The Mortal Knife (4 page)

The kitchen door burst open and Nathanial came in, looking uncharacteristically flustered. ‘Adam! Thank goodness! We were about to send out a search party. You need to go upstairs and get changed as fast as you can.'

‘Why?' Adam protested.

Nathanial's face was grim. ‘Because we've been Summoned.'

A few minutes later Adam was pacing up and down the tiny TV den. Auntie Jo and Adam's younger sister Chloe were sitting on the sofa half asleep. Both were smartly dressed; or at least Auntie Jo wasn't wearing a kaftan, which was pretty much as smart as she got. She didn't even look like her brother Nathanial – where he was tall and thin, Auntie Jo was short and plump. Where Nathanial was always smartly dressed, Auntie Jo looked like she had dressed in the dark and then jumped backwards through a hedge just to finish off the job. The only things they had in common were their pale complexions, dark hair and blue eyes. Adam, like Auntie Jo, hated getting dressed up. He had changed from his uniform into a suit, seething with resentment.

‘Stop pacing,' Auntie Jo grumbled through a mouthful of toast. ‘You're making my head hurt.'

‘Last night's whisky is making your head hurt more like,' Adam muttered but he perched on the arm of the sofa beside Chloe. There had been an unexpected visitor – Alexander, Heinrich's son. Heinrich was Chief Curator – head of the Concilium, the Luman authorities. He and the other Curators had sent their sons around the globe, gathering Lumen, both male and female. Adam's heart rate had slowed down a little when he realised they weren't just looking for him. Aron and Luc had been sent to Summon the other British Lumen. Adam got to stay at home thanks to being at school – and his habit of getting nosebleeds every time he swooped. No one wanted a blood-spattered waif arriving on their doorstep.

‘But why are we being Summoned?' Chloe said. ‘Who are we being Summoned
by
?'

Auntie Jo yawned hugely, exposing a horrible mouthful of mushed-up toast. ‘The Fates of course. Don't you remember your lessons? I didn't spend all those afternoons teaching you Luman history just so you could forget every word of it!'

Chloe scowled. ‘How could I forget? Maybe if I'm lucky I can pass it on to
my
kids someday, since I can't be a Luman. What a thrill
that
will be.' Every word dripped sarcasm.

Adam felt a sneaking sympathy for Chloe and Auntie Jo. Only men could be Lumen, not women. The irony was Nathanial needed all the help he could get, especially because Adam was so rubbish as a Luman. Chloe and Auntie Jo would be
far
better Lumen than Adam – but female Lumen were expected to stay at home cooking, cleaning and having babies. Unless of course they were Auntie Jo, who remained stubbornly unmarried and instead spent her days watching zombie movies, reading online horoscopes and consuming vast quantities of toast and whisky.

Auntie Jo sighed. ‘Someday Luman laws may change and you'll be able to be a Luman. Until then you need to keep the knowledge safely in your head, ready to pass on – just like I did for you.'

Chloe's mouth set in a defiant line. ‘I know the paths of the Unknown Roads inside out. I should just break the law! Just swoop off and guide a soul before anyone can stop me. After all, Adam broke the law and they haven't killed
him
yet!'

Adam glared at her. ‘I'm allowed to send souls into their Light. I just shouldn't have done it on my own before I've come of age.' He wasn't of course going to admit the rest, especially the bit about saving other people or deliberately not giving the soul any directions for the other side. Those bits really
would
get him killed.

Chloe shrugged. ‘Anyway, I don't see why we have to drop everything when the Fates call.'

Auntie Jo rolled her eyes. ‘A Luman's job is to assist the Fates,
that's
why we drop everything. And yes,
they
take orders too. But they're higher up the food chain than us and that makes them important. It's actually an honour to see the Fates, you know. Most Lumen never get to see them because they serve for such a long time.'

‘So what's a Summoning?' Adam had tried to play it cool but he was just as curious as Chloe.

‘Well a Summoning usually happens when one of the Fates has gone into her Light. They live a lot longer than us if they want to but they're not immortal. Sooner or later each of them will stand aside and a new Fate take their place. I don't know for sure but Atropos has been there for a long time. I wouldn't be surprised if she's the one who stood aside and needed a successor.'

Adam shivered. He didn't remember everything Auntie Jo had taught him but he did remember the role that every Fate played. Clotho was the spinner, who wove each human life into existence. Lachesis was the rod-bearer, the Fate who measured out the lifespan appointed to every human. And Atropos  …  well, Atropos was the thread-cutter, keeper of the Mortal Knife – the knife which cut the thread of every human life. Of all the Fates, she was the one most to be feared.
Especially
if, like Adam, you were a rogue Luman, saving souls you shouldn't be saving.

Elise hurried in, still pushing one pearl earring into place. Adam glanced at his mother, feeling his usual discomfort in her presence. He had always been a disappointment to her but after last weekend's events she could hardly bear to look at him. Her voice was husky with cigarettes, making her French accent more distinct. ‘Your brothers have returned. We must go.' She nodded her approval at Chloe, rolled her eyes at Auntie Jo's scruffy attire and frowned at Adam. ‘Fix your tie!
Vite!
'

His mother was always an elegant perfectionist but today she seemed nervous. Adam gritted his teeth and followed her into the hall. Nathanial was pulling on his camel-hair coat while Aron, his eldest brother, shifted uncomfortably in his suit. He liked working out and the jacket looked tight across his burly shoulders. Luc as usual seemed completely at ease.

Nathanial glanced around and smiled. ‘You all look very smart.' He was holding a small leather pouch and when he emptied it a mound of stones gleamed in his palm. ‘You'll each need one of these. It's very important that you don't lose it.'

Adam took a stone and examined it curiously. It was a crystal of some sort, cloudy glass with a dull shimmer. He could hear Chloe admiring it.

Nathanial held his up. ‘This is a token. We are travelling to the Realm of the Lady Fates – a great honour. It is likely that you will never enter this realm again. Only someone possessing a token from their realm can find the Fates. Have you all got your keystones?' He looked satisfied at their nods. ‘Good. Let's go.'

Too late Adam remembered the one crucial item he had forgotten. He cleared his throat. ‘I  …  erm  …  I need to get something.'

Six pairs of eyes of eyes swivelled towards him. His mother made an irritated sound. ‘What have you forgotten?'

Adam's cheeks felt like they were on fire. He stared at the hall floor. ‘I need a handkerchief.'

There was a puzzled silence, then Nathanial put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ‘It's OK, Adam. We're not guiding a soul so we won't be swooping there. You won't need to worry about a nosebleed.'

Adam blinked at his father. ‘But how are we going to get there?'

Nathanial raised an eyebrow. ‘We're going to walk.'

The Mortsons traipsed out into the garden. Sam and Morty were back in their pen, keystones gleaming on their collars. They were working dogs but for today they were staying at home. When they realised this their tails drooped and they whined in protest.

Nathanial nodded and everyone else clasped their keystones and stepped forward into the Hinterland. Adam blinked around, trying to get his bearings. All around them lay their familiar surroundings – the garden, the house, the dogs yelping in their pen. And yet  …  everything was different. It was hard to explain how; some quality in the light made it clear they were no longer in the physical world. Adam looked at the house. If he walked towards it he could walk right through the wall.

It was always weird being in the Hinterland. Adam could still see the physical world but he was no longer there. The keystone he always wore around his neck helped him move between worlds. Once Adam came of age and got Marked like his father he wouldn't need a keystone any more but until then he relied on it to do what he had to do.

Nathanial waited until he had their total attention. ‘None of you have ever entered the Realm of the Fates before and getting there can be somewhat  …  challenging. I don't want anyone to get lost.' He avoided looking at Adam but Adam's cheeks flushed all the same.

‘Oh, stop being so dramatic,' Auntie Jo grumbled. ‘You'll scare us all out of our wits and then we'll definitely never get there.'

Nathanial gave her a quelling stare. Adam was getting nervous. He couldn't even swoop without almost drowning in his own blood. He'd been relieved when Nathanial said they were walking but it wasn't sounding so straightforward any longer  … 

‘I don't want to frighten anyone but this really is very important. We'll all be fine but you'll need to pay close attention.' Nathanial hesitated. ‘You see normally in the Hinterland we see it the way we want to see it, rather than as it actually
is
. Our minds cling on to the familiar and so it appears the Hinterland is simply laid over the physical world. In fact, the Hinterland is rather different.'

‘Different how?' Luc asked. He didn't seem freaked out, just interested. For the thousandth time Adam found himself envying his brother's complete lack of fear.

Nathanial smiled and half shrugged. ‘It's a little difficult to explain, so you're going to have to just trust me. We're going to start walking – it doesn't matter where, or which direction we walk in; that's not important. What
is
important is that you focus your entire mind on the token I've given you. The physical world will disappear and you'll see the Hinterland as it truly is. The shock will probably jolt you back – but that's OK. Just take a deep breath and focus on the token, until the physical world disappears again.'

‘What will we see instead?' Chloe was fidgeting with her hair, twisting it round her finger the way she always did when she was nervous.

Nathanial hesitated. ‘Well, my dear  …  you'll see nothing.'

There was a long pause. Adam and Luc exchanged glances. Why was their father being so
serious
? After all, he had been to the Realm of the Fates before when he was made High Luman – and
he
had lived to tell the tale!

‘What I mean is the Hinterland is simply a borderland, a place between realms. When the physical world disappears there's nothing there.'

‘Right. So we just walk until everything disappears,' Auntie Jo said. ‘And then  …  ?'

‘A doorway will appear. A door into the Realm of the Fates.'

‘Well, that doesn't sound so bad,' Auntie Jo said cheerfully. ‘Really brother, you should have been on the stage! You had us all frightened to death! Shall we go?'

They started walking. Adam almost relaxed – until he saw the look that passed between Nathanial and Auntie Jo. She narrowed her eyes and shook her head almost imperceptibly. Nathanial pursed his lips and nodded. Elise was walking ahead but she had one protective hand on Chloe's shoulder. Adam frowned. There was something they weren't being told  … 

They walked for several minutes, crossing roads and gardens, moving through fences and walls. ‘Ignore what's around you,' Nathanial said. ‘Focus on the token in your hand.'

It was Chloe who saw what they were looking for first. She stopped with a surprised ‘Oh', blinked and looked around. ‘Everything disappeared! It's back now though.'

Nathanial looked pleased – but apprehensive too. He glanced at his watch. ‘Good. Now, when the physical world disappears again, keep focusing on the token. A doorway will appear. Step through it and wait for us there.' He turned to his wife. ‘Elise, stay with her please.'

They kept walking. Adam was just beginning to get bored when quite suddenly Chloe and Elise disappeared. He stopped in shock. Nathanial gave him a reassuring smile. ‘It's OK, Adam. They've found the doorway and gone through. Keep going.'

Aron and Luc were next to go. One second they were there; the next they were gone. Auntie Jo turned to Nathanial. ‘Do you want me to wait with you?'

He shook his head. ‘Best not to linger. We'll see you soon.'

She hesitated, then nodded. ‘OK.' She turned to Adam, unusually serious. ‘Concentrate! Hold on to the token.' She turned her back on them and walked ahead. In less than a minute she was gone.

Adam stopped, feeling rattled. Nathanial forced a smile. ‘See anything  …  unusual yet?'

Adam raised an eyebrow. ‘Yeah, you could say that. People keep disappearing!'

Nathanial tried to sound comforting. ‘You're just getting distracted by the physical world. Try closing your eyes – there's nothing to bump into here.'

Adam gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. It was hard walking along without being able to see. His
brain
knew he wasn't going to walk into anything but his body found it freaky. He focused on the token. It was smooth but there was a ridge at one end. He tried to send his whole mind down his arm and into his fingertips, concentrating on the hard edge.

Nathanial's soft voice broke into the silence. ‘Keep your eyes closed, Adam. When you open them the physical world will be gone and in its place there will be nothing. Just grey light. Don't be frightened – no harm will come to you. Now hold the token and open your eyes.'

Adam inched one eye open a crack, then both eyes popped open with surprise. The world was gone. Nathanial hadn't been joking –
there was nothing there
! There were no cars or roads or trees, just a dim blue-grey light, like dusk. No sky above him nor ground beneath his feet, just soft, cloudy light  …  It was having nothing beneath him that jolted Adam the most. He stopped and swayed, gripped by a sudden panic. Nathanial seized his arm but it was too late. The Hinterland snapped back to normal – a pale overlay on top of the physical world. They were in the middle of a road, traffic roaring past them on either side, close enough to touch if they were in the physical world.

Nathanial squeezed his bruised arm, making Adam wince. ‘That's the hardest bit over. Close your eyes and try again. Trust me. I'm right beside you.'

Adam's heartbeat was returning to something like normal. He tried to shake off his fear and to his surprise it was easy because now he was getting angry. He did pretty well at school, so why was he always so rubbish at anything Luman-related? Chloe got the hang of it faster than him, even though
she
couldn't be a Luman and only came into the Hinterland to go and visit other Lumen!

Strangely, being angry made it easier to concentrate. He marched forward again, eyes squeezed shut, clenching his fist so tight the stone hurt his palm. When he opened his eyes he saw only Nathanial and the dim light. ‘OK, I see the grey stuff again.'

‘Good!' Nathanial glanced at his watch again, sounding relieved. ‘Let's walk a little faster. You're going to see a doorway ahead of you. Just give it time to appear and tell me when you see it.'

Adam kept moving, wishing the door would appear so he could get this all over with. He was fed up and his father was making him nervous. Nathanial's face was calm but his body was stiff with tension. He kept glancing around, trying to look casual, but he was alert, watching for something.

Just as Adam might have stopped and snapped at Nathanial, the doorway appeared. ‘I see it!' Adam blurted out, amazed. ‘It's right there in front of me!'

‘Excellent!' Nathanial said. His relief was palpable. ‘You timed it well. Let's go.'

Light spilled through the doorway, not unlike the Light that waited for each soul after death. The thought made Adam pause. ‘We're not going on to the Unknown Roads, are we?'

‘No. Keep going!' Nathanial barked, looking over his shoulder and propelling Adam along by the shoulder. ‘Step through!'

Before he even knew what was happening Adam was through the doorway – and staring in wonder at the scene before him.

They were standing at the top of a vast amphitheatre. High stone steps dropped away below, doubling as seats for the thousands of Lumen men and their families who had gathered. Adam blinked, trying to understand what he was seeing, but it was hard. He was looking at most of the Lumen in the world.

Behind him was a long line of arches, most of them acting as doorways from the Hinterland. Families were stepping through, alone or in pairs, then waiting anxiously for relatives to arrive or peering around the auditorium for seats. There were statues everywhere, all of women, each holding a scroll, a measuring rod or a dagger. The one nearest Adam showed a beautiful, stern-faced woman holding a rod. At the base was engraved ‘Lachesis XII'. At a rapid guesstimate there must have been hundreds of statues, each representing a Fate who had served and then passed through her Light into the afterlife. The Fates had been serving for thousands of years.

Adam looked down and shivered. At the bottom of the amphitheatre was a flat semi-circular stage. A high wall ran along the back with a huge arch at the centre. Even from here Adam could see the ornate carving round the top of the arch and along the three stone plinths in the centre of the stage.

A familiar voice drawled in Adam's ear, ‘I thought you were lost.' Luc grinned at his father and brother and gestured below. ‘We found our seats.'

They followed him down, although Nathanial was so busy being greeted by other Lumen that they soon abandoned him. Luc led the way, nodding at some of the men and flashing his most dazzling smile every time they passed a teenage girl. He whispered to Adam, ‘Just think bro, your future wife is here somewhere. I reckon that's her right there.' He pointed at a sullen-faced girl who was scowling out from beneath beetle brows. Adam caught her eye and looked away hastily.

Luc seemed to know exactly where he was going and Adam wondered how – until he noticed that behind the stone seats there were standards, the kind that ancient armies carried. Each standard bore the symbol of a Luman family but Adam only recognised a few. He probably should have paid more attention to the Luman history he'd been taught as a kid but it was always so boring, learning all the different family seals and how many High Lumen had been in their line. Elise loved all that stuff but Adam couldn't care less. After all, he might be a Mortson, but it didn't seem to have made him a better Luman.

‘We're way, way down near the front,' Luc said, weaving in and out between men and women calling greetings and embracing one another. ‘Mother's delighted that we're going to be so close to the Fates, although some of the French Lumen are ahead of us.'

Adam rolled his eyes. Elise had a keen sense of honour and their position in the Luman hierarchy. ‘I never knew there were so many of us.'

Luc's eyes were gleaming. ‘I never knew there were so many girls! And some of them are hot! Maybe I should give the whole betrothal thing a go after all.'

Adam grinned. It was the first time in his life that he had seen all the Luman families gathered together in one place, although some of the women and young children were missing. Presumably a child had to be of swooping age to have learned how to get into the Hinterland. Some of the coming-of-age balls were major events but even they would only involve a few hundred people. Death never stopped and Lumen were never totally off duty. The thought made him pause. ‘What's going to happen to the souls while we're here? Who's going to guide them?'

Luc raised his eyebrows. ‘Think about it, stupid. If the Fates are busy talking to us  … '

‘Then they're not going to be killing anybody,' Adam murmured, finishing Luc's sentence and feeling a little queasy.

‘Exactly. Just think about it. As long as we're here and the Fates are busy, not a single person in the whole world is going to die. Freaky!'

Adam nodded, his mind boggling at the idea. He wondered how long the Summoning would last. Maybe if they could drag it on for a while they could spare a whole lot of people  … 

A familiar placard caught his eyes – a flaming torch set in a black circle. It was the Mortson seal and Auntie Jo and Chloe sat beneath it, looking doleful. Elise and Aron were standing a few rows down, making stilted conversation with some of Elise's French family. Auntie Jo stood up and gave Adam an awkward hug, her face full of relief. ‘You made it, then!'

Adam pulled away, half pleased and half embarrassed. ‘Of course I made it. Why wouldn't I?'

‘No reason,' Auntie Jo said with a rather forced grin. ‘What do you think?' She gestured at the scene before them.

‘It's amazing,' Adam said truthfully. It was weird enough knowing the Hinterland lay on top of the physical world but this was another realm again. ‘How many of these places are there?'

Auntie Jo shrugged. ‘Who knows? If you become High Luman and get your hands on
The Book of the Unknown Roads
you'd probably learn more. The Hinterland and this place are entry-level stuff. There could be thousands of realms if we only knew how to get into them.'