Zia was becoming more and more aware of how much the whole Community meant to him. He couldn’t imagine that he had never been part of it or that he wouldn’t always be. He felt as though he had a real purpose in life, as though he mattered. He relied on the Community and they were relying on him, in part, to help save them.
When he went back to work with The Others there was a feeling of urgency, enthusiasm and teamwork. It had always been busy and focused but now there was something more and Zia was taken by Lord Tupol to a new room, the experimental laboratory.
“I think it’s time for you to be introduced to some of the new defence projects that we are working on. It might put things in perspective. We are not at all defenceless against attack by the Searcher. They have to find us first and then penetrate our barriers. This is where our great river plays its part .….and the bats!!”
“That sounds like an odd combination. Still coming and going through walls and floors is very strange so I suppose it will take something pretty far out to combat it,” Zia remarked.
He was trying not to sound too amazed, which he was but lots of things here amazed him.
“Quite simple really,” went on Lord Tupol, “The water is one of the things they can’t go through and the bats can go where we can’t and they also have an advanced sonar system so they can give us quite a lot of warning about the approach of the Searchers.”
Zia spent a lot of time looking and watching, asking questions and storing all the information in his memory. There were several water inventions being worked on but no sign of the bats and what about the other thing Searchers couldn’t stand…fire? There was no mention of that but he didn’t like to ask why, as with their knowledge The Others didn’t need him to tell them what needed doing.
That evening with Calda he found out the answers. The witches and wizards were working on spells for the fire protection and Grace herself had taken on the training of the bats. They had such natural ability that really she just had to explain what was needed of them and they demonstrated immediately just how good they were at the tasks. They would track the witches in their broom-by- ways in the walls and report exactly the routes that they had taken. They would pick up signals for spiders and beetles that were hidden behind furniture and drapes and were never wrong in their judgement. Zia could see how important this would be.
“Calda, how will the Viddy cats be able to help us. I know they have brought us the warnings and information but is there any other way. Culeada seemed so well informed and knowledgeable that I would have thought it would have helped if she were here with us helping direct the effort,” he said.
“Your partly right. She could help us here but we are well defended in many ways and she is visiting many other Communities that are not. She will explain to them as she did to us, what they can do to help themselves and see what can be done to make them safer, then she will report back to The Others to see if they can make things to protect them. Once the witches and wizards have come up with their fire defence spells and any others they think of, those spells will automatically be put at the disposal of all, so in a way we could use her here but it is much more important that she helps the other Communities. If the Searchers should get into any of our groups they could then hold them to ransom or worse. So if they infiltrate any one group they weaken the rest of us, and they will be aware of that,” Calda replied.
Through out the rest of the week there was the same sense of urgency everywhere but no panic. It would soon be the weekend and Zia hoped that the events of the week would not stop him and Nip flying home on Saturday.
By six am, while it was still dark, they were ready to fly. There had been last minute instructions from Grace and they were to hide Nip’s safety harness in a disused rabbit burrow by the lake, so they would not be asked awkward questions if anyone saw it. The roof was opened and they wasted no time. With a quick wave to Zoe who had come to see them off, they were away. The transition back to ‘small’ was almost unnoticed and the flight above the tree tops went without a hitch. Nip stifled his exuberance and did not shout out with excitement.
Below they could see smoke coming from chimneys in Little Folk village which meant that people were up and busy. Zia’s mother was expecting them early and had the kettle on to make them a hot drink and the stove stoked with wood, ready to cook breakfast. They had given the excuse that they were arriving early in order to make use of all the time they had and this was accepted, without question, by everyone. Once landed and harness hidden, they made their way into Chestnut House and food!!
It wasn’t long before the rest of the family heard their voices and came to join them at the table.
They were still in their night clothes with dressing gowns pulled about them.
The weather was good and they spent most of their days helping father in the woods collecting wood, fruits and nuts. Now that they were heading through autumn there were mushrooms and berries everywhere and they made a game of seeing who could pick the most. But it wasn’t all work.
They visited friends for a meal the first evening before going to the ‘Tale Telling’ gathering around a fire in a clearing in the woods by the lake. They didn’t have any tales they could tell but really enjoyed listening to all the others. Nip did get up and sing a song about ‘Gathering in the Harvest’ which was very appropriate as they had been doing just that all day. Zia recited a poem that he had written about how nice it was to be with his family and friends. He thought that would please his Mum and Dad and it did. They had spent a bit of time before they came home preparing for such an event as this and avoiding questions about what they did while they were away.
The days at home went quickly and they had a thoroughly good time. It was decided that the next time they visited they should all go camping…just for one night and if it wasn’t raining or too windy, mother added!!!
In what seemed to be a very short time they were making plans to return to The Dark Cave. No one asked embarrassing questions when they said that they could make their own way back without an escort as was usual. The Little Folk seemed to have accepted that Zia was not at liberty to explain things. He had grown up quickly.
The two friends walked to where they had left the safety harness, strapped it on and took off for the return journey. However, just as they reached tree top level some thing caught Zia’s eye and he circled to have a closer look. He pointed and Nip looked in the direction indicated.
“Strewth!!! Who or whatever that is should not be around here. Can you make out what it is Zia?”
“No chance. It’s disappeared into the undergrowth but it wasn’t one of the Little Folk or an animal that I recognise. Hang on I’m heading back to Dark Cave ...Fast!”
In a short time they were at their destination and rushing to see Grace.
“Grace we have to talk to you urgently. We have seen….something, not sure what but it aught to be investigated we think. It was just this side of the village and we can’t be sure which way it was heading but when it saw us it ran for cover and we couldn’t make out what it was but it didn’t move like anything we recognise.”
“If I was out on patrol and saw whatever it was I saw I would have reported it as suspicious, so that’s what we decided to do. What will you do Grace?” Nip was very intense and excited as he spoke.
“Now, now. Steady boys, steady. We don’t know that it was anything to worry about….yet, so you go and do whatever you have to and I will summon a meeting of the council and tell them what you have told me. The Witch Patrol will be going out shortly and we will alert the Bat Watch so if there is anything out there that shouldn’t be we will soon know. Don’t worry, I am taking this very seriously and am very pleased that you did also. Good job. Thank you.”
Zia was worried about his family and asked Grace, “Will you please get a message to my dad and just warn him that something may be wrong. He could maybe help us by finding out what is going on in the woods and on the moors. Little Folk work there every day and don’t miss much”
“Don’t worry, Zia. Everything will be taken care of. We will need to recruit every means we can to help us IF there is danger out there and remember, its us the Searchers are after, not Little Folk.”
Grace waved them away and called in the Bat Post who were away to all corners of the Cave and Mine within seconds of being given their instructions. Just as quickly all witches, wizards and The Others were gathered in the Great Hall having been told very little except that it was an emergency meeting of the utmost importance.
Zoe was there to inform them that there had been an express message received from Caleada and that already a ‘Me’ansome cab’ was on its way to collect her and three other dignitaries and would make all haste to be here as soon as the fastest Team could deliver them.
There was a great deal of rushing and mumbling going on in the Great Hall. Extra chairs had been ordered in. Grace called for order and told everyone to take a seat and be quiet. She tapped the table and announced,
“This could be a false alarm but something or some body has been spotted near the Dark Cave.
Also and maybe more worrying, Caleada is on her way here with three of the highest ranking Cateens from her Parliament. We shall begin our discussion on what devices and plans we have at our disposal. I know we haven’t had much time but whatever defences we have must be made ready.”
The discussions went on for some time and it was obvious that although good progress had been made there was still a lot to be done. Zoe and Zia came into the room with Culeada and her entourage. Seats had been placed near the head of the table for them and soon they were seated and the discussions continued. Lord Tupol asked Culeada what information she had and the beautiful black-gold cat replied,
“Like you we have various ways of keeping track of just what is going on, not only around us but throughout Cornwall and indeed when necessary throughout the whole kingdom. We had notice through the Catflap Program that Searchers were on the move. This program is very sophisticated and has a huge network that can and does infiltrate all known enemy headquarters. The movement has found that the Trevanglers and the Polduggers have teams of Searchers out right now. We had word that they had been seen in the Lands End area three days ago. Then yesterday that they were near Camborne. They do not seem at this stage to be visiting any of your Communities so it can be hoped that as yet they still do not know where or how to find you. That is however, not to say that they don’t know where to look just that they may not have been instructed to proceed yet. Never the less, whichever way it is, we must be prepared. This is a dangerous time for us all.”
Grace had not been idle and with her sister witches and the wizards she had perfected four defence spells. The best of them was the Water Flow which as it suggested poured liberal amounts of water onto the recipient of the spell; and then the Fire Ring which did much the same but surrounded the victim with a ring of flames; thirdly the Zing Zapper, a brilliant spell that sent a bolt of lightning along the tunnels seeking only Searchers and lastly the Vibration Validator that could sense where the enemy were travelling through the floors and walls and attack them with intense vibration which would shake them senseless. They were also working on the very tricky Air Aware spell. This had to be able to detect particles of the vile breath from the Trevanglers and point to where it had found them so that follow up action could be taken. A Coaxer Spell was being devised to entice the Polduggers to the smell of their favourite food with the intention of leading them to places of attack attack from the Community. These spells have to be able to work through the rock and earth so they are Seeker spells that have to work on their own once set in motion. Not at all like simple Stopper or Vanish spells.
Likewise, The Others had mechanically channelled the river to form a moat around the perimeter of the caves and mines but that would only stop surface attacks so the plentiful supply of underground gas had been piped and used to make Flame Curtains in every tunnel. It was almost impossible to protect every inch of wall but with these two devices in conjunction with the Air Aware spell and Bat Patrols the invaded parts of the tunnels could be sealed off and the Searchers either destroyed or sent back the way they had come. Hopefully in the end they would give up and go away, defeated.
When Culeada was informed of all these defence schemes she was very impressed and it did look as though every possible form of entry by the Searchers had been dealt with but knowing when the attacks might take place was equally important.
There was, however, some very good news. The ‘thing’ that Zia and Nip had seen disappearing in the woods was not a Searcher but a Wanderer. These were just about as different from the enemy as you could get. They were a group of wizards that long long ago and in the far north of Scotland, broke away to live a life of wandering and travelling. They moved from Community to Community and as there were hundreds throughout the world and few Wanderers, they were not seen very often but always when there was any trouble they would appear. They were sort of guardians for the Communities and having heard of the possible trouble at Dark Cave they had come secretly to investigate and help. They were in touch with the Viddy Cats and also known to the enemy. The Wanderers were as good an ally as they could have had and were very magical and powerful AND on the outside, so they could warn of invasion. With them to help, all was not lost.
In fact things looked positively hopeful.
Calda had requested that Zia should spend more time learning with him.
Zoe said Zia should now be starting the Nigh Shift with her and the Teams. A bit of a tug-of-war so to speak. The Others decided that they were sufficiently busy not to worry about training Zia so he was to spend four nights a week with the Zoedledoodles and three days with Calda and all leave days were to be accumulated as no one was to leave the confines of the cave and mine without authority of The Council and an escort of Zoedledoodles.
His first Night Shift with the Zoedledoodles was to be quite an eye opener and not what Zia had thought it would be. He had been given no inkling as to what their duties were and felt just like he did on his first day with Zoe at the Station.
The Team of six he was to work with as Leader were each fitted with panniers. When they were all loaded and ready Zoe spoke to Pog and returned to join the waiting team.
“Zia, you are to be our Leader tonight as Pog will be taking out another team. I will be with you and know all that is needed, so if you are ready please instruct the Team to start their flight and I will take the lead and you are to bring up the rear. We are not taking a wagon tonight as we fly faster like this.” Zoe smiled at him and took up her place at the front of the Team leaving Zia a little uncertain of his duties.
“Team, if you are all ready, FLY,” instructed Zia.
As the Zoedledoodles rose into the air Zia was so amazed that he was left behind for a second and had to rush to catch them up. He transformed back to his little size and that made him much faster through the air and he easily caught up with the speeding Team. The night was moonless and only the stars twinkled in the vast sky. They were flying very high now and Zia could make out farms and houses by the lighted windows but even his enhanced sight could not make out where they were heading. They flew for what seemed like a very long time but finally they were starting to descend and Zoe lead them down to a hilly and forested area. It was much colder than the Cornwall they had left behind. They were beside a vast lake and ahead was the biggest building Zia had ever seen. A castle with turrets and spires.
“Stay here until I howl for you. I wont be long.” ordered Zoe.
She took off, leaving the Team and Zia beside the lake, just in the cover of the forest. It was very dark and very creepy, with the wind whistling in the massive trees. The Team were quite at ease and it was obvious that they had done this sort of thing before but Zia was very small now and felt vulnerable, although he knew that nothing would happen to him with the Zoedledoodles close by.
Zoe’s howl came long and low and the Team looked at Zia for instructions.
“OK team. Lets go and see what Zoe wants us to do. You lead Zac and we will follow.”
Zac made his way across the clearing and around to the west side of the castle. The nearer they got the bigger it looked. There was a warm glow of a light coming from an opening made by the large studded door and Zoe was there to show them into the hall and onward to the flight of stone steps that led down to the cellars.
It amazed Zia that although this was another Community the Equalizer Spell worked here just as it did at Dark Cave. Zia was very pleased about that when he saw his hosts.
They were met by several witches and goblins. Zia had never seen anything like these little goblin people before and stayed close beside Zac and the other Zoedledoodles. Goblins were slightly bigger than Zia was in his ‘little form’ and didn’t look very friendly.
“What do we do now?” Zia whispered to Zac.
“Just wait and they will organise the unloading of the panniers. You are in no danger here. This castle is the Scottish stronghold of witches and wizards and safeguarded by a ‘Blindness Spell’ so nobody that is not part of one of the Communities can see it, let alone get into it. This whole area is so vast and isolated that it is rare for anyone to come near or bye,” Zac informed him casually.
Zoe was talking to a large witch with a hooked nose, red eyes and black frizzy hair under her pointy hat. He could see them nodding and talking and they were looking very concerned.
“Right, lets get this unloaded and send you all on your way to Shetland with a consignment we have for the Community there. Blather, Blip, Soggy - get to work and stack this against the far wall.”
The three Goblins jumped to attention as the big Witch gave them their orders and one by one the Zoedledoodles were led to a set of steps and with the aid of a hoist, the packs were unloaded and stacked as ordered. Then they were loaded in the same fashion but with the things that the Castle Community witches were sending to Shetland. Zia felt rather superfluous just standing and watching not knowing if he should volunteer to help or not. Before very long the loading was finished and once outside the castle walls Zia gave the order to ‘fly’ and they were all on their way to the Shetland Isles. This time their destination was what appeared to be a tiny crofters cottage, remotely placed on a hillside but once inside, the hovel was enormous, and full of busy people of all sorts. Witches, wizards, goblins all rushing around intent on whatever it was they were doing.
“Good journey Zoe? Everything OK? We’re so pleased to see you. Our supplies are very low.” said a ruddy faced wizard with sticky-out ears and a pleasant smiling face.
“Hello, Soffal. Sorry we are a bit late. I expect you have heard of all the excitement down in Cornwall. We have so many deliveries to make that we are working overtime, even some dusk and dawn flights to catch up. A bit dangerous but very necessary if we are to deliver protection to all the Communities. Today we just have your delivery from the Castle Community but tomorrow we will try to bring your order from The Others,” Zoe informed him.
“Fine, fine. No problem. As long as we can keep working we are happy. Croft Community thrives on being busy and anyway our order books are full to overflowing with Halloween just a few weeks away,” smiled the happy Soffal.
He reminded Zia of Nip, always busy always smiling but there the similarity stopped. Soffal was tall and straight like most of the wizards Zia had met but much more chatty and friendly than the wizards in the Dark Cave community.
“What do they have orders for?” Zia asked Zeus who was standing next to him.
“Well they make the heavy woollen materials that The Others favour for their robes and also gather several herbs and seaweed, things for making spells that other Communities can’t get. Then there are the Goblins……”
“They don’t sell them do they?” interrupted Zia, alarmed to think that there could be a market for Goblins. There was quiet laughter from the Team and Zina explained,
“The Goblins are the workforce. Like all the members of the Communities they were persecuted until they could no longer live in the outside world. They are wonderful workers and do lovely embroidery. So we bring the things that The Others make on The Lowest Level here to have the designs in coloured, gold and silver thread added to the design and then it is sent back to The Others where they put the Owner Only spell on everything so they can’t get lost or worn by anyone else and then its distributed to the ones that have ordered it. There is a great deal of bartering between the Communities. We trade one thing for another”.
“The Castle Community have sent over things that they have plenty of, mainly supplies for the kitchens as they haven’t got a lot in the way of food here,” added Zeal. “It all works very well. We are a group of special Communities so we help each other.”
Once the Teams were unpacked and then repacked with the return load they were soon on their way home and by dawn were coming in to the Station at the Dark Cave. Zia was feeling tired, it had been a long and exciting night. They all had breakfast and the Teams returned to their little sleeping caves. Zia went happily to his bed for a well earned sleep.
For the next three nights the Team and Zia raced around the night skies to many Communities, delivering and collecting return loads. It was a very busy life that, until now, Zia had no idea existed. He fully appreciated the sleeping Teams he had heard snoring the day he arrived.
He had a day off before going to work with Calda and he, Zoe and Nip went to visit Grace to explain how they had got on with the night shift. Nip was as keen to hear all about it as Zia was to give the report as he had been the Leader.
Grace was polishing her knobbly Stick when they arrived.
“Ahhh! Come in. I was expecting you, sit down and tell me how you have got on.”
Zia and Nip made themselves comfortable on the bench opposite Grace and Zoe sat beside the witch. The fire was crackling and it was very pleasant. Tea and toast were ordered and they all munched as they told their account of the last four nights. Nip told of what they had been missing during the days and Grace updated them on the Searchers saga.
“So far as we can tell the Searchers don’t have any real idea where we are but just the fact that they are looking is cause for alarm. The Viddy cats are keeping a close eye on things down west and all over the county the communities are working to build protection. The longer it is before the Searchers find us the more chance we will all have of repelling them.” Grace seemed quite relaxed as she was talking to them.
There was a fluttering in the post box and Grace went to see what had been delivered by Bat Mail, she came back with the tiny folded message and opened it to reveal a long, three page letter.
“Excuse me but I must read this right away. I will see you all again soon and in the meantime report to me immediately if there is any thing unusual that you see or hear.”
The three left and went to the Station to see Pog and ask about tonight’s work. Zoe wanted to know if there had been any change to the schedule. There were one or two extra journeys to run and they would have to take the Air Wagon as there were some big loads involved. Zoe would have to use the heaviest and strongest of the Zoedledoodles for the Wagon tonight and the lighter, faster trips could be done by the others with Pog as Leader. Zia was to go with Zoe and learn about handling the wagon. He still didn’t know where they were going but he would find out soon enough. For now they were going to have a meal and then Zia wanted to see Calda. Zoe was going to tell the Teams about the changes and Nip was to help Talik with some books and files that needed moving.
As Zia went along the Tunnel to Calda’s cave he was thinking about the things he wanted to ask.
He should have made a list but he would remember. It was just that some times he got sidetracked.
He and Calda had built up a good relationship and could talk freely to each other although it seemed to Zia that he usually put most of the questions and Calda gave the answers but then that was how it had to be as Zia had so much to learn. The cave was as cold, dark and damp as ever but Zia was used to that and now there were very few candles lit so it was dim and murky in there, just the way Calda liked it.
“Hello, and how has it been on the night flights? A bit different to day shift, isn’t it?”
Zia was pleased to see his tutor and replied with explanations and details of the work he had been doing. Calda floated around the room listening intently but at the same time adding the odd question or quip. Zia wanted to get on to the questions he needed to ask but had to relay the events of the flights meticulously. Listening to himself he felt that the last four days did sound exciting and he realized just how much he had seen and done.
“That’s what I’m here for, to help you understand the way things work around here. If I don’t know the answers I’m sure we can find the answers in my books, so ask away.”
“Well, the first thing I want to know is how come I can fly and Nip can’t? I mean he is one of the Community and cant get off the ground and neither can most of the people I have met here. It just seems so odd.” Zia asked.
He felt a little awkward asking but it was good to get it off his chest.
“That’s quite simple, its all to do with gravity and the fact that you are very receptive to the power you have been given. You are a Little Folk and naturally small and light so gravity has less pull on you. We have enabled you to grow as part of the Equalizer Spell but your bigger size is just that, a spell. The rest of us are naturally the size we are now and the Diminishing Spell is only used sometimes when we go outside or when a stranger enters the Dark Cave or mine, so Mine Minders are too heavy to have that power. The witches and wizards can make a spell to make someone rise up or hover, throw things or people through the air but not to fly like you. That is a power and you have the ability to make it work well,” Calda explained and it seemed to make good sense.
“But Zoe and all the Zoedledoodles fly. How can that be?”
“I thought you might ask that and its difficult to explain. You will have noticed that none of the Zoedledoodles go to small size when they go outside. They stay the way they are, all the time. In some things they are very different to the rest of us. They can talk as well, which is also very special. These gifts were bestowed on them many many, many years ago by the greatest of all the wizards, Ondara. He is no longer with us but he was so impressed by the loyalty and devotion that the Zoedledoodles showed to the Communities that he gave them these powers for all time and he is also the one that empowered the Viddy cats to talk. They were so important to the safety of us all and so wise that he wanted everyone to be able to communicate with them and benefit from their knowledge. Don’t forget the Viddy Cats were the ones that ruled the witches, wizards and all magic until they left the witches to live a separate life. Then the witches and wizards became powerful through the knowledge they had gained and Ondara was the most powerful of all. He could work magic that others could not even understand.”
“Is he dead? You said he is no longer with us but I got the feeling you weren’t saying he was dead but out of reach…or something,” Zia asked.
“Very perceptive of you Zia. We think he is still alive but he hasn’t been seen for hundreds of years. Its thought he is somewhere of his choice. I think, although I have no proof, that he managed to perfect the ‘Unseeable Spell’ that he had been working on when we last saw him but we don’t know why he left the way he did and I don’t suppose we ever will,” Calda explained.
He looked as though he was as puzzled as Zia but he clapped his hands and said,
“Come on now this will never do. You said you had other questions to ask, so ask before we run out of time. You have your Night Shift to do very soon but we can always continue on the days you are studying with me, so don’t worry if we cant get through all your queries today.” He looked at Zia expectantly.
Zia asked, “Just one more thing. You know that all the witches carry knobbly sticks? What are they for? They don’t seem to use them as walking sticks. Have they got some other use?”
“You don’t miss much, do you? No one else has ever noticed that or if they have they have never said anything. The Knobbly Sticks are much prized and are a means of spell making, perfecting or improving. They are all from the Magic Knowledge Tree which is long since gone. There is a young tree that is growing in its place but as yet it hasn’t enough size or strength to produce powerful Knobbly Sticks. The sticks come from the roots and when there is enough power in them they rise to the surface and wait there for their witch to claim them. Some waited for a hundred years until the right witch came along. If the wrong witch tries to pull them from the ground they can’t. The sticks won’t let go of the root until their special witch comes to collect them and because of the loss of the M.K.T. [Magic Knowledge Tree] none have been produced for such a long time that those that have Knobbly Sticks treasure them as a source of magical knowledge. When it comes to making new spells or learning one they haven’t done before they rely on their sticks to point them the right way. There is a sign language that is individual to each stick and its witch. The sticks perform a wiggly dance in code when asked a question but only their witch will understand the answer. Wizards don’t have Knobbly sticks but they have some thing else which I will tell you about another time. You must go now or you will not have time for your dinner before you have to start your night shift. I will see you tomorrow, after your sleep. Around tea time? Good.”
Calda went with Zia to the door.
“Thanks for telling me all that, Calda. It gets more and more intriguing every time I learn some thing new. See you tomorrow.” Zia smiled as he left, quite amazed by what he had been told but there were still other things to ask…another time.
At the Station, having eaten a hearty meal to sustain him, Zia was confronted by a great deal of activity. Zoedledoodles and Leaders, the Flight Wagon and a pile of packages, pannier packs and harness. It looked as though it was to be a very busy night. Zoe appeared from the office.
“Hello Zia. All ready for tonight? Its a special delivery down west to the Viddy Cats first and then back here to load up the wagon for a château in France. A long night and a very long journey.
Hope your feeling fit!”
“I’m fine thanks and looking forward to this, although I know I will be very tired by dawn. Shall I help harness the team now?” Zia knew the answer but thought he had better not presume.
“Yes, please and each of the Team knows which position they are in so they will put themselves there once you have harnessed them and I will ask Pog to help you hitch them to the wagon and make sure the Air Brakes are working. Can’t afford any mishaps with a load like that.”
Zoe left to attend to the other Zoedledoodles that were to carry the panniers and Zia walked to the Team he was to harness. Each of them stood while he placed the straps and buckles in place and did them up so they were comfortable, then the team stood in their places to pull the wagon which was being loaded by Mine Minders.
Pog came across and showed him how to hitch the team to each other and the wagon, check that everything was in place and that the load was sheeted over and tied properly. Six of the biggest and strongest Zoedledoodles were now ready and waiting for Zoe to lead them on their first mission of the night and they looked splendid. Tails wagging and the occasional unsuppressed howl and yap of expectancy. They loved their work and wanted to be on their way. They weren’t kept waiting long and soon they were ready for take off.
“Zia you can ride on the back of the wagon once we are up high and its level travelling. I will travel beside you and explain the Leader’s tasks and instruction while we fly then you can call commands from your position at the back as the other leaders do.”
Zoe didn’t wait for an answer but made her way to the front of the team and with a signal wave of her tail they took off and were soon climbing into the night sky with Zia flying beside them.
As soon as he had reverted to ‘small size’ in the outside world he sat on the special ‘little seat’ at the back of the wagon reached by two steps, so that he was high enough to see the team ahead of him.
He was thinking that to any one below it must look like Santa Clause and his Reindeer’s but they were soon too high for any one to see anyway, still it made him smile to think it.
Zoe came and sat on the platform beside him and explained everything she wanted him to do and say to the Team, how to use the air brakes and how to navigate. That was the difficult one. He would have to study ‘sky maps’ and star charts to learn the routes and there were a great many places that the teams visited during their work, so it was going to take months or years of study to learn them all. No wonder it was such a long apprenticeship to become a Leader, Zia thought.
They flew south west toward the home of the Viddy Cats, over Truro, Camborn and Falmouth on the way to Penzance and the Lizard Peninsular where they lived in a very old and hidden underground tin mine. From above there was no sign of anything at all and they landed easily on the turf atop a high hill that was ringed by tall wind-bent trees. It hid an almost invisible entrance cut into the side of the hill. They approached the great rock wall which slid open silently and closed after they had entered.
The welcome party was there waiting for them and greeted them all warmly. There were lots of Mine Minders here as well and they undertook to unload the Wagon while three Viddy Cats talked to Zoe and the rest of the team.
None of these Viddy Cats were like Culeada. They were all black but none had a coat that looked as though it had gold and sequins hidden in every hair but they were elegant and a little distant in their manner. Zia stayed with the wagon and talked to the Mine Minders. One of them, Vin, was a second cousin to Nip and Zia promised to say ‘hello’ for him. Once the wagon was unloaded Zia straightened the sheet that had covered the items, folded it and placed it back in the bed of the wagon with the tie straps and waited to hear that they were ready for take off again. As he stood on the back waiting he heard a beautiful purring voice beside him,
“Welcome to our Community, Zia. Did you have a good flight here?” Culeada asked him.
“Oh! Hello. Yes thanks. It is still all very new to me and I haven’t travelled with the Flight Wagon before so Zoe is helping me but I do love flying through the skies at night and the Team are so good at what they do and know just where they are going that its just great fun and not like work at all. Its nice to see you again .…Do I call you Culeada?”
Zia suddenly thought it seemed as though he aught to address her as Mam or Miss or something as he was hardly acquainted with her.
“You will call me Kit Culeada and all the other Viddy Cats are to be addressed by Kit and whatever their names are. Its the same as ‘Miss’ is to you and just politeness to use it.”
“I was at the meeting that you addressed in The Dark Cave and thought you were very knowledgeable and I know how much all the Communities owe to you. I am very pleased to know you,” Zia said a little nervously.
It was difficult to know what to say to some one you knew was one of the most important and highly regarded member of any Community.
“That’s kind and I am pleased indeed to know you. Grace holds you in very high regard. I have heard nothing but good about you,” Culeada replied.
As she finished speaking Zoe came to say they were ready to leave as they were delivering to France that night.
“Then please remember me to all the Community at Château Ravine and take care,” Culeada purred.
Once on the homeward journey Zoe told Zia to handle the team on his own and to try and find the right flight path. He lost his way a couple of times but only for a very short distance as the Team knew the way and would shout back to him where he had gone wrong. He had to redirect the wagon when necessary with the aid of air brakes which were flaps that came out on either side and also underneath the wagon to turn or slow them down but he learned very quickly that only a slight touch was needed. He once turned too quickly and had to hang on very tightly. Zoe flew off the wagon as she had no hands to hang on with. The team thought this was hilarious and Zia was very shaken. It didn’t matter so much with the wagon empty but could have had a very different outcome if there was a load on. It was no wonder that sheeting the load and strapping it down was taken so seriously. Just imagine what would happen if all the packages were thrown through the air and landed on people or buildings far below!
As they came in to land at the Station, Zia over did the breaking as well and the Team were jarred in flight and shuddered to a halt short of their usual stopping place.
“Sorry, everyone. I’m sorry. Hope it didn’t hurt you at all but those brakes are very effective and I wasn’t expecting such a quick stop,” Zia said very apologetically as the Team turned around and joked with him about his driving.
As soon as the next large load was on board they were off again this time across the English Channel toward France and the weather started to deteriorate almost before they left, with rain and a strengthening wind from the east, which made the work of the Team very difficult. Zoe stayed beside Zia and tried to reassure him that they would all be fine and would be across the water in an hour. It was the longest half hour Zia had ever known.
Zia sat on his seat and was hanging on with both hands. He couldn’t even open his eyes to see the team and he was soon wet through and very cold. The wagon swayed and rocked. The Team were buffeted by the head-on wind. Zoe sat as close to him as she could and reaching down pulled out a waterproof coatwith her teeth from under his seat. She nudged Zia and he took the waterproof with one hand but couldn’t put it on as he didn’t dare to let go with the other as he was sure to be ripped from his seat by the wind. Zoe ordered the team to halt and hover while she helped Zia to put it on.
The wind was still strong but not like it was while the Team was flying.
With the padded coat on and the hood pulled up Zia felt warmer and had managed to take off his soaked jacket and retrieve the chocolate bar from the pocket before Zoe shoved it under his seat.
“Away Team,” Zoe shouted.
Once again they were on their way to the foreign shore. They hardly spoke at all during the journey as their words were catapulted away with the wind. It was a very good job the Team of strong Zoedledoodles had done this trip many times before and knew exactly where they had to go as Zia could not have shouted loud enough against the wind to instruct them, even if he knew where they were going. Once or twice Zoe left the platform and flew ahead to ask the Team if they were all right. They were fine and even when the thunder crashed and the lightning flashed around them they flew on undeterred. Not that they had much choice. It was France or the sea as they had gone too far to turn back and the sea did not look at all inviting. Zia was afraid but he tried to look as though he was quite happy, although his smile did look rather sickly and he was very pale and cold.
Just over sixty minutes later they were flying over the farm land of France and in another hour with the wind having dropped a little, they were within sight of the Château Ravine.
It looked like something from a story book with spires and towers, a high wall around it and set on the edge of a steep ravine of stone and boulders that must have been two hundred feet deep.
When the team flew over the top of the Château and circled to come back toward the high wall above the steep drop Zia thought for a second that they were going to crash straight into the side but as they approached, a section of the wall dropped down like a drawbridge. The team flew in and landed in the small courtyard. They were all very pleased to be on land and safe although all were wet and cold.
Without hesitation the Château Mine Minders were there and escorted the team and wagon into an unloading bay that was undercover and warm!! Zoe was down immediately and asked that the team be unharnessed and allowed to rest and be warmed and dried at once. This job was undertaken by strange dragon like creatures called ‘Squitons’ with long tails and almost human heads, pointed ears, almond shaped eyes. They were covered in shiny dark blue-green fish like scales and with hands on small arms. They weren’t exactly frightening but certainly different to anything Zia had ever seen before. He was getting used to seeing new things! They unharnessed the Team and produced warm towels to dry them and a hot broth for them to eat with delicious looking bread and butter.
Meanwhile Zia had been taken to a small room with a blazing fire and a table laid with food for him. He had a hot bath and while he was eating, his clothes were dried. Their schedule allowed for them to have two hours rest before the return flight and as soon as they were all dry, warm and fed they were taken to a larger room where there were several witches waiting for them. They were all greeted as old friends and Zia was introduced to each of them in turn.
“Sorry you had to make the journey on such a dreadful night. Thank you all very much for bringing those vital supplies to us. The Others have been working for weeks to get the order ready and we were desperate for it all. Come and tell us all about the Searcher trouble you are having,”
one of the witches said, addressing the whole team.
They went and sat on a plush rug in front of the fire and the witches pulled up chairs to make a semi circle around them. The story was relayed by various members of the Team and their audience listened intently, taking in every word and asking many questions.
“We would like to help the Communities in any way we can. I will write a letter for you to give to dear Grace and see if there is anything we can supply that might be of use,” said one witch. She seemed to be the leader. Her name was Weniner and like the witches at the Dark Cave she carried a Knobbly Stick. One or two, of what looked like younger witches, didn’t have the sticks Zia noticed and wondered if they were waiting for the young tree to produce theirs.
With the story told and the letter written and safely put in the compartment under the seat of the wagon, they all made their way back to the court yard. It had stopped raining and the wagon was unloaded, the harnesses dried and ready to put onto the Team.
Once harnessed and hitched to the empty wagon they were keen to make the homeward trip as fast as they could. Zia put on the slicker, just in case it rained again and with all the goodbyes and good wishes said they were away and flying but this time, with the wind behind them and an empty wagon, they were soon racing through the night sky.
They cut twenty five minutes off their time going home and arrived back at five thirty am, just as dawn was breaking on that cool morning. It had been quite a night! Zia went straight to his bed after breakfast and didn’t think he would wake for a week! Zoe couldn’t retire until she had taken the letter to Grace and did so as soon as possible. Grace was very pleased to see her and hear all about the trip. The letter Grace kept until Zoe had gone then she sat in her chair and read;-
Dear Grace,
Your Team has told me about your problems with the Searchers and we would like to offer four of our best Squitons to help you in any way they can.
They are the very best trackers and scent followers there are and have incredible fire breathing qualities which may prove very useful against invasion by the Searchers.
We could send them with all their supplies for one year as soon as you need them. Their wings are only good for very short flights so you would have to send the Team and Flight Wagon for them.
Most sincerely yours,
Weniner.
Grace stood and then made her way to Calder’s cave. He was busy with his books, looking for things that may help Zia with his tasks for the day. He looked a little surprised as Grace entered.
“Grace, good morning and how are you? You look like the cat that got the cream. Has some thing happened? Come in and sit down and tell me about it.”
He magically produced a chair for Grace.
“It’s a very good offer from the Château Ravine. They have offered us four of their prized Squitons to help with the fight against the Searchers. We can have them for a year, when we need them. I think that is a very generous offer considering how much they value them. I don’t think they have ever lent one of their Squitons before, let alone four, they’re just what we need to help us.”
. Grace was wringing her hands and cackling with excitement. Her eyes seemed as though they had little lights twinkling in them and she could hardly sit still in the chair.
“I must get a message to Faldarek and Lord Tupol. They need to know the good news as soon as possible. Could you go at once, Calda, and ask them if they would be good enough to meet us in the Great Hall at nine o’clock this morning? That will give me time to think of some plans and ideas of how best to use the Squitons.”
“I’m on my way. Can you see yourself out? I like to be the bringer of good news. So much has been on the wrong side of good just lately. See you later Grace.” The wizard floated as fast as he could to take the news to the The Others and Faldarek.
At the ordered time, the four were gathered around the table in the Grand Hall. Grace at the head of the table and the others sitting close by…apart from Calda who was of course, floating!! Grace was still excited. Calda hadn’t told Lord Tupol or Faldarek why the meeting had been called but as soon as they saw Grace they knew it must be good news as she was still wearing a wide toothless grin.
“For once we have great good news,” she told them. “I am so delighted to be able to tell you that we have secured much needed help in our attempt to provide safety for all and to rid us of the Searchers. The Château Ravine Community have offered us four of their Squitons for a year as soon as we need them. What do you think of that?” Grace leaned back in her chair and looked very pleased.
Lord Tupol looked a little surprised, After all he was working hard to secure the Dark Cave and wasn’t too sure he wanted help from outsiders. He sounded hurt as he commented,
“Do we, Ummm, will we ….need these ...ummm ...Squatters? I think we are very capable of defending ourselves. We have good magic and new defences. What is it that these Squtts can do for us that is so special?”
Grace understood The Others perfectly and had anticipated something like this might happen.
“They are called Squitons and they do have very great abilities that could prove very useful to us.
They can track anything anywhere and they can breathe or rather blow great lengths of fire and are quite fearless, loyal and hard working. They are such an asset that they are highly prized by their Community and can be found nowhere else. It was very generous of Weniner to offer them to us but of course if you think it would be the wrong decision to accept then we must talk about it and hear your reasons.”
Grace wanted to give Lord Tupol the power to accept or decline, believing that he would really want the Squitons there but needed to be consulted before any decisions were made.
“Faldarek, you know the Château Ravine and Weniner well and have seen the Squitons in action.
Could you give us your thoughts and opinions on whether or not they should come here,” said Grace
Faldarek could see that Grace was in fact asking for his subtle help as he knew how important it would be to have the Squitons among them for protection but he also knew how necessary it was to allow The Others to believe they had made the final decision, so he chose his words carefully.
“Lord Tupol has a valid point. He and his workers have done so much for us in the past. They have always been able to produce whatever we needed in terms of protection and mechanical devices. Maybe he has already secured a mobile detector and flame thrower that will be better than the Squitons. If he has, then we won’t need to accept Weniner’s kind offer. On the other hand, if Lord Tupol hasn’t had time to perfect this idea, which no doubt he had thought of and had every intention of doing, then he may like to consider that by using the Squitons it would free him and his workforce to work on other things equally or more important,” and Faldarek gave Grace a knowing nod which Lord Tupol interpreted as the wizard agreeing with him.
Grace and Faldarek both turned fully to Lord Tupol and awaited his answer. He was a little taken aback by the willingness to forgo Weniner’s offer on his say-so and cleared his throat before saying,
“You are quite right, Faldarek. We were about to commence plans for such a device and are of course very capable of perfecting something that would match or surpass these Squabblers but as you say we have a great deal of work in hand and more to develop so maybe if I had more information about them I would be able to consider it worthwhile to have them here.”
Grace gave a sideways glance at Faldarek and then they both preceded to tell Lord Tupol all they knew about the Squitons and their great gifts.
Zia slept very well as he had been very tired after the night’s excitement. When he awoke he could smell food, delicious food, and he was hungry. He sleepily got out of bed and went into his living area where he was not too surprised to see Nip with the table laid and a steaming hot meal ready for him to tuck into.
“Good afternoon, Zia. I just thought, seeing that you have to go to Calda for tutoring later, that you could save time if I brought you a meal to eat here!! Anyway I want to talk to you, I hardly ever see you for more than a few moments. You are always on your way to or from somewhere and always in a hurry. When can you have some more time of so that we can go to your home again?”
“Well! Good day to you as well Nip but one thing at a time and first I am going to make short work of that delicious food before it goes cold. So, why don’t you sit down at the table with me and tell me that has been going on. Oh! And by the way I met your cousin Vin when we went down to the Viddy Cats at the Lizard and he asked me to say hello to you. He seemed very nice.”
“He is. Did you meet anyone else that knows me? I have quite a big family but I don’t see them very often now as I use my ‘off days’ to go with you to your home. My mother and father are too far away to visit,
They’re in north west Wales and I can only go there when someone can take me.”
Nip had started off excitedly but ended up staring at the floor and looking sad.