An Army of Good (6 page)
Authors: K.D. Faerydae
Since the night of the fancy dress party, Adramalech and the juvenile Nomed had made their way through the treetops of Witern Wood. They had covered many miles, and were now perched high in the canopy of a tall pine tree that looked out over a neighbouring farm. They could taste the scent of farm animals in the air. The juvenile Nomed flicked and curled her tongue as she savoured the aroma, and then she began to hiss and click excitedly.
“Teiuq,” spat Adramelech, glaring intimidatingly into the young female's eyes with his fiery stare. Then the pair sat very still as the farmer and another man appeared beside a large horse lorry in the farmyard below them. An energetic springer spaniel ran around the men's legs, whipping them with its excitable tail. The men shook hands.
“Been a real pleasure doin' business wiv ya,” the farmer said, stuffing a large wad of notes under his flat cap. “If yer mate ever wants any more knackered old nags to feed to his lions over in sunny South Africa, you know where to come for âem.”
“Yes, cheers Fred, I'm sure he'll need more soon enough. He goes through a tidy few ponies at his white-lion breeding park and, as you know, he's willing to pay over the odds for them. Well, he can afford to, can't he, what with all those trophy hunters that go there. Did you know they pay around 120,000 dollars to âhunt' his captive lions, so it's no wonder he's got a few bob to pay you for your ponies, is it?”
“Well, I would say I feel bad an all, but his lions gotta eat, don't they, and so do I,” Fred said, smiling as he patted the money-stuffed cap on top of his head.
“Is it okay if I use your loo before I head off, Fred? I've a long journey ahead of me.”
“Of course ya can. I'll show ya were it is.”
The ponies shuffled around inside the horse lorry. One of them hung its head over the stable type door at the rear and whinnied.
“Emit ot tae,” Adramalech sniggered, then he and the juvenile Nomed sprang down from the tree, ran across the farmyard, and leaped inside the lorry.
The ponies neighed and screamed, kicking out ferociously at the Nomeds. The spaniel jumped up at the lorry, barking frantically.
“Billy! Billy! Get away from there, you're upsetting the ponies!” the farmer yelled angrily at the boisterous dog, as he and the lorry driver returned.
The lorry driver lifted the rear ramp, completely closing up the back of the lorry. Then he slid the bolt across, unknowingly sealing the ponies inside with the Nomeds, sentencing them to an earlier than expected death.
“I'm real sorry about that. I dunno what's gotten into Billy, he's usually real good around the nags.”
“No worries, I'm sure the ponies will settle down once we hit the road. Well, they'd better do, I can't be putting up with that racket and thrashing around while I'm driving.”
The lorry clattered over the cattle grid on its way out of the farm before turning into Honeypot Lane. Although it had reduced significantly, the thrashing of the ponies continued, and as the lorry bore left around the corner, a liquid substance began to pour out from the bottom left corner. The lorry continued on its journey up the winding lane, leaving behind it a twisting trail of blood.
* * *
The drive was to be a long one, and the thrashing noises from within the back of the lorry were to continue. The driver would find the journey tedious, and would care very little for his cargo, only occasionally opening the hatch to refill the hay and water containers; a journey where his gaze would sometimes be met by that of a wild and furious pony eye glaring back at him through the small hatch. A journey where the heartless driver would not once fully open the door to check on his load and would think to himself,
What does it matter if they're not fed and watered properly, they're going to die anyway, and I'm still getting paid either way.
The Darlings had spent the last twenty-four hours getting to know their new friends at the beach house. They had familiarised themselves with their magical surroundings and were thoroughly enjoying the peacefulness of Serenity Sunrise Beach. Zavier and Evan were drawing maps in the sand. Zavier had redrawn the map of Liberty for Evan to study. Evan had etched out a map of Witern Wood Village, and was now poking the stick into the sand, marking out where Grace's Grandad Arthur, Nanny Lizzy and Christian's parents lived as they had been chosen to be the next Humans collected. Dan and Harry were sunbathing on the beach, both of them determined to return home with wicked tans. Unfortunately, Harry hadn't noticed Leah grapple her way out of his short's pocket and crawl onto his back. She lay in his mid-lumbar groove and spread out her leaf in order to absorb the sun's nutritious rays, remaining there just long enough to create an impressive leaf-shaped white mark.
Jazmine and Mary had hit it off instantly. They were sitting together on the veranda, sipping homemade lemonade and chatting.
“It's so beautiful here,” Mary sighed. “I could just sit and look out over the ocean for hours. It's mesmerising, isn't it? I get a really calm feeling whenever I'm close to the sea. If I'm ever a bit low, I love to visit the seaside, it always makes me feel so much better. But here, the feeling is different, it's much more intense. If you told me that I was in heaven, I think I might actually believe you,” she said, smiling at Jazmine.
“Yes, that's Serenity for you. It has the same effect on us too. In fact, all of Liberty is beautiful. If it weren't for the Nomeds, I would have taken you to see my home, Maytime Meadow. I know you'd love it there as well. The smell of the meadow flowers, the soft breeze that courses through the grass, and the way that the Great Prophet dips its leaves into the pond's still waters. But for now, I'm afraid you're stuck here, because it's safer.”
“Oh well, I can think of much worse places to be,” Mary replied, tipping her head back and closing her eyes against the sun.
“ Jazmine spotted Grace and Christian sitting on the pier together. They were giggling hysterically as Mateo leapt in and out of the ocean, showing off his acrobatic skills in all manner of comical styles.
“You have a wonderful daughter, you know that, don't you, Mary?”
“I know I have. I'm very lucky. There is something extra special about Grace. Something that's hard to describe. She seems to connect so well with everyone and everything. And not on the same level as you or I would. It's as if she has a joining of souls with them. Does that sound silly?”
“No, not at all. I've seen it and felt it for myself. I experienced it the very first time I met Grace and looked into her trusting eyes. And well, you saw how she was with Romulus. He is a ferocious-looking wolf who's often misunderstood because of his aggression and protectiveness. However, Grace looked straight past that, and I think you could say she saw straight into his soul. She is very special indeed. More special than we realise, and that's probably why Liberty has chosen her to help restore the peace.”
“I keep ignoring the fact that we are here for a purpose. At the moment, it's so easy to forget about the Nomeds. It feels as if we are here for a holiday, not to help you fight a war.”
Mary looked down toward Grace. Her daughter had a smile that stretched from ear to ear, a smile so big that it pushed up her freckled cheeks, reducing her eyes to tiny slithers. “Look at her, she's so beautiful, so happy, I don't think I can allow myself to let her fight. Tell me, what kind of mother lets her eight-year-old daughter battle against evil? I should take her home.”
Jazmine placed an arm around Mary's shoulders. “I understand how hard this must be for you, Mary, but you must understand that we have no choice. This is war, a war of good versus evil. We must all do whatever's required of us to win; or else the world, not just ours, but yours as well, will be in mortal danger. It was foretold, you can't prevent it. If you were to take Grace home now, you wouldn't stop it from happening, you would just delay it. Delay it until Liberty has been overrun and the Nomeds pass through into your world. We know that a Human child is needed to defeat this evil and we believe that child is Grace.”
Mary hung her head and began to sob as she realised the magnitude of the situation. Jazmine embraced her.
“I'm not going to lie to you, Mary, it's going to be tough. You will need to be strong. But I promise you this, we will prepare you well, and when you are ready to confront the Nomeds, we will guard each and every one of you with our lives.”
Mary was distraught at the thought of the war reaching the Human world and even more distressed at the thought of her daughter facing such horror. She crumpled into Jazmine's embrace and began to wail loudly, emptying her chest and heart of all the fear and pain that she was now feeling. Then, after a few seconds, she lifted her head, wiped the tears from her eyes and showed just how strong a woman she was, by asking, “So when do we start our training then?”
Zavier stood before the ancient gate, its age apparent in every twist and turn of its knotted and gnarled wood. Francis spread his wings and beat them, lifting himself off Zavier's back where he had been sitting alongside Ice.
“Meet you back here in a few hours then. Oh and Zavier, I'm glad to see you remembered your clothes this time,” he hooted, nodding toward the rucksack of clothes Zavier had draped around his neck.
“Yes, I'm glad I remembered them as well, it will be much easier to approach the Humans as a clothed man, and a lot warmer too.” He laughed. “We shouldn't be very long. Grace's grandparents usually visit the Darlings' house today, so we'll be collecting them from there. Christian's parents also live in Cherry Blossom Close. Therefore we don't need to travel far.”
“Well, good luck. I hope the collection goes well. See you soon,” Francis hollered, as he tipped a wing and turned right, before disappearing into the dense woodland.
* * *
Chyna and Womble charged to the front door as soon as they heard the ding-dong of the bell. Barking loudly, they snuffled and snorted against the glass door. Zavier could just make out the silhouette of Evan's clone through the frosted pane as it picked Chyna up and pulled Womble away from the door, allowing Mary's clone to open it. The door opened and Mary's clone greeted him.
“Hello, can I help you?” she asked.
Zavier opened his jacket, revealing Ice who'd been safely hidden inside. Ice tipped her head so that she could see and address Mary's clone.
“We are here to speak with Grace's grandparents. Let us in and go about your business,” the snowy owl ordered.
“Of course, please do come in. They're in the kitchen. Go on through. I'll make us all a nice cuppa,” Mary's clone replied
As the clone went to close the front door, she spotted Christian's mum, Sharna, staring across the close at her from the front window of her house. Sharna gave Mary a wave and then quickly replaced the net curtain and moved away from the window, embarrassed at having been caught snooping.
“Kyle, I've just seen a rather dishy man going into Mary and Evan's house. I wonder who he is?” she called out to her husband, not realising that it wouldn't be long before they, too, received such a visit.
* * *
A somewhat shell-shocked Grandad Arthur, Nanny Lizzy, Sharna and Kyle stood back as the holly bush rustled and parted, exposing the gate. The wrought iron lever-latch lifted and the gate creaked open, giving them their first glimpse of the magical land of Liberty. Francis, as planned, was there to meet with them, but he was not alone; surrounding him, dotted amongst the bluebells and the trees, were all of the woodland's creatures, including some of the mysterious Woodland Kith.
“What's wrong?” Zavier asked Francis, sensing the trepidation in the atmosphere.
“My creatures are fearful, Zavier. The Nomeds are no longer in hiding. They've begun to emerge from the swamp at night. They roam the woodland in droves. It's strange, though. They haven't been hunting at all, they just seem to be assessing the area. The woodland creatures are worried that the Nomeds might be getting ready to attack, and they know that when I'm back at the beach with you, I won't be able to protect them properly. They are still shaken from the last attack, and the losses that were suffered. They would like to come back with us, back to the beach where it is safer.
“The Woodland Kith, however, aren't hunted by the Nomeds. In fact, the Nomeds aren't even aware that they exist because they're so well camouflaged within the woodland's plant life, so to help out, the Kith are going to stay here and keep an eye on the situation for us. But as for the rest of the woodland creatures⦠well⦠if it's okay with you, they're coming to the beach.”
“Very well, in fact I was considering getting all of Liberty's creatures to gather at the beach while we prepare for battle, anyway. I don't feel comfortable leaving anyone without their Berthold at this dangerous time.”
One of the Leaf Kith leapt from a laurel branch above Zavier's head and landed beside his ear.
“My name is Lorenzo, I'm one of the Superior Leaf Kith,” he said regally. “The Kith are happy to stay here within the woodland and keep watch over the Nomeds. We will meet with one of you each afternoon by the rocky path that leads down to the beach. We will update you on the Nomeds' nocturnal activities, but in return may I please ask a favour?”
“Of course you can, Lorenzo, what is it?”
“Well, one of our young has gone missing: Leah, a mischievous Leaf Kith. She often disappears for days on end, but this time, what with those⦠those⦠Humans entering our land, well, we have much more cause for concern, don't we!” He scowled, looking directly in Grandad Arthur's direction. “If you should see her, Zavier, please return her back here to us, where she belongs.”
“Of course I will return her, should I come across her, but you must be aware that your kind aren't the easiest of creatures to spot now, are they, Lorenzo? You blend so well with the environment, and if she is within the trees we'll be very lucky to find her at all.”
“Well, I'm not sure if
they
,” Lorenzo glared Arthur's way again, “had anything to do with her disappearance or not, but she hasn't been seen since the day you passed through here with the tall one.”
“I take it by âthe tall one' you mean Harry, Grace's brother. I'm sure that he's in no way involved in Leah's disappearance. He has a kind soul, but you have my word. I will look out for her, and return her to you promptly should I find her.”
“Thank you Zavier. I appreciate it,” Lorenzo said, then he leapt into the air and grunted a loud “
humph
” as he wafted past Arthur's nose.
Arthur's face purpled with anger. “Bloomin' fair, hey? Well, I tell you something for nothing, it's enough to make a boy scout want to pull up his tent pegs and go home. First we get a visit from Mr Movie-Star look-a-likey and his sidekick talking owl. Then we get told that our family aren't our family at all, and that they've all been cloned. Then we get cloned ourselves and have to travel to an unknown magical land where by this time, Mr Movie-Star look-a-likey has transformed into a flippin' ginormous Shire horse. And now⦠now⦠we have to put up with a jumped-up little leaf fella, with â
oh dear I'm not a big tree syndrome
', giving us the evils. Well, I've just about had enough, I tell you!”
“Calm down, Arthur. Remember we're doing this to see our family. They are here in this beautiful, but bizarre place, and they need us,” Lizzy said.
“Fine, but you'd better keep little-lord-leaf away from me or I'm likely to scrunch him up and use him as loo paper. Coz this doesn't look like the kinda place that has loo roll, now, does it, dear!” Arthur grumbled sarcastically.
“Of course we have toilet paper. We have everything that you will need back at the beach house. Now come, we must make tracks. We will be slower with such a large group and we need to get back to the beach before dusk. So come on everyone, time to go!” Zavier ordered, and with that, the woodland birds took flight, squirrels sprung from branch to branch, tree to tree, and the ground creatures scurried through the ferns and bluebells toward Serenity Sunrise Beach.
