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The faries exchange a life for a life. Bring your changeling with you if you want to see your child again.
Aiden turned the pages of Treatise On Fae back and forth, desperate to find an answer.
§
The Myrddin Pact
From this day, no child of mortal born may be exchanged for a changeling. Break this pact, and I shall return.
Signed:
Myrddin
Queen Persephone
(In the Earth year 573)
§
The section on the Myrddin Pact was particularly frustrating. But he should not be surprised. Persephone was unlikely to lose sleep over it. After being dead so long, it wasn’t like the old wizard was going to come back to wreck revenge on her immortal self.
Aiden sighed and dropped the book on Fae and hefted Demonologie, by the High and Mightie Prince, James &c. again. It made his teeth itch. But maybe it was simply his distrust of Wyrden. An unreasoning distrust could be keeping him from the very answers he needed. He opened the old tome to where he’d left off.
§
.... The fearefull aboundinge at this time in this countrie, of these detestable slaves of the Devil, the Witches or Enchanters, hath moved me (beloved reader) to dispatch in post, this following treatise...
§
Beloved reader, indeed.
A treatise of fear, but also Aiden was beginning to suspect, of jealousy. The prince had been in Brocéliande, for sure. But as a spoiled royal brat, he’d come expecting to be lauded and got his nose in a twist. At least, that’s how Aiden saw it as he flicked through page after page of half-truths and lies designed to turn people against magic users. All presented as a discussion.
Maybe that is the point. If the creepy Wyrden thought it would turn him against his wife, he was wrong. And if it gave insights Aiden’s other books didn’t show more clearly, he couldn’t see them.
Aiden shook his head. It looked impressive, but the truth was, for all its hints and warnings, all he could find within its pages was an unreasonable dislike of any people with the ability to keep demons at bay. The man appeared more deranged than anything. Likely with his nose out of joint for not being welcomed at the fae court.
The prince even seemed to respect the strongest and most evil of the demons. Aiden shivered. He’d be happy never to see one of the terrifying creatures ever again.
A bookmark half-fell from one of the pages. A chapter headed:
Faries and Changelings. Supplemental.
There was an extra proviso written in faded ink in the margin: The first part was smudged, but the rest was clear:
...invite yourself to the dance—not even the queen herself can hurt you until after the dance is over.
Interesting. Then, amongst the usual rules:
There was one rule, and a particularly vile one, that stood out as being a rewording from other texts:
He shivered.
“Aiden,” Keera called from the kitchen. “I’ve packed. I’ve organised the girls. Are you ready?”
Aiden slammed the book shut, raising a century’s worth of dust. Disgusting. How could anyone endorse a book so cold-blooded as to promote this evil myth? No. Why am I second guessing my decision now? Even if I did kill the changeling, and the pact is broken, the text says nothing about a live child being returned.
“In a minute.” He found his shoes and pulled them over his thick walking socks.
A page had fallen out from one of the other ancient books. He glanced at it, before tucking it into a drawer.
Daemons can walk through fire—their paths often leading strait from the Underworld to hot pools, fiery pits, and volcans both large and small.
“I hope you’re not reading that cursed book the creepy old guy gave you,” Keera said.
“It’s just...never mind.” Aiden threw off his worry, plastered on his best smile and hurried to meet his family at the door.
Changeling Ruby was standing by the back door, sucking the end of her hair.
Pearl, trapped inside the canvas front-pack he’d made, wriggled and kicked her chubby little legs against the side. The bag pitched sideways.
Aiden lunged and grabbed the bag before it fell. He struggled to pull the font-pack up and strap it securely, with Pearl, their chubby nine-month-old, wriggling like an eel. Even then, it wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t carrying a sword and a week’s worth of supplies on his back.
“Looks like a perfect day for it,” Aiden leaned in to kiss Keera’s worried frown away—but Pearl thrashed her arms and legs.
Aiden lurched sideways to avoid falling over. “Oops! Sorry.” He adjusted the sheepskin shoulder protectors and tightened the straps. “I’ve got to get used to this.”
“Do you?” Keera’s eyes lit with some of the old sparkle as she grazed his cheek with her lips. “Come on.” She lifted half an armoury onto her back. “We’ll be late to meet Brian and Alice Faulkner and the rest of the expedition at the Sister Tree.”
She glanced down at Changeling Ruby. “You ready, Champ?”
The silence was deafening.
Stomach lurching more than when he almost fell, Aiden forced a smile.
“Ruby, you’re a stout young walker. A real trooper. But today we’re going to have to walk fast, no stopping to look at snails or squirrels, alright?”
Changeling Ruby nodded.
“Good. Let’s go.” Keera opened up the door to reveal a clear autumn day with a pale-blue sky that promised the day would get hotter.
§
Lettie emerged in a darkened room, through a mirror that was draped in a green velvet cloth.
Earth. It even smells wrong. Of oil and dead wood and metal—so much metal it made her teeth itch.
I have to get out. She extricated herself from the drapery and discovered a half-open window that looked out over black solid tar mixed with gravel—a human road—and onto a lawn with a peeling-green park bench and a few sad rose beds. Even the trees behind the low-mown grass lawn seemed gloomy, lacking the vivid greens of FaerLand. Or maybe it was the thin morning light, and the old fae enemy, the sun peeking its head over the distant hills.
Wyrden was sitting on a park bench in the middle of the grass. He was wearing dark glasses with his trench coat and fedora and throwing food at the pigeons. The more they ruffled their feathers in indignation, the more he smiled.
She slipped through the window, expecting the birds to say something about the rude person throwing food at them, but the most they did was caw at the sky.
What in Hade’s name is the skin demon up to? she wondered, sneaking closer.
Wyrden turned and stared right at Lettie in a way that made her want to run and hide. “So, little fae. What brings you here?” Wyrden’s smile was worse than Zadie’s. Empty. He pulled off a large hunk of crust. “You’re smaller than one of these birds, and your wings are so gossamer fine you’d be lucky to survive a hail of stale bread.”
He raised his hand.
Lettie hesitated. She hadn’t meant for him to see her yet. And she still didn’t have a plan. How do you convince someone like Wyrden?
He threw, and she whirled away, lumps of stale bread barely missing her.
Wyrden pulled out some more, lining up the shot.
“Persephone...”
“You’re not very good as a spy, and useless as an assassin, so why has Queen Persephone sent a slip such as you to me?”
“The thing with humans is that they’re so annoying,” Lettie said. Almost as annoying as Queen Persephone. Why couldn’t she see how much I loved her, how I threw my life away to obey her? But it was best not to say such things out loud, not if she wanted to keep her head. “Our, ah, kind and benevolent queen—and of course, King Hades, well, they’ve decided they’re tired of playing games. They want you to deal with the Sword Master problem.”
“Do they?” His lip curled. “And what if I am also tired of playing games, and jumping to their every whim? What if I want a little more out of my arrangement with them?”
“You’ll have to talk to King Hades about that yourself,” Lettie called, determined not to cower for his entertainment. The only reason I’m here is because I’m disposable, unimportant to the great Queen Persephone and her retinue. Still, there was no point advertising that fact by cowering like a fugitive. “What do you think I am, your personal messenger?”
Wyrden lowered his glasses, revealing eyes like pools of midnight. They seemed even creepier here, under this yellow sun, than they had in the soft light of FaerLand’s forest.
“What sharp teeth you have, little fae,” Wyrden murmured. “But I don’t think they’ll do much to hurt me.”
“I’m sure that’s true, but King Hades and Queen Persephone would not be amused if you disobeyed her or anything should happen to me,” Lettie said, flitting up close. “You know Queen Persephone objects to the demon-infected on principle, let alone ones that threaten her personal staff.” A ridiculous bluff.
“Are you saying she wants me to kill the Sword Master without destroying her first? It’s so blunt. Still, I suppose needs must. We don’t want any more of those very dangerous swords of hers lying about, now, do we? They infuriate Hades so.”
Lettie shook her head. There was just one more thing to brave. For herself. And more importantly for her infant. “And that is not all the queen asked. Changeling Ruby must be kept safe.”
He nodded. “I thought I remembered you. You’re the timid little changeling-nurse. Look at you out in the big wide world, acting all brave and powerful like you wouldn’t blow away in a strong breeze. Like your beloved queen would care about one useless changeling.” He steepled his fingers and barked a mirthless laugh. “I could help with the mess you’re in, but instead you’re asking me for favours—for a pile of barely sentient sticks. It’s pathetic.”
Lettie wanted to scream. How dare he? Nada was everything. One day, and soon, faer would prove herself and become a fully-fledged fae with a true name. If faer survives. And I have to do everything I can to make that happen—including threaten a demon.
She stifled a shiver. “I could go to a certain witch; tell her of this little visit to Earth.” Baba Yaga might even care enough not to kill me for my insolence.
He smirked. “You would not dare. It would break the bargain.”
She fluttered up, out of his reach. “I have no bargain. Whatever bargain Queen Persephone has signed with you, I can do as I please. Do not try me.”
“How dare you!? Your queen will be furious.” Wyrden dropped the bread and picked up his cane, whipping the stick up—as if it were a blade.
Lettie flitted out of its reach. “Queen Persephone is already furious with me, with you, with all the worlds. So, she can choose to dance her fury away, or bring it down upon the both of us. You choose. I will have what I want, or I will take you down with me.” Her heart skipped at her audacity. I will stop at nothing.
“Fine.” His oily gaze unreadable, he lowered the cane. “We don’t have all day to argue. They’re off to Brocéliande now. If we dawdle, we’ll miss them.
“We?”
“You’re coming along too, little fae. Otherwise, how will you know for sure I did as I was asked.” He shrugged. “I could have the Sword Master spirited away to make swords for me. Imagine that power.”
Lettie stifled a gasp.
Wyrden chuckled. Brushing the crumbs off his jacket, he strode ahead. “If we’re going to catch up with them, we’d better hurry.”
She followed, flying a safe distance behind him as he strode down a gravel path through the park, passing close to a cluster of women in white dresses and strange caps. Wyrden was heading toward a scrubby trail of half-grown trees that led into the heart of the dappled earth forest.
Voices rustled through the forest ahead. The gurgling of a baby. The footsteps of a child.
Lettie’s heart leapt. She was about to see Nada again.
§
Within a few hundred yards of the house, Aiden was already backhanding sweat from his forehead. Carrying Pearl felt like carrying a mini-sauna around. Fortunately, they’d soon be deep in the forest where the autumn sun would struggle to filter through gold and green leaves. And Brocéliande would be cooler still, with dense foliage that had never seen an axe.
As Aiden was day-dreaming about cool breezes and ice-cold drinks, Keera whispered, “I think someone’s following.”
A twig snapped behind them in the otherwise eerie silence.
We’ve been through here so many times. Why does it feel so different today? He glanced down at Changeling Ruby. Maybe that was it. He laughed at his own nerves. “I’m beginning to wish we decided to meet the others on the way in.”
“We’ll be at the Three Sisters tree soon enough if we hurry.” Keera took Ruby’s hand.
Changeling Ruby stopped and sat down.
“Come on, Ruby,” Aiden cajoled, “we’ll be late to meet your friends. Hazel and Arthur and the other one.”
“Tailor,” Keera prompted.
Ruby shook her head, her hands waving in flat denial.
“Ruby?” Aiden whispered.
The changeling shook her head.
“Ruby, come on.” Aiden took the changeling’s other hand. “We can play one, two, three jump! But quietly. Ready?”
Changeling Ruby nodded. Together, they forged on along the forest path, swinging her every fourth step. The gathering unease lending speed to Aiden and Keera, to the delight of the changeling, whose grin got wider with every jump.
Another stick cracked behind them, followed by the ring of metal, like a sword being drawn.
“Someone’s definitely following us,” Aiden muttered checking the sword at his hip. “Nobody except The Society uses this track.”
“You don’t think it’s one of the others?”
“Maybe, but we’re running so late—everyone should be waiting for us.”
They picked up the pace again, the soft thud of footsteps behind them getting closer and closer.
Tangled roots tumbled over the path, and all around the ancient trees were covered in moss and thick lianes that wound around the trunks. “We must be almost there.”
“Shh.” Keera pulled Changeling Ruby close. They listened to the curious resonance of the footsteps. The last time Aiden had heard footsteps like that, he’d been in Brocéliande—with demons after him.
Behind them, loud voices echoed and the thud of the footsteps grew nearer.
Changeling Ruby took a step backward and tried to wrap herself in Keera’s tramping skirts.
“I’ve got you.” Keera scooped Ruby up like she wasn’t already carrying a heavy backpack. “We’re close now.”
Pearl wailed.
“Sorry, bubs,” Aiden wrapped his arms around her and the awkward front pack, but he didn’t slow. As Corson always said, sometimes you have to know when to fight, and sometimes you have to know when to run. Keeping his knees bent so Pearl wasn’t bounced around too much, he sped after Keera who leapt nimbly over the path despite the child and heavy backpack.
Old oak trees spread their golden leaves above, like offerings to the sky. They were close to where they were supposed to meet the others. We’ll be safe soon—unless it’s a trap...
It can’t be, he thought. I need a moment to think. But his brain was spinning as he loped along.
Keera handed Changeling Ruby over to Aiden and pulled her sword from its scabbard. At least she seemed calm. Calmer than me.
“It’s all right, bubs.” Aiden’s lungs were burning as he tried to smooth his stride. He was really hot now, carrying Ruby Changeling on his hip as well as Pearl and the packs. “We just need to be quiet—like hide and seek. Okay?”
Changeling Ruby put her finger to Pearl’s lips, and the baby stopped crying, although her bottom lip still quivered.
Aiden picked his way over the roots and the half-buried rocks of the trail as fast as he could.
Not fast enough.
He put on a burst of speed over the stony path, but he couldn’t keep it up. He stubbed his toe and almost fell. Scared he might hurt the children, he slowed again. His arms ached and his back and shoulders throbbed from the weight of his pack and the two children. Maybe Keera could take Ruby for a bit. He glanced back, but Keera wasn’t there.
Where is she? He peered back through the dense forest. A bright light flickered in his vision. Keera’s sword. It slashed through empty air. “Run!” Keera yelled, not turning around, but slowly backing toward them.
She swung again, her sword clanging against another, but whoever was wielding it was behind a twist in the path, obscured by the dense forest.
Aiden, caught between wanting to rush to Keera’s side, and take the children to safety, stood rooted to the spot as a shadowy figure with a narrow sword appeared from the leafy shadows, their sword flashing up to Keera’s throat.
§
Lettie fluttered in Wyrden’s wake. Plans of rescuing Nada thundered through her head like water monsters, but none of them could surmount the insurmountable barrier of her current tiny size. She tried to change form. Nothing.
Elegant form would be so useful right now. Still, she couldn’t let the disappointment drown her. All she could do was keep on flying and hope for an opportunity to save Nada without relying on the treacherous skin-demon.
Lettie’s anticipation grew as she trailed after Wyrden. She imagined bringing Nada back home in triumph. That Nada would speak faer first words, play faer first trick, spoil faer first bowl of milk...
She couldn’t wait. She zipped ahead to see Nada, past emaciated beach trees with shafts of morning sun piercing their tiny leaves. It had nothing of the grandeur of the lush forest of FaerLand, or the ferny understories of the forest of Brocéliande,
A footstep ahead crunching on rock was the first sign they were close. The second sign, an endless babble from one of the parents.
She flew fast, determined to get a glimpse of her changeling. She could see the parents trudging over roots and... there faer was, caught up in Aiden’s arms, smiling. Her heart swelled to see faer. But so did her throat. She swallowed to stop herself from crying. I should never have let Nada go.
A stick cracked next to her. Wyrden. He was running fast now. And so were the family.
“When I attack, you distract them!” Wyrden whispered over the wind.
“How?” Lettie asked. “Even if I flit up to them and say boo, they might not notice me. You know how blind humans are.” And I’m not sure I want to help him, anyway. I’m here to save Nada. “Besides, the queen asked me to pass a message onto you, and I’ve done that. Or—”
“You know,” Wyrden said. “I don’t think Hades and Persephone would have sent you if you weren’t disposable. So, if you don’t help, after I have fun killing all of them, I’ll kill you.”
“You think they have sent just any fae to deal with you? They need me.”
“What? A nursemaid who lost their changeling?”
His words were like needles. “I haven’t lost faer. The Queen ordered her on a mission. Fae’s right there.”
Changeling Ruby was clinging to the man and pressing her head against his chest.
Pain squeezed her heart.
Is that love? Or jealousy? Her blood felt like cold iron running through her veins. Besides, Aiden was hugging her Nada too tight. What if she breaks? What if Nada doesn’t love me anymore?
No. Changeling Ruby was clutching Aiden, terrified of the skin demon she’d brought here. And Aiden was patting her red hair, reassuring her without words. Does he think the changeling’s his own child? Does it matter? They are protecting the youngling Queen Persephone has endangered...I have endangered
Ahead, Wyrden trod on another stick. “Humans,” he cursed, pulling a sharp sword from his cane. Cold steel. It had been hiding there all this time in protective wood so she wouldn’t be able to sense it. But now the taint of cold metal filled the air.
Wyrden was bold, she’d give him that much. He’d brought that white cane right up to King Hades and Queen Persephone themselves. Which meant that they were not the all-powerful beings she had believed, or they would surely have struck him down for his daring.
“Come, do your duty and fight!” Wyrden yelled at her. “Or I shall have all the glory, myself.” The old man’s smirk was reflected in the hollow emptiness of his eyes—as unremittingly lightless as a starless sky.
Would the father keep her changeling safe? Why was the man not running? Could he not see Wyrden was about to deliver a mortal blow to his wife? He has to run. Lettie held back a scream. She should wish the humans both dead for their crimes, but as always, her treacherous heart wanted something she couldn’t have. And so, Lettie watched, indecision tearing her apart.
“Sword Master,” Wydren said, “prepare to die.” He lunged at Keera, flicking the narrow blade at her throat.
§
Who’s Wyrden shouting at? Aiden swivelled around to see where the threat would come from.
A fuzzy light dove toward Wyrden and Keera.
§
Maybe she could distract Keera with a face full of leaves. Surely even a human couldn’t miss leaves falling on them? She plucked a handful of beech leaves and zipped toward Wyrden’s battle.
Wyrden flashed a mocking grin, his eyes like pools of oil.
Lettie hesitated. I wouldn’t trust him as far as I can throw him—which is nowhere. If only Queen Persephone hadn’t given me the order. Any orders.
She fluttered back and forth on the knife of indecision—and impotence—as the battle raged on. Wyrden was good with a sword, but his weapon wasn’t as sturdy as Keera’s. He had to be careful not to over-extend. And she had to be careful to watch his unnatural speed.
Lettie caught sight of Changeling Ruby and abandoned the fight. What do I care if they die, so long as it is not my dear Nada. She fluttered over and landed on the changeling’s shoulder. “Don’t be frightened. I’m here to protect you.”
Changeling Ruby burrowed deeper into Aiden’s chest.
“I’m sorry,” Lettie said. Not that it made any difference. She’d abandoned Nada, and now Nada was bonding with these humans. Becoming more and more Ruby every minute.
It shouldn’t happen. What happens when a changeling bonds with humans? Nada will disobey Queen Persephone’s orders at the least. And then what? Will I lose my beautiful, whimsical, changeling altogether? Will faer become nothing more than a pile of mementos and sticks? Like Zadie’s?
Even thinking of the loss hurt so badly she wanted to tear her hair out and cry—and to hurt all the people who’d hurt her. Is this what Zadie had felt? Is this why she’d lied? To patch up the pain in her heart with poison oak?
“Get back over here and help,” Wyrden snarled at Lettie. “Or, by Hades, I’ll kill you and scatter your bones to the wind!”
The old gardener’s words, “doing things for the queen never turns out well,” echoed through Lettie’s head as she dived into the fray. No. She shook her head. She couldn’t think that way. It was wrong. The old gardener must have deserved his fate. Somehow. Queen Persephone must have seen his treachery. That was it. All she had to do was bring Nada back home in triumph as a full-fledged fae and Queen Persephone would recognise both of them. Maybe even throw them a ball in their honour. Buoyed with new hope, Lettie screamed and threw foliage at the Sword Master.
The Sword Master jerked backwards and stumbled on the rough ground.
Wyrden raised his sword.
§
Aiden lurched toward Keera, and stopped himself. Keera was already back on her feet, and parrying away Wydren’s blow.
More leaves fell while Wyrden argued with a fae they couldn’t see. He glanced down at Changeling Ruby. But the child, or fae, or whatever she was, snuggled deeper into his chest. Whatever was going on, she wasn’t to blame.
More footsteps. Aiden sucked in his breath as a man crashed through the foliage toward them. “Stay back!” he warned, putting his hand on his sword-hilt.
“Hey!” The newcomer burst into the clearing.
“Corson!” Aiden said, relief sucking the wind from his stomach as he pointed at Keera’s attacker. “Get him!”
Eager for a fight, Corson ran to where Wyrden had been, but the spry old man had already disappeared into the forest.
“Are you alright?” Corson asked Keera.
Keera nodded. “Did you see where he went?”
The forest was silent in both directions. There was no other trail than the path they’d been walking on.
“Thanks for turning up, Corson,” Aiden said, putting Changeling Ruby down. He sighed in relief. “My hands were a little full.” The child clung onto his leg until he picked her up again.
“I can see that,” Corson replied. “And of course I’ll always help you, my old friend.” He held up the sword so the ornate silver and gold writing shimmered in the sun. “Look at this blade your wonderful wife gave me. Where would I be without you both? But what do you mean, Wyrden attacked you? You can’t mean the blind man we saw yesterday?”
“Yes, Wyrden, our sponsor,” Aiden insisted.
“What?” a voice said behind them. Professor Faulkner—wearing his usual patched tweed sports jacket. He also held one of Keera’s swords at the ready. “You didn’t say you were fighting Wyrden, did you?”
Burcham was just behind him, his business suit replaced by a tweed walking jacket-and-trousers. Somehow, the lawyer still managed to look like a badger stuffed into a size-too small clothing. “Hmm. Were they saying the blind old man attacked them?” Burcham asked Faulkner.
When Faulkner nodded, Burcham turned to Keera and Aiden. “You have got to be joking?”
“Do we look like we’re joking?” Keera demanded.
“It was definitely him,” Aiden agreed. “And he’s not blind.”
Burcham glared. “That’s enough. Wyrden couldn’t possibly have come here, let alone attacked anyone with a sword.”
“Mr Burcham...” Aiden stopped. Riling his current employer wasn’t going to get them where they needed to be. Instead, he floundered to say something that would put Burcham in a better mood. “I have to admit, I’m a little surprised to see you here.”
Mr Burcham shrugged. “I decided you were right. I can’t run this part of the business from behind a desk.” He clapped his hands together. “Isn’t this wonderful? There’s so much to see.”
“Wonderful.” Aiden parroted, trying to make the word sound enthusiastic. Keera raised an eyebrow.
The silence hung uneasily until Burcham broke it. “Corson, my man.” He thumped Corson’s shoulder. “Did you see who it was?”
Corson glanced across at Keera. “No, but if Aiden and Keera say...”
“Pish. Heat of the battle and all that.”
Changeling Ruby wriggled. She poked her head over Aiden’s shoulder and waved.
Aiden held her tighter. “Are you alright, Ruby? Is there someone there?”
“Not that I can see,” Corson replied.
“Thanks, Corson.” At least someone on this mission has their wits about them.
“Anyway, everybody, even though we’re still Earthside, we should stay close together. We don’t know if Wyrden was working alone.”
“No more of that. You know it couldn’t have been him,” Burcham laughed. “I know what it is.” He laughed. “No doubt you think all old men look alike. I know, I used to. Come on. Let’s get back to the others.”
The look Keera gave Burcham should have burst his bonhomie, but it slid right off.
Aiden gritted his teeth.
They didn’t get far before the rustle of the forest gave way to children’s laughter. The Faulkner children were waving sticks and declaring themselves king of a moss-covered tree stump.
Keera took Ruby from his arms and the changeling buried her head in Keera’s shoulder.
“Are you ready to walk yet? You can see your friends.”
Changeling Ruby shook her head, clinging in a way Ruby never had.
“It’s alright, little one,” Aiden said. “We’ll get you home, soon. See, we’re almost at Brocéliande. There’s the Three Sisters right in front of us.” Aiden pointed at the ancient three-trunked tree, dripping in green lianes and glimmering with a soft-green portal light.
“Hey, you made it.” Alice yelled from in front of the Three Sisters. Aiden blinked. In her muted green jerkin and brown full-circle tramping skirt, she was easy to miss. “Children! Time to go,” she called.
The two boys waving sticks jumped off their moss-covered tree stump and Hazel, their older sister, clambered down from her hiding place up in the branches of a large overhanging sycamore tree.
“Are we ready?” Alice said, straightening the eldest boy, Arthur’s, collar. “Hazel, Arthur, Tailor, it’s up to you to look after Ruby and Pearl.”
“Yes, Mama,” Hazel said with all the solemnity of a seven-year-old. Her two younger brothers giggled and turned to run back to the tree stump.
Alice grinned. “Not so fast. Come and say hello before we go.
“Good, we’re all here. Brian and Alice Faulkner, Corson,” Burcham rattled off names, barely waiting for a response. “The Faulkner children; Hazel, Arthur, Tailor. Philips...uh...where’s Dr Philips?” Burcham demanded.
“Here,” Philips stopped poking around in the leaf litter long enough to wave. “Sorry, I was a little distracted.” He lifted a half-rotten branch.
“Good. Shall we be off?” Burcham stepped toward the sacred tree. “Let’s go.”
“What?” Aiden said. “Hold up a minute.” A cold sweat rippled down his spine. “What if Wyrden follows us?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, man. Wyrden is blind. Such a generous, kind man...besides, whoever you saw is more likely to follow us if we hang around, so let’s get moving, shall we?”
Aiden shook his head. There was nothing he could do about it, but walk on—and keep his wits about him. “Has everyone been briefed?” Aiden asked. “Faulkner, did you warn Philips about what he’s getting into? You both work at the university. Surely you had a moment to warn him about the danger of riling the spiders. And Philips, do you even have a sword—something to defend yourself with?”
Philips laughed. “You’re not frightening me away that easily.”
“Man after my own heart,” Faulkner said, slapping Philips on the back. “Besides, we all know what we’re doing, don’t we, children?”
“You have my sword,” Arthur said, having returned from the mossy stump.
“And my bow,” Hazel added. “That’s even better than a sword.”
Aiden bit back a laugh, determined to be diplomatic. He couldn’t exactly ask Philips to leave the party, not with Wyrden back there with who knew what on his agenda. So, what should I say? “Of course, we want you to come along. I was thinking that after all our...excitement...I’d appreciate it if we focussed on getting to New Avalon before...” annoying the giant spiders “...looking for any spider-related adventures.”
Burcham stepped forward. “We’ll see how it goes. Sometimes you have to seize the day.” He chuckled as if he’d said a joke. “Let’s get going. We’re already late.”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” Aiden said. “I was distracted by some last-minute reading. And then we were attacked.”
“Oh, was the book any good?” Philips asked.
“Certainly didn’t have the answers I was looking for,” Aiden replied.
“Pity,” Philips said. “This one is rather good. He pulled a copy of The Sword in the Stone out of his pocket. “Not sure why the Prof thought it would be useful, but it’s an interesting read.”
“Great,” Keera muttered, adjusting her sword-belt. “He’s going to kill get us all killed.”
Alice’s eyes met hers. “Children, one last thing before we go. Corson’s a warrior and a martial arts champion, so Hazel, you and Ruby and the boys need to listen. If Corson says jump, you jump. Understand?”
All the Faulkner children nodded.
“Ruby?” Alice prompted.
Ruby glared at the ground.
Alice raised her eyebrows. “What’s up?”
Keera shrugged.
Corson, Philips and Burcham were on another round of handshaking. Aiden, his hands full of children, couldn’t exactly join in. “Enough of this, let’s go,” he said. Careful not to scrape the ancient bark and verdant green moss on the three-trunked Sister Tree, he stepped through the westernmost gap and into the bright, leafy forest of Brocéliande.
