Era Mina
Present Day
‘Three Animare will be better equipped to face Hollow Earth,’ said Renard. ‘Vaughn and Sandie, you’ll go on this journey with Em. I think Simon needs to stay here and help guard the Abbey with me. Henrietta is still out there, and likely knows we’re planning something.’
‘I’m going too,’ Zach signed stubbornly.
Renard glanced at Simon, who nodded. ‘Fine,’ he said. ‘Four of you, then.’
Em felt an intense wave of relief. She couldn’t imagine facing this unknown without Zach at her side.
‘What if this doesn’t work?’ she said, feeling a little desperate.
Vaughn pulled on his dark flak jacket, filling the pockets with chalk, charcoal, crayons and paper. ‘If we can’t fade through your painting, then we try something else,’ he said, and patted his pockets. ‘But I think we’ll be fine.’
‘And Albion will help,’ added Renard, pulling Em into a hug. ‘Somehow.’
Em dressed quickly in black leggings, her favourite knee-high black boots with thick black socks for extra warmth, a long-sleeved T-shirt and one of Matt’s black hoodies under her jacket. Vaughn and Sandie were also in black.
Sandie offered Em a stocking cap. ‘Want this?’
‘I’m fine,’ said Em, and zipped her hoodie up to her chin.
But she wasn’t. What if she had misunderstood Albion’s intentions?
I’ll be there, Zach reminded her, smiling into her eyes.
They gathered at the end of the jetty, waiting for Renard to reverse the boat from the boathouse. Simon and Zach had wrapped Em’s triptych in tarpaulin and now lifted it carefully aboard. Em climbed on with Vaughn and Sandie, holding tightly to her mother’s hand. Then Simon took the helm with Renard, and steered them all across the bay to Era Mina.
The island had lost most of its trees many years earlier. To Em, it looked even more barren than usual as they sailed west to Monk’s Cove, on the north-west side of the island.
Simon and Renard moored the boat next to two stout rocks, and helped the others ashore with Em’s painting.
‘Are you sure we shouldn’t have left the painting in the library?’ said Renard anxiously. ‘You would return directly to the Abbey that way.’
Em shook her head. ‘We might need all Era Mina’s powers to make it work. That’s why we’re taking it with us.’
She gazed around the cove, remembering the stiff climb up the cliff face to access the caves inside the island. She, Matt and Zach had made the ascent many times that summer. It seemed a long time ago.
Sandie and Zach hugged Simon and Renard goodbye, and joined Em and Vaughn at the foot of the cliff.
‘Ready?’ said Vaughn, who was standing beside Em, shouldering the triptych in its tarpaulin.
Em ran back to her grandfather, who swept her into a hug. The feeling of his arms was like a cozy blanket, and she had to laugh.
‘You make me feel so warm and safe,’ she said, gazing up into Renard’s much-loved face.
‘It’s the least I can do,’ he said. ‘Now go. Be brave, and bring your brother and Jeannie home. Simon and I will be waiting.’
Em ran back to the others waiting for her at the foot of the cliff, pausing only to blow Simon and Renard kisses. Renard caught his and placed it against his heart.