyde gave a grunt, heaved himself to his feet, then began nudging Fei, staring at her bread.

‘You can’t have this.’ She mumbled through a wad of bread in her mouth. He nudged her again. She pulled a face, the thought of mustering the effort to even stand at this point seemed uninviting. So she lay back against the stripped bare patch of grass, lay an arm out to once side and let her eyes glaze over as she continued to chew. Coils of grass tickled the sides of her face as it shot through the soil, Clyde chuffed and swiftly shot down his head and began tearing at it. Fei stayed lying, the room quiet as she enjoyed the remnants of her crusty bread.

Fei’s ears began to tune in again. She felt she must have nodded off as the room seemed brighter and the sound of Nessa’s voice seemed a lot less strained than she assumed it may have been having just woken up.

‘Sí, I feel a lot better.’ Followed shortly by a familiar hiss and Rabina’s tentative pats.

‘Good lass. Reckon we’ll all be down to leave in half an hour?’

‘I’d say so yeah.’ Alfie nodded, followed by Cora and Nessa. They peered over at Fei, who shot up her arm with a thumbs up.

Bisou whined and began wagging his tail as he gave Cora a lick on the cheek then shot out the door. Cora strolled after him shaking her head and smiling.

Fei heaved herself up off the freshly stripped patch of soil. It seemed that even in her slumber Clyde had managed to nudge her out the way to get at the grass beneath her. She gave Clyde’s thick neck a stroke and began strapping his saddle and bags back on. He grunted and flicked his tail at her as she clicked the girth back up.

‘Sorry buddy.’ She stroked his nose and reached into her pocket for a treat, which made him quickly forget about the girth.

The group made their way outside, which had, to all their dismay become a mass with grey. They sighed, pulled on their masks and took their first steps towards Brunas Peak. Their only aid, an old coaster with what looked like the drunken scrawling of a local. But Rabina was confident she could decipher it and Fei reckoned they had got further so far with less so they weren’t complaining. Although the majority of their bodies were hurting, they all began to tune into the fact that they had experienced a win. Through togetherness, through sheer perseverance or dumb bloody luck, they felt just a little bit more confident than they were expecting. Especially considering the nature of what had just happened, which frankly they collectively, probably hadn’t quite digested properly yet. Nevertheless, they felt kinda good, and it kinda showed. Alfie was running his hands through his hair regularly again, Nessa had picked up a stray block of wood and had begun carving. Rabina had not slowed her pace all day and Cora’s abundance of energy had been displayed in the sheer number of sticks she’d thrown for Bisou in the already almost six hours of walking they had done. And the biggest shock to them all, they didn’t feel they particularly needed to stop to eat that often, in fact it had mostly been to tend to Clyde, but even then Fei reckoned he’d stuffed himself silly back at the apothecary and was, shockingly to them all, somewhat satiated.

The only thing that was sure to annoy them all, was the amount of time they were stuck wearing their masks. This really was the one thing they didn’t want to get more used to, as that told them just one thing. That the grey was getting worse, and quickly too. And with that, so strengthened what they knew would eventually be the final meeting with her. With Ela.

As much as they attempted to push her out of their thoughts. She would fairly regularly creep back in. The occasional knock to their wee waves of confidence. They imagined Ela might take some joy in this, but ironically it helped push them on.

As they pressed into what Rabina had promised them was the last hour of the journey, a memory presented itself to Fei. Sickness. The last time they faced towards the direction of where Moth was, they felt ill, and Bisou had refused to move. Yet he seemed now more than ever to bound on forward towards her.

Fei furrowed her brow and tuned out of her walking daze. ‘Bina!’ Fei trotted forward, Clyde lumbering behind.

‘Aye lass.’ Rabina continued marching forward.

‘That sickness we felt, back before Irinvale, it’s gone.’

‘Aye they only last a moon cycle.’

‘Why sickness though, that suggests bad things no? Like don’t come find me?’ Fei gave a nervous chuckle.

‘So ye might think, bit it suggests a young Sardan actually.’

‘En realidad? But Moth is Thirty years old.’

‘First o’ all, thirty is young, second o’ all. Moth has technically only bin a Sardan fur five years. Only th’ Sardan in thair Forties ‘n’ Fifties kin send clearer messages. Tis all witchcraft in th’ end, whom th’ barer of, tends to generate more power with as they age.’

Fei frowned her mouth in thought as Cora appeared beside her. ‘So what do you think Moth was trying to tell us?’ Said Cora.

‘Oh likely tae stay away for she’s git herself intae a situation she wasn’t expecting, bit that’s hardly gonnae keep us away now is it?’

‘Is anyone to be trusted these days?’ Said Fei sighing as the dark turrets of Brunas Peak began to emerge through a large cloud of grey between two hills in the distance.

‘Aye lassie, just nae the devil inside em’.’

Rabina clutched Fei’s shoulder and they peered over towards the looming castle walls.

‘Debemos estar enojados.’

‘All the best people are.’ Cora and Alfie chorused.

CHAPTER THREE

Rochford sat tapping his foot on the ground, his face buried in his shaking hands as the low murmurs of words he did not recognise hummed round the room. He peered up to stare wide eyed at a large slab of stone in the centre of the small room. The stone was surrounded by a multitude of figures in white robes ordained with long, slim silver chains. Their faces lit by flaming torches hanging on the dank stone walls. The figures continued to mumble words, leant over a tall, still body on the stone slab. Rochford pushed himself up from his crouch and looked down at Harryn’s mutilated, motionless body. Scorched, open sores covered his body and the right side of his face, and Rochford watched, his heart racing as the figures began to smear white paste into Harryn’s wounds.

‘Claisgeadh, Claisnadh, Claischdail.’ The figures continued chanting over and over, covering Harryn’s body in the white paste.

They chanted for what felt like hours until silence befell the room and Rochford furrowed his brow. The figures drew back and he could see their faces for the first time. All older men and women. Smeared in what looked like mud, one stripe of it between the centre of the eyes up their foreheads and another from just beneath their bottom lip down the centre of their neck into their robes. They took a step back to stand against the walls. The soft sound of footsteps whistled through the dark doorway on the other side of the room and Rochford watched as three young women, all dressed in the same white robes walked in and took their places standing round Harryn and the stone slab. Their faces solemn.

The elders began to chant again ‘Claisgeadh, Claisnadh, Claischdail.’ As the three young women each placed a hand on their lower abdomen and their other hand on Harryn.

‘Thomaetoil.’ The three women chanted, over and over. Rochford felt his skin begin to prickle and found himself short of breath as he watched the open sores covering Harryn’s body slowly begin to fold themselves shut. Leaving nothing but perfect skin behind. Rochford’s eyes widened as the three women’s chanting grew faster and faster. Making the stones in the room begin to vibrate and the small rocks on the cold floor skipping over his feet.

Rochford jolted back, as he watched Harryn’s body shoot up, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath and coughed. Harryn stared into the glistening eyes of one of the young women, and he watched as she, and her two counterparts dropped to the ground. Their bodies laid lifeless across the dark stone floor.

Gasping, Harryn peered round at Rochford.

‘Sir?’ He stuttered.

Harryn stared wide eyed at his reflection. Stunned to silence he studied his new face. The large gash across his face that Nessa had gifted him had disappeared. He looked down at his hands. The scaring too had gone. He stood in shock, analysing his perfect face. Breathing deeper than he ever had before, his lungs filling to capacity and releasing free of strain. The effects of the grey had left him. He gave a wry smile and clenched his fists, rolling his neck round as his chest and arms tensed. He turned to see a large four poster bed in the middle of the round castle turret room. On which sat a clean, black uniform. He strode over, feeling the crisp, clean, new uniform between his fingers. No gloves.

Harryn slid on the uniform, it fit perfectly and he watched himself in the mirror as he buttoned up his cuffs. He took another deep, satisfying breath and closed his eyes as he brought his hands to his scalp to feel over it. His eyes shot open in shock.

Stubble?

He paced toward the mirror pushed his scalp close to the surface. It was true. Light brown stubble had begun to push its way through his skin, and he could see it perfectly. The colours around him suddenly made themselves crystal clear.

‘Sir? Is everything ok in there Sir?’ Rochford’s stuttering pierced through the bedroom door.

Harryn gave another wry smile and opened the door.

Rochford stared up at Harryn, if it were possible, he seemed taller and broader.

‘Resurrected.’ Harryn gave a sinister grin.

Rochford hurried after Harryn who marched through the hallways of a vast, dark keep, the shocked eyes of guards posted along the arched corridors following him as they went.

‘Those women Sir, I watched as they said some words then you woke up, I think they were witches Sir.’

‘Then it is right that I am here and they are not.’

‘Yes Sir. You seem different, like new. Did you die Sir? Did they bring you back to life? Are you magic now Sir?’

Harryn stopped and turned to face Rochford, his demeanour more sinister than ever. Rochford cowered.

‘I am no mage, what I am is renewed. Doused with an infusion of youth and vitality, and now more able than ever to find them.’ He clenched a tight, scarless fist in front of Rochford’s face, gritting his teeth. Rochford stared at his hand then back into Harryn’s burning stare.

‘You are what they deserve Sir.’ Said Rochford, tight lipped as he nodded nervously back at Harryn.

‘Where is she?’

‘In the main hall Sir. Waiting for you.’

Harryn stood tall, turned and continued down the corridor.

The main hall of Abuden was vast, stretching what seemed like a hundred feet up, reems of large dark columns lined the walls and peaked at the top, bursting into spiderweb shaped patterns at the top. Gargoyles and harrowing statues of figures peered down from above them, lit by the flames of large torches held by statues of various emotionless women. Enormous gothic windows sat one on each side of the rectangular shaped room. A furiously swirling grey cloud lapping at the glass panes.

At the end of the room stood a dark figure, and as Harryn and Rochford walked closer, her features became clearer. A woman of average height and build, and what Rochford could make out to be, a pale but striking face too. perfect earthen skin seemed to almost glow, shrouded by long mousy hair that waterfalled over her black form fitting dress. She wore a lace front black waist corset over a puff sleeved black blouse that buttoned up to beneath her chin. The neck piece she wore looked almost like a plate of hammered armour that connected to shoulder pieces and gloves. Her long black skirts draped over her hips, outer sections pinned up on two sides up the front, lifted slightly off the floor to reveal two heeled, lace front black boots beneath.

She seemed of another world. And Rochford couldn’t take his eyes off her.

‘Lower your damn eyes.’ Harryn hissed as they drew closer to her. Rochford shot his gaze to the tiled floor as they stopped. Harryn lowered his head.

‘You are much changed Yaeffe. My wards have done good work.’ Ela’s soft silken voice whistled through the hall.

‘Indeed my lady, I am eternally in your debt for your mercy.’

Ela narrowed her eyes at a trembling Rochford. ‘Is this the one who brought you in?’

‘Yes my Lady. This is My Lieutenant, Rochford.’

‘What is your name child?’ Ela began to walk slowly towards them, her soft heels tapping the tiles and sending waves of adrenaline shooting up Rochford’s spine as she approached.

‘Uhhh Rufus mmm...My Lady.’ He stuttered.

‘Well Rufus, you are to be commended for so diligently bringing your master to my wards to be revitalised.’ Rochford felt beads of sweat forming at his brow as the tapping of Ela’s boots stopped in front of him. He jolted as he felt the cold touch of a metal glove hold his chin and push up his head to meet her gaze. ‘If it were not for you, I may have lost my most precious ally.’ She gave Rochford an empty smile and turned to look at Harryn, who’s gaze still bore to the ground. Rochford felt the hairs on his face stiffen at the proximity of Ela’s body. Her every fibre radiating with energy.

‘However.’ Ela’s smile dropped, she glided towards Harryn, and began slowly circling him. ‘I would like to understand how indeed they came to escape your clutches. When I am told they were but almost entirely surrounded.’ Ela’s eye burned into Harryn. Rochford watched in terror as Harryn’s finger began to twitch.

‘I believe my Lady, Chichenache had built not so great a fort as we were led to believe.’ Rochford trembled as his eyebrow twitched in mild confusion.

Harryn tightened his lips. ‘I was told there way no way they would have been able to breach the walls. And that he had enough guard to secure the doors.’

‘So it was the fault of my great demon?’ Ela whispered, stopping behind Harryn and glaring at the back of his head.

‘There we’re simply not enough eyes.’ Harryn’s began to tighten his hands together.

‘Yet I am told there was only five of them.’ She said behind his ear.

‘We underestimated their power my Lady, I am deeply sorry and it will not happen again.’ Harryn struggled to get his words out and Rochford gave a small whimper.

Harryn began. ‘I...’

Ela exploded, sending the men soaring across the tiles and slamming into the glass panes of the window at the end of the hall, the grey outside furiously swirling around their stiffened bodies against the panes. ‘I AM THE ONLY ONE WITH THE POWER, HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST THEY POSSES ANYTHING CLOSE TO WHAT I AM CAPABLE OF.’

Rochford was close to fainting as source less winds thundered towards them. Harryn grit his teeth and shielded his face with his arm as Ela soared towards them.

‘Do not dare suggest the strength of their fabled power again.’ Ela hissed as she softly landed in front of them, bringing her glowering face close to Harryn’s. Rochford now in tears.

Harryn took a breath and stared back at her, nodding slowly. ‘Never again my Lady.’ He said in bated breath.

Ela slowly retreated, her face softening. ‘I could find and kill them now if I truly wanted.’

Harryn’s brow furrowed and Ela cocked her chin at Harryn’s confusion.

‘Before I kill them, I need them to show me where they have entrapped my love.’ For a second what seemed to be a wave of sorrow passed through Ela’s stoic stance as she turned and began walking back down the hall. ‘Or at least I thought that was the only way.’ A menacing smile peeled across Ela’s face as Harryn stood and pulled Rochford shortly up after him.

‘There is another my Lady?’ Harryn straitened his jacket and watched after her.

‘Your gifts to me my friend are the only reason you’re still standing.’ Ela stopped and turned her head to the side. Their ears pricked as the muffled taps of sets of feet ricochet through the hall.

Four guards turned the corner into the great hall, their hands gripped over the arms of two men. Who mouths had been strapped tightly over with a rag, and their hands clamped in irons behind their backs.

Byrdie and Baylor were pushed to their knees in front of Ela, their faces forced down. Tears trickled over Byrdie’s cheeks as Ela prowled towards them. She grabbed down at Byrdie’s hair and forced his head up to look at her, to which Baylor swung round his head, releasing mumbles of angry protest. One of the guards sent the back of their armoured hand slamming across Baylor’s cheek, sending him crashing down against the tiles. Winded, Byrdie clenched his tearing eyes shut as he listened to Baylor’s grunts of pain.

‘Is this not the love of one of our great enemies?’

Ela’s glare turned to Harryn.

‘I believe it is my Lady.’ He growled, staring at Byrdie.

‘Then he is sure have a memory pertaining the location of my love.’ She smiled sinisterly into Byrdie’s terrified eyes. ‘Love for a love.’ She hissed cupping Byrdie’s face. Byrdie felt his chest empty and his blood run cold as she released his face and turn to stand by Baylor’s body on the floor. He looked up at her through swollen eyes as she bent down beside him.

‘I feel something in this one, like the taste of a time gone. A smell clings to him.’ Ela narrowed his eyes at Baylor’s confused face. ‘Take them to the tower, tomorrow night when the moon is new, I will begin my questioning.’ Byrdie began to sob as the guards nodded and grabbed at the boys, dragging them out of the room.

Ela turned to face Harryn and Rochford. ‘See your life has been saved by one smart choice my friend.’ Ela walked towards Harryn and stroked the side of his face. ‘My gift to you was in return of your gift to me.’ Harryn felt Ela’s hand run over where the scar from his gash should have been. And he felt his eyebrow twitch as Ela’s face darkened. ‘Do not make me take it away. And do not let them escape you again.’ She shot Rochford a look that coursed straight through him, then turned and walked out of the hall.

Harryn let his breaths soften and Rochford rubbed his eyes, as they gathered themselves and followed after her.

CHAPTER FOUR

Baylor and Byrdie took a breath as the guards pulled off their gags and unlocked their shackles. Groaning as they were pushed through the iron doors of a cell, crumbling to the cold floor.

‘Don’t bother trying to call for help, there’s no one around for a hundred miles.’ Growled one of the guards. Slamming down the lock on the door. Baylor and Byrdie felt their racing hearts begin to slow as the guards sauntered off.

The pair looked at each other in despair. Byrdie dragged his hand over his sodden eyes as he looked around then peered down at his beautiful suit, now covered in rips.

Baylor pushed himself up against a haybale beneath a sliver of a window.

‘Hey hey careful.’ Byrdie shuffled over to him, helping him get into a comfortable sitting position. He smiled and sat back on his heels. ‘We got gagged before we could even introduce ourselves, my names Byrdie, Byrdie Beattie.’ He stretched out his hand, his eyes still glistening.

Baylor gave a weak smile. ‘Baylor Doone. I know who you are, Peaches right? I met Alfie.’ Byrdie’s smile dropped and his eyes began to fill again.

‘You did? They got him out!? Is he ok?’ He edged forward.

Baylor nodded and he strained to push himself up a bit more, to which Byrdie helped rearrange the hay behind him. ‘I don’t know if ‘e’s still ok now. But I saw im’ get away.’

Byrdie let out a sigh of relief as tears pooled on his trousers. He cupped his face in his hands and sobbed. ‘One minute I was sewing and the next I was blacking out, kicking and screaming through the shop. I think I managed to kick the back door window, but I don’t know If I made it smash or not. They must’ve drugged me with something.’ He mumbled through tears.

‘You did smash it, it’s what made us all move faster.’ Baylor placed a hand on Byrdie’s shoulder. ‘It may just ‘ave been what saved us.’ He gave a weak smile as Byrdie peered up at him. This only making him cry more.

‘Oi, oi, we’ll be ok. I reckon we’ve both been in worse situations before.’ He squeezed another smile through his swelling jaw.

Byrdie sighed and smiled. ‘I’ve been in some situations for sure.’ They both nodded then Byrdie furrowed his brow and looked at Baylor. ‘Are you by any chance...A driver?’

‘Well I drove...not technically one but...I drove... so yeah kinda.’ He scoffed.

‘So they found you at Wranglers then?’ Byrdie smiled and moved to sit beside him.

‘They did yep, made a big to do, left, and I followed ‘em, over’eard their asking the tender what they were after. Knew what they were so I reckoned, well...’ Baylor’s face dropped and he gave Byrdie a tentative look. Then reached down to his cuff and pulled up his sleeve. Revealing the Deserter brand beneath it. He swallowed and hung his head.

‘And you don’t think I saw that like a day ago in the carriage they brought us here in.’ Byrdie raised a warm eyebrow at Baylor, who turned in surprise. ‘We all have our brands, whether they’re forced upon our skin, or imposed behind whispering hands. They’re there, and I more than anyone know that they do not define us.’ Baylor now felt his eyes begin to warm. Byrdie reached down and pulled Baylor’s sleeve back down and cupped his hand. ‘What you did for my Alfie, says more about you than that mark on your arm ever has or ever will. Thank you Baylor.’

Baylor’s lip trembled and he nodded smiling back at Byrdie’s freshly watering eyes. They both gave a soft chuckle and began wiping at their faces. ‘Besides.’ Byrdie began. ‘I don’t bloody blame you, I’d run off too.’

Baylor nodded smiling and letting his head rest back against the hay. ‘A tinker an’ a tailor trapped in a tower...Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke.’ Baylor scoffed.

Byrdie raised an eyebrow. ‘Or an opportunity.’

Baylor turned his head to face him.

‘A tinker and a tailor I reckon can tailor and tinker right outta this situation if they thinker hard enough.’ Byrdie shot Baylor an inviting look. Baylor narrowed his eyes nodding.

‘You reckon we can thinker our way out of this tower?’ Baylor smiled back.

‘I thinker so.’ Byrdie wiggled his brows.

The pair grinned and nodded in unison.

‘How long ‘ave we got?’ Baylor strained to look out the window. Byrdie pushed himself up and squinted through the slit in the wall that was letting in an alarming amount of cold air.

‘Judging by the position of the moon, I’d say it’s around maybe eleven pm?’

‘Right so we ‘ave about 24hrs till the moons at it’s peak?’

‘Round abouts.’ Byrdie’s face dropped and he slid back down next to Baylor. ‘But you need to rest for the night and there’s not an awful lot we can do when it’s light so that probably only gives us about six working hours.’

Baylor examined Byrdie’s sudden shift. ‘What ‘appens when the moon is full?’

Byrdie swallowed and nervously looked back at him. ‘I...She’ll...I don’t think I’ll come away from this the same let’s just say that.’

Baylor nodded quietly at Byrdie’s rigidity. ‘If I can get an airship fully functioning in six hours, we can thinker our way outta here.’ He gave Byrdie a soft elbow. ‘For now, let’s ‘ave a kip ey.’ He smiled.

Byrdie took a breath, smiled back and reached behind them. Fluffed the hay into a semblance of a bed, to which they both lay down on the warmth of the mass, and fell asleep.

Byrdie felt a hand tighten round his arm, and before he felt fully awake, he found himself being dragged out of the cell.

‘Hey, hey wait!’ Byrdie panicked, kicking at the hay, sending it showering over Baylor’s sore face. Baylor shot round, his eyes wide as he watched Byrdie’s body flail away from him and through the cell door.

‘OI!’ Baylor heaved himself up with all his might, and limped over to the door, his chest slamming into it as a guard spun the door shut behind them.

‘Oi where are yous takin ‘im!?’ He shouted through the bars.

‘Never you mind, now get back.’ Grunted one of the guards, pushing him back into the cell.

‘Byrdie!’ Baylor shouted helplessly from the floor.

‘Bay!’ The echo of Byrdie’s pained shout shot through Baylor’s head like an all too familiar bullet.

Baylor let his body fall back against the hay, and cupped his hands over his face as silence fell over the cell.

Byrdie’s breathing was erratic, his eyes darted around the corridors, and his toes skimmed the floor as his body was pulled through the maze of corridors and stairways. Down, the winding staircases spun down into darkness for what felt like forever till they arrived at what seemed to be the bottom.

His heart pounding, Byrdie’s eyes focussed on an approaching room. His vision began to tunnel as he struggled to slow his racing thoughts. The guards pulled him through the doorway. The room was small, square and basically empty other than a stone slab in the centre. An older man in white robes watched as the guards lay Byrdie down on the slab and proceeded to secure him to it. His wrists and ankles tied with robe and secured round the slab.

Byrdie’s chest heaved, his breaths rife with panicked wheezes. ‘What are you going to do to me?’ He stifled.

The guards paid him no notice, they looked at the man in white, nodded and left the room.

‘Hey, what’s going on, what are you going to do to me? I’ve done nothing wrong!’ Byrdie stared at the old man who slowly turned to look at him, with eerie, marble like blue eyes.

‘We’re going to talk to you.’ He said softly.

Byrdie felt his blood run cold. ‘You’re going to torture me you mean.’ He began to softly sob.

‘Your torture is your own.’ Said the man, gliding round to the other side of the slab. Byrdie scrunched his face as the old man held up an arm to the doorway. Byrdie’s head shot round to see three young women dressed in the same white robes enter the room, their faces solemn.

Byrdie watched wide eyed as the three women placed themselves around the slab. One behind his head, one at his side, and one by his feet. Byrdie’s chest heaved faster and faster as the trio began to chant.

‘Shaobeo, Shaofair, Shaobi.’

‘What are you doing to me please.’ Byrdie stuttered through sobs.

The old man met his terrified eyes. ‘Where does Abel lie?’ He whispered through the chants.

Byrdie frowned and he felt his body stiffen. ‘I have no idea, why would I know that please I don’t know, only the Sardan know that!’

The old man looked to the woman standing behind Byrdie’s head and nodded. Byrdie attempted to look up at her. ‘Please wait what are you going to do!? I know nothing please!’

The woman grabbed either side of his head. At her touch Byrdie felt his body go limp as the woman took a sharp inhale of breath. Like in a dream, Byrdie felt as if he were falling off the edge of a cliff. Till landing with a jolt in the back seat of a carriage. He peered round him to see himself sat beside three other children, all weeping and clutching to small bags of clothes and moth eaten old cuddly toys. The small boy next to him had a paper tag attached to his cuff, the words ‘Thomas, 10’scrawled across it. Thomas looked round at Byrdie and gave him a smile, then moved his small hand towards Byrdie’s. Byrdie put his equally small hand in Thomas’s, and they held onto each other tight till they arrived at a large manor house.