Jack Shian and the Destiny Stone (30 page)

True enough, the coach passed through the campanilus hex as they crossed the Forth Road Bridge. The air turned noticeably colder too – frost formed on the windows, and Jack could see ice on the road. Winds howled around the coach, which slowed to a near halt as it encountered heavy traffic. The whole world seemed to be descending on the city for Hogmanay.

The coach came to a halt in a side street, double parked over a row of cars. As the door opened a bone-chilling gust swept in, causing gasps of horror. Even Jack winced in surprise: he’d almost forgotten how bitterly cold Edinburgh had been just a few days earlier.

Jack made his way to the door, pulling Gilmore’s warm cloak around him. It was tempting to stay inside and just drive off somewhere nice and hot …

But we’re not going back now …

“We won’t be using the coach again, will we?” he said as they disembarked.

Grey Wolf looked at him curiously.

“From here on we are Shian. We do not look back.”

The crowds were horrendous – even at midsummer Jack couldn’t remember the streets being this crowded. Coupled with the icy roads and the howling wind, walking was a real problem. Almost every other step brought a slip or a stumble. Getting to Edinburgh Castle before midnight looked an impossible task.

On the other hand, Grandpa had been right. In a crowd of thousands, another 100 or so made no difference. Even if the Kildashie spies were out, their chances of being spotted were almost nil. Given the humans’ ability to ignore everyone else in a crowd, the Seelie army made its way unobtrusively up to the back of the castle.

“It’s not quite so bustly here,” explained Phineas as they turned to head up the slope. “And it’s a bit more sheltered from the wind.”

The shelter, such as it was, came from the castle rock, which loomed high above them.

The sound of distant – but loud – music bounced off nearby buildings. Sizable human crowds still provided cover, but without the intense pressure of the Princes Street throng. As the group neared the Royal Mile, they divided into two: Magnus and Ossian turned right for Cos-Howe while Harald’s sections continued to head uphill. As agreed, Jack followed at the rear with his father, shivering as a fresh gust of snow hit him.

There was no sign of Unseelie, and it was only as they were moving past the crowds up towards the castle gate that Jack got the first inkling that something was up. The crowd was still jostling from every side; but there was an extra jostle that made him shake. This shove felt different.
Meant
, somehow.

“Jack!” a voice hissed. “Will you get us in?”

Jack spun round, trying to identify the source of the voice. He recognised it, sure; but it didn’t make any sense.

And then he stopped:
Of course it makes sense. They’ll do exactly what they’re not supposed to do.

“Where are you?” he whispered.

“Just behind. Don’t let on to Uncle Phineas – he’ll go spare.”

He’s not the only one,
thought Jack.
None of the section commanders wanted kids along. I’m only here because they know I can make the
Mapa Mundi
work.

As the Seelie shuffled up through the human crowd, Jack tried to think how he would explain this one to his father.

… I can’t,
he concluded
. Not if he sees them. The only chance is to keep them hidden.

But arc lights shone over the esplanade, and Jack suddenly realised that he wasn’t hidden himself.

“Dad! That’s one of the Kildashie! I think he’s seen us.”

Phineas saw that Jack was serious, and he pulled Grey Wolf’s arm.

“We must take the Shian gate!”

Up ahead, Harald continued on unaware to the main castle gate. The rear section edged through the crowd towards the Shian gate in the esplanade corner.

“
Effatha!
”

The gate groaned
as it accommodated this larger-than-usual group, but they landed safely in the darkness of the Shian square. Jack put his arms behind him and checked his cousins were there.

“Did the Kildashie see us come this way?” enquired Grey Wolf.

“I don’t think so. The human crowd hid us at the right time.”

Indeed, the gloomy Shian square was deserted.

“They’ve smashed most of the crystals,” exclaimed Armina. “Savages.”

Through the gloom, one solitary light shone.

“That’s my room!” Jack said indignantly as he saw the glow.

“Did ye think your room would not be taken?” snapped Finbogie. “Every space here will have been trashed by the Kildashie. Scum!” He spat.

Jack moved involuntarily towards his house, but was restrained by his father’s arm.

“Careful, Jack. It could be a trap.”

But Jack wriggled free, and made a dart for his house. He was there in seconds, and had peered in the front window before Phineas could catch him.

“Jack! You could give the whole game away.” Phineas dragged Jack around the side of the house.

The peace was disturbed by a commotion from within the house: indignant shouts, and taunts, followed by a thump–whump as something (or somebody) fell down stairs. When the front door opened moments later, it was to reveal a sorry-looking Doxer, his nose bleeding and his face scratched.

“Pax!” he shouted, as he stumbled forward.

He spoke!

Doxer collapsed in a heap, accompanied by an unmistakeable peal of laughter.

“Rana!” roared Phineas. “Show yourself now, or I’ll blast you out!”

The threat was enough, and Rana and Lizzie sheepishly removed their invisibility bonnets.

“How in Tua’s name did you get here?!” demanded Phineas, as Grandpa Sandy approached.

“We missed out on going to Tula!” protested Rana. “And we want to find our dad.”

“Your bravery does you credit,” said Grey Wolf. “But these are not games.” He turned to Doxer. “What do you do here?”

Doxer looked nonplussed … No: terrified.

“What … do … you … do … here?” he echoed.

“Are you trying to be funny?” demanded Grey Wolf.

Doxer looked lost.

“You’re helping the Kildashie, aren’t you?” Jack accosted him. “I saw you here the other day – serving drinks to them.”

Doxer raised his hands in explanation, but said nothing.

“Is he mute?” enquired He Who Waits.

“No, he shouted when Rana pushed him out,” said Jack.

He Who Waits stood in front of Doxer, and made a sign: two fingers to the lips, and the back of the right hand to left palm.

Doxer nodded.

“He only speaks under duress,” explained He Who Waits.

“Ask him what he’s doing with the Kildashie,” demanded Jack. “I’ve seen him with them.”

He Who Waits signed again to Doxer, who seemed bashful, but signed a reply.

“He says he was captured by them. And he has information about a prisoner. Toonya?”

“Doonya,” corrected Sandy. “What does he know?”

“Let us conduct this interrogation indoors,” said Phineas. “Others may be in the square.”

“Phineas is right,” said Grandpa. “Take the young man in and interrogate him. We’ll make our way to the Stone.”

He Who Waits led Doxer indoors, followed by Jack and his cousins. Phineas followed, shutting the door behind him.

Doxer was led to a chair and made to sit down. Jack glared at his apprentice colleague, trying to work out what he knew. Was he just putting on an act?

He Who Waits pulled up another chair and sat opposite the youngster. Signing to him again, He Who Waits began to relate the story to the others.

“He says the Kildashie and Thanatos are up in the castle. They are waiting for midnight to get the Stone – they believe that is the time that it will become free of the iron rings.”

“Then why is he here?” demanded Jack. “Why doesn’t he escape?”

He Who Waits signed again.

“He is looking after the prisoner.”

“Dad?!” squeaked Lizzie. “Where is he? Is he all right?”

Doxer made to put his hand in his pocket, but Phineas’ sceptre was quickly at his throat.

“Easy does it,” he said. “What’s in your pocket?”

Doxer’s eyes grew larger, and his hands began to shake.

“Raglan,” he croaked.

“See? If you scare him, he can talk,” said Rana with evident satisfaction. “Let me have a go.”

“This isn’t a game, Rana,” scolded Phineas. “Do you have any idea of how worried your mother will be? She’s probably in Keldy by now.”

“What d’you mean, the Raglan?” demanded Jack.

Doxer indicated his pocket, and as Phineas trained his sceptre on the youngster, Jack reached inside his pocket and retrieved a lump of sandstone.

“It’s like the one Stegos brought to Novehowe!” Jack’s hand tingled.

“How did you get this?” enquired Phineas. “The Kildashie must know it’s missing.”

Doxer signed again to He Who Waits.

“He says the Raglan was broken into three pieces – he stole this one.”

Jack recalled the missing corner of the Destiny Stone.
So that corner’s been broken into three: this one, the one Stegos had; and Boreus must have the other!

“He says it has kept him alive. The Kildashie do not feed him much, and he has to work long hours. And he has shared it with Doonya.”

“What’s he know about Dad?” squeaked Lizzie.

“He’s kept in the cellar in the house next door,” said He Who Waits, as Doxer signed again. “But the guards have all gone up to the hall tonight.”

“Well, let’s get him,” said Rana.

“I’ll go,” said Phineas. “Doxer will show us the way. The others will need to get up above. It’s nearly midnight.”

They were just about to leave when Doxer bolted upstairs.

“Get him!” shouted Jack.

He Who Waits bounded upstairs after Doxer, and hauled him down quickly.

“He says he has something for you, Jack.”

Doxer proffered a linen bag to Jack, and nodded encouragingly.

“What is it?” demanded Rana.

Jack reached inside and withdrew the vococorn.

“It’s the one Tamlina gave you!” exclaimed Lizzie.

Jack cradled the large ram’s horn. It had been too bulky to take when they’d had to evacuate the square. But it had summoned the monks and the Norse ghosts at Dunvik: without it they couldn’t have defeated the Brashat.

“Tamlina said it would help us to summon allies in our quest,” said Jack softly. “But we’ve got the fjordsmen already. Who else is there?”

Doxer nodded again eagerly.

“We haven’t time for this now,” noted Phineas. “Grey Wolf, take Jack up above with the others. I’ll take the girls to see their father. They can’t go up where there’s fighting in any case.”

The group left the house and parted. Phineas, Rana and Lizzie followed Doxer and He Who Waits next door while Grey Wolf and Jack rejoined the others at the side of the square.

“You took your time,” hissed a fjordsman as Jack approached. “And who’s the boy?”

“Doxer. I used to work with him, in Gilmore’s workshop. He says he’s been kept as a prisoner …”

“So where’s he taking the others?”

“He says Uncle Doonya’s locked up next door. Dad’s gone to get him.”

“We must get up above. Harald will need our help. Jack, you wait here for Phineas and the others.”

A sudden feeling of stillness; and silence; then, “Arrp!”

A shout from the foot of the square, and Doxer came running up, his face showing real concern.

“Tarditas! Kildashie …”

“What!?”

Doxer tried to explain, but the words came out as a jumble. He Who Waits ran up, and watched as Doxer signed frantically.

“He says the Kildashie have stopped time. It will slow down Harald’s men, but not the Unseelie.”

“Then there’s no time to waste,” said Grey Wolf.

The Seelie crew leant up against the rock wall, and at the signal, passed up through the Shian gate to the castle chapel. A freezing wind hit them first, followed by the realisation that something was badly wrong. By the light of several burning torches they could see fjordsmen and Cree sprawled everywhere, while dark-cloaked figures sped among the remaining soldiers, their flashing swords making mayhem.

Jack’s heart jumped up his throat. This wasn’t supposed to be happening!

The new arrivals had no time to adjust. Caught in the Tarditas hex, they all but froze – even Shian sceptres were easy targets for Thanatos swords, and Jack couldn’t even think of counter-hexes. Jack grasped the sandstone lump in his fist, and scrambled to the war memorial porch, then collapsed. The door was bolted shut.

No chance of sheltering inside, then.

The sound of fighting from the great hall reached Jack, and he guessed that Harald and Grandpa had made it that far.

They must’ve got in before the Tarditas hex could be used …

But the
castle courtyard before him wasn’t a pretty sight. Thanatos were felling the fjordsmen and Cree with indecent ease. The skoffin – no longer tiny – was swooping down and snatching away Seelie soldiers before they could organise and fight back. Even some humans –
unlucky souls: caught up in this
– lay sprawled on the ground, their bodies frozen.

The fight was as good as lost, even if some Seelie had made it into the great hall. Outside in the courtyard the fjordsmen just couldn’t get past the Thanatos. A fleeing fjordsman, nearing the shelter of the porch, was felled by a sword blow. He fell before Jack: blood gushed from a head wound, splashing the war memorial steps.

As the blood splattered onto the flagstones, the dark ooze seemed to seep into the stone … and the stone groaned, as if it had been injured itself.

Jack’s eyes opened wide with disbelief as the Thanatos reeled back.

The stones are speaking!

“Jack!” shouted Grey Wolf frantically as he joined him. “Summon the allies!”

Jack peered blankly for a second. Allies?

Then, without consciously thinking it, Jack reached into his cloak and withdrew the vococorn. Putting it to his lips, he blew steadily.

Nothing: for a few seconds anyway. Then a soft shimmering sound that sped across to the castle’s great hall and echoed back again. The wooden door behind Jack creaked open, and two misty figures emerged.