02 Unicorn Rider (32 page)

‘You have to go,’ Lady Citrine screamed, as she was unceremoniously dragged away.

‘I can’t leave you,’ Lord Citrine said.

‘You must,’ Lady Citrine said, sternly. ‘Remember, your duty is to protect our people, not me.’

‘But...’

‘Remember, you are my husband! You are Lord Citrine. Nobody can take that away from you.’

He watched in horror as the spider–soldier scurried up the wall, and disappeared among the rafters, taking Lady Citrine with him.

Lord Citrine didn’t hang around after that. He dodged past the remaining soldier, and headed out into the corridor. The sound of swords clashing together echoed around the stone walls. The enemy soldiers were everywhere.

‘How could this happen?’ he gasped. ‘How could I have let this happen?’

He dashed down the corridor, heading for the secret tunnels that would lead him to safety. On his way he found two dozen of the royal guard, valiantly defending their posts. He ordered them to fall back with him to the escape route.

Those two dozen guards, and Lord Citrine, were the only people who escaped the palace.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Sky was cutting up potatoes for her father’s dinner when there was a gentle rap at the front door. ‘Wait a minute,’ she shouted, wiping her hands in her apron. ‘I’ll be right there.’

She had been working from the starlight coming through the open window, but she didn’t want anybody to think her father couldn’t afford candles, so she took the time to light one. The spluttering flame cast odd shadows on the walls.

Tidal was stood on the front step, fully clothed and soaking wet. Water ran from his mess of hair, and a single droplet hung on the end of his nose.

‘I didn’t know it had been raining,’ Sky said.

‘I’ve been swimming,’ Tidal said.

‘With your clothes on?’

Tidal smiled and shrugged. ‘Can I come in?’

 ‘My dad isn’t here right now,’ Sky said. ‘He wouldn't like it much if I had boys in while he wasn’t here.’

‘I’m not boys, Sky. I’m Tidal, remember? The one who protected you the other week? Besides, you’ve let me in before when he hasn’t been around.’

‘I know, but all the same, I don’t think it would be a good idea.’

‘Well then,’ Tidal scratched his neck, first on one side, then the other, ‘if we can’t be alone in the house, how about we’re alone on the front step? Would that be okay?’

‘Tide, I can’t.’

‘It’s just the front step,’ Tidal snapped. ‘Where’s the harm in two friends sitting on the front step?’

‘There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just... You know, my dad. He’s protective.’

 A dark puddle of water was forming where Tidal stood, and he had started to shiver.

‘Where have you been?’ Sky asked. ‘Nobody has seen you all week. Hawk has looked everywhere for you. He thought you might want to join his archery class.’

‘I told you, I’ve been swimming.’

‘All week?’

‘I swam out to Serpent’s Coil.’

‘The island? That’s about twenty miles out from shore.’

‘It’s beautiful. There’s a nice, sandy beach, and lots of tall, jagged rocks. I’ve been living there.’

‘Why?’

‘Just to be alone for a while.’

‘You should have told us. We’ve been worried.’

‘Is that so?’

‘We’ve all been worried. Nimbus was really upset you stormed off the last time you spoke. He said you were really quite rude to him.’

‘He’ll get over it.’

Sky folded her arms across her stained apron. ‘You were rude to me too, Tide.’

‘Ah, well...’ He scuffed his toe in the dirt, and avoided her gaze. ‘Well, that was just a spur of the moment thing. I didn’t mean any of that. It was just talk.’

‘Is that an apology?’

‘I’m not very good at apologies.’

‘So I see.’ Her candle flickered in the evening breeze. ‘Look, Tide. I have to get my dad’s dinner ready. He’ll be home from the tavern soon, and he likes to have his food ready for when he gets in.’

Tidal frowned. ‘I swam a long way to see you, Sky.’

‘I know, but I have to do this.’

‘Oh... right.’

‘Bye, Tide. I’ll see you soon.’

‘Sure. Of course.’ She turned to walk away, but suddenly he grabbed her arm. ‘You could come with me,’ he said.

‘Pardon?’

‘You could come with me. To the island.’

She smiled kindly, and shook her head. ‘No, Tide. I can’t. You know I can’t.’

‘It’s Nimbus, isn’t it?’

‘No, it’s my dad. My mum ran out on him, I promised him I wouldn’t do the same.’

‘You lie to yourself if you want to, but I know the truth. I saw you when Nimbus came to the rescue with that unicorn. I saw how you ran over and hugged him. He hadn’t even been here during the attack. He hadn’t sat up with you for two whole nights, looking out for you, protecting you. But he was the one that got the hug. What did I get?’ Angry tears glistened in his eyes. ‘What do I ever get?’

‘You get my friendship,’ Sky said. ‘And you get Nimbus’s friendship, even when you’re mean to him. You even get Glass’s friendship, despite the fact you call her a witch and make her cry. But that isn’t enough for you, is it?’

‘I guess not.’

‘Then I guess we have nothing left to talk about. Goodnight, Tide.’

Sky slammed the door, and stomped back to the kitchen where her bowl of potatoes was waiting. Tidal stared at the front door for a minute, and then headed down to the beach.

At the edge of the shore, he stopped and dipped his toe in the water. The surface of the Everlasting Ocean glinted like a sheet of polished glass, reflecting the stars as tiny pinpoints of light on an otherwise blank and mysterious canvas.

He breathed in the smell of the sea. He knew now, this was where he was meant to be; this was where he could be special. Once upon a time, the sea took his parents away from him, and he had believed that nothing could tame the hungry water.

Things were different now.

A short way out from land, a series of bubbles rose to the surface. As each popped, they formed part of a gurgling sentence, spoken by something from the depths.

‘She wouldn’t come with you, would she?’

‘No,’ he said.

‘Shame. I would have liked to... meet her. She sounds delicious.’

‘She wanted to stay, to be with Nimbus.’

‘Ahhh.’ More bubbles, each one popping like Tidal’s dreams of being a hero had popped. ‘And what about you? Have you made a decision about where you belong?’

‘There’s nothing left for me here.’

‘Then jump in, the water’s fine.’

Tidal glanced one final time at the village of Landmark. The houses squatted in the gloom, with only the occasional glow of a candle in a window to indicate there was anybody living there. ‘If I do this, I can never go back, can I?’ he said, scratching his neck.

‘You know you can’t. You’ve already started to change. You’re already different to everyone else here. Besides, you said yourself, there is nothing left for you to go back to.’

‘I guess not,’ Tidal said, and he waded out into the water until, like the creature that had lured him there, he was nothing more than bubbles, popping on the surface of an otherwise calm sea.

***

Nimbus was in the doorway of the watchtower, watching Cumulo sleep, when Captain Spectre materialised on the step behind him. ‘He’s still weak, isn’t he?’ Spectre said.

Nimbus nodded. ‘It’s going to be a couple of days before he’s strong enough to fly again.’

‘You care about him a lot, don’t you?’

‘He’s my best friend. He got hurt because he saved my life. I owe him everything.’

‘It is your ability to care that makes you a hero, Nim. Always remember that.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I was there when you made your pact with the vampyr. I know what your intentions are.’

Nimbus smiled grimly, drawing the spirit sword from its sheath. His reflection stared out from the finely crafted blade, but he barely recognised himself. ‘I made a deal.’

‘You made a promise to become a killer. But that isn’t you. You are not a murderer.’

‘No.’ Nimbus span the sword around a few times, listening to the sweet zing sound it made as the blade phased in and out of existence. ‘I am not a murderer, but I cannot allow Crow to live.’

‘You know that the vampyr has his own reasons for wanting you to use that sword to kill Crow. Don’t let your anger cloud your judgement. Do not destroy one evil only to unleash a greater one.’

‘Crow poisoned Mother. He killed me, and turned me into some kind of zombie. He hurt my dragon. He tried to kill my sister. And he’s kidnapped my dad.’ He thrust Venom point first into the ground between his feet. ‘Crow will die for that.’

‘Just be careful you do not kill Nimbus in the process.’

‘What do you mean by...?’ Nimbus’s question remained unfinished as he realised that Spectre was already gone, leaving behind only the very faintest outline of his image imprinted in the gloom of the tower.

Nimbus clutched the sliver of stone he was still wearing around his neck. ‘I am a hero, Captain,’ he said. ‘I will save this land, and the people in it, and I will get you your body back.’

Cumulo snorted in his sleep, and his tongue flickered out. One claw scrabbled frantically.

The sound of hooves trailed across the ruins from the nearby woodland. Nimbus pulled the spirit sword from the ground, and walked out to meet the rider. He had been expecting a hunter, perhaps a messenger from the city looking for an update on Cumulo’s health, maybe even that mysterious stag that seemed to be following him around; but when he saw a white flash darting between the trees his heart skipped a beat.

‘Glass,’ he shouted, as the unicorn cantered down the embankment.

His sister waved excitedly and the unicorn skidded to a halt, bowing her head slightly. Nimbus returned the bow, which seemed to please the unicorn; and then he turned to Glass, who was glowing brilliantly, the same way the unicorn glowed. ‘Look at you,’ he said. ‘You’re getting bigger every day.’

‘I’m feeling stronger every day.’ Even her voice sounded different; more powerful, more grown up. ‘Reflection has been teaching me all kinds of neat things.’

‘Who’s Reflection?’

‘The unicorn, Silly. She didn’t have a name, so I gave her one. She says it’s a good name.’

‘It’s a magnificent name. But you always were good with names. Do you remember when Dad got you that doll and...’ He paused uncomfortably.

Dad.

Glass wouldn’t know about his capture. But how could he tell her?

‘It’s okay,’ Glass said, as if she could read his thoughts. ‘I already know.’

‘You do?’

‘Are you going after him?’

‘Just as soon as Cumulo is back to full health. Yes.’

‘I wish I was going with you.’

‘You mean you aren’t?’

‘I can’t.’

‘Then why are you here?’

‘I came to speak to you. To warn you.’

‘I thought you were back to stay.’

Glass shook her head. Her eyes were full of regret. ‘I can’t stay. Crow wants me dead, and he will send everything he has to kill me. The village will not be safe while I am there.’

‘But you saved the village. You’re magic is stronger than his. You can protect everyone.’

‘No. I am strong enough to handle his troops, but compared to Crow himself I am still just a beginner. He has had hundreds of years to grow powerful. Reflection has only just started to teach me the things I will need to know before I can face him.’

‘So you’re hiding from him?’

‘For now.’

‘Where?’

‘Reflection says it’s better you don’t know, just in case you get captured and tortured.’

Nimbus grinned. ‘Thanks, that’s really kind of you.’

Reflection snorted impatiently, as undefined shadows flitted through the woods. ‘I know, they’re coming,’ she said, stroking the unicorn’s neck. ‘Nim, I can’t stay here for long, but I had to warn you about the course you are treading.’

‘What course?’

‘Crow is an evil force in this world, and a great threat to us all, but he is not the greatest evil.’

‘Then who is?’

‘While you carry that sword, you are.’

‘I don’t understand,’ he said, examining Venom thoughtfully.

‘The enemy of your enemy is not always your friend. There are whispers in the night. The shadow of the wolf is coming out of the West, the moon grows brighter, and there are screams in the ocean depths. With so many threats around you, make sure you don’t get crushed.’

‘You’re not making any sense, Glass.’

‘It will all make sense in time, but I have to go now. He has more spies with each passing day. He will already know I have spoken with you.’

‘Will he attack the village again?’

‘Perhaps. But it is less likely if I’m not there.’

‘So what happens now?’

‘Now, I go away again. Until the time comes when I am ready to face Crow.’

Nimbus felt tears in his eyes, but he refused to cry in front of his baby sister. ‘You got grown up so quick,’ he said. ‘I’m so sorry.’

Glass smiled. ‘I’m not so different. How’s Mum?’

‘Missing Dad, I think. I guess she wished they hadn’t parted on an argument. I feel the same way.’

‘I guess everybody argues sometimes. It doesn’t mean they stop caring about each other.’

Nimbus sheathed the spirit sword. ‘I know. But I wish things were the way they used to be, back when Tidal was still my friend, and we all used to go fishing.’

‘It is not a hopeless wish. Perhaps one day we can all go fishing again. And you can shout at me for scaring the fish away, and we can all laugh because you’re the worst fisherman in the world.’ Her eyes sparkled. ‘I’d like to do that. When this is all over.’

Reflection stamped her hoof, leaving a crackling imprint in the mud.

‘Is that your cue to leave?’ Nimbus asked.

‘I guess.’

‘You make sure you take care of yourself.’ He wiped his eyes. ‘And come back as soon as you can.’

‘You can count on me, Bog Breath.’

‘I am counting on you, Stink Witch.’

Glass giggled, and blew him a kiss that sparkled in the air like a firefly before planting itself on his cheek. ‘Bye, Nim,’ she said, and then Reflection turned away, galloping off into the limitless reaches of the night.