words were articulate.
“It is unheard of!” The elf protested, now in uncharted territory.
“A solo Knight Sentinel is also unheard of,” Mr Duir said. “I see no conflict in what this soul seeks.”
More silent conferring and at length the elf nodded.
“So be it. Custodian, continue.”
Now the Dryad Elder moved forward and disappeared into a haze as he began twirling and spinning around the ogre. Mr Duir reached back and placed his hand on Cue’s head. Then he raised his left arm and a beam of white light so bright Seb had to shield his eyes, shot forward and struck the hazy column the Dryad had formed around the ogre. The whole thing set ablaze, becoming a pillar of white fire. A mist trail tore from it, slamming into Mr Duir’s chest. He closed his eyes. A second later it re-emerged to return to the blazing column of white fire.
Mr Duir spoke. “You are bound to service. You are bound to this site, Ancient and Sacred, and you are bound to guard without ceasing any Custodian who treads foot herein and the soul you knew last as your daughter. To that end you are named, Knight Sentinel.” As Mr Duir spoke, his voice told of the physical effort he was having to use to channel the power of the wolves. “The naming of your year is …” there was a pause. From behind Seb couldn’t see Mr Duir’s lips moving but knew he had stated a span of time – ninety-five years, he guessed. “Is that satisfactory to you?”
And now the rasping voice was gone, changed to a sound like a whisper carried on the wind.
“Sufficient to Serve.”
With that there was a thunderclap. Mr Duir let his left arm drop, the column of white fire disappeared and, standing in the centre of the plinth, was the imposing figure of a tall Knight Sentinel.
Everything about him shone, from the gleaming chain mail and helmet to the glistening sword and scabbard. Even the pristine white of his tunic and shield seemed to shimmer in contrast to the vivid red crosses on each.
And from the crack in the helmet two keen eyes stared at Seb. His heart pounded. They were unmistakeably his father’s.
Seb felt the sudden urge to run over and hug this figure but checked himself. The eyes moved to Scarlet and Seb saw his sister take a faltering step forward. The Dryad Elder, standing beside her, lightly touched her arm, holding her back.
The host of fairies broke their links and formed an arc behind the Elders. The wolves remained still. Seb knew what was to come. Mr Duir would dismiss this new knight. After all these years without his father, after weeks of being haunted by his ghostly presence without even knowing it was him, to have him standing before him, unreachable and untouchable was almost worse than having lost him in the first place.
Seb mumbled, “Please don’t send him away. Not yet. He has only just come back.”
Mr Duir stepped towards the knight and turned to face Seb.
“Seb, this soul is a Knight Sentinel, not your father.”
Seb heard the words but couldn’t suppress the hope that the soul knew him. Knights Sentinel took pledges in the full knowledge of the fact that they had been here before and would be here again … and they knew their partners. Seb had seen the pair clasping hands in the cave of carvings. This soul had acknowledged the pledge he had made to Seb, had acknowledged Scarlet as his daughter, clearly remembered he was their father before he had been displaced. There must be enough of that memory left to him. So Seb, grasping Scarlet’s hand, stepped forward.
“Seb,” Mr Duir murmured. “Do not overestimate the bond of kinship in one life. This is now a Knight Sentinel, not your father,” he said.
But Seb was looking at those familiar eyes; eyes he hadn’t seen for five years. And, with Scarlet, he approached the daunting figure and stopped in front of it.
The knight’s eyes followed them but otherwise he didn’t move.
“Dad?” Scarlet asked, her voice shaking. The knight didn’t reply. He stood, hand on hilt, waiting. A tear rolled down her cheek. She reached forward and placed a hand on the white tunic. In a movement so fast it was a blur, the knight unsheathed his sword and to a bone-chilling swishing sound swept it up above his head.
“Stop!” Mr Duir shouted, shining a light beam onto Scarlet’s chest from his hand. “This is The Daughter.”
The knight instantly replaced the sword in its scabbard and then dropped to one knee, head bowed before Scarlet.
He had to be told. He didn’t know it was her! Seb thought and now he realised what Mr Duir had been trying to say. This soul had taken on the life of a knight and past lives meant nothing. Their father had taken the oath to protect his daughter as well as the Custodians but the knight he had become didn’t know one person from another. He had to be told this was his daughter in order to know to protect her, just like when Mr Duir had introduced Seb as a Custodian to the knights in the cave. And to this knight, Seb was no more than a Custodian – not his son. He was their protector, their sentinel, their knight, not their father. His focus was duty, not history.
Mr Duir had said there would be a partial restitution. Well this was it. Seb’s father was at peace but it wasn’t the peace Seb had envisaged.
The Question to End
The knight now froze like a statue before them.
“I am sorry for the life I deprived this soul of,” Mr Duir said, “and sorry for the loss you feel. It is insufficient recompense to you all that he now becomes your protector, but I hope it is some improvement to the cursed existence he had before.”
Scarlet, who had cried a few silent tears and was still holding on to Seb’s hand, looked up at Mr Duir.
“Five years ago we never even got to say goodbye. He simply vanished out of our lives. If Nature had run its course and he had become our brother we would never have known – and neither would he. Our father was just gone. You have given him, and us, the chance to see what has become of each other. I know we can’t hug him, chat to him, live with him, but we know he is there and he gets to look after us, which is what he wanted.”
Mr Duir didn’t speak. Seb guessed this man would never see a silver lining to any of this and nor would he ever accept it was not his fault. But Seb agreed with Scarlet. The relationship with their father’s soul was not ended and he found it comforting as he looked at the proud knight in front of them.
Mr Duir turned to the Elders. With a bow he said, “The equinox is near.”
The elf bowed in return.
“Now begins the Question to End,” he said.
The eight wolves and the gathering of fairies disappeared. Only Cue remained, standing beside Mr Duir.
The elf rejoined the ancient Dryad and the fairy and Mr West indicated for Seb and the others to stand along one side of the triangle. The teachers, except Mr Duir, stood opposite them with The Caretaker. Mr Duir moved across to the vertex in front of the diamond, facing the three Elders.
There was no preamble, no explanation. The elf spoke.
“Custodian, is it the end?” he asked.
Seb’s heart was in his mouth, waiting for Mr Duir’s answer. He was worried that, having been through such a gruelling experience last night, having faced death and the Soul Drop, Mr Duir had decided it was enough. And then what would Seb do? He would be left as the sole Custodian and he would have to bear the responsibility of the Restoration in three months at the winter solstice, alone.
Seb held his breath.
For the briefest of seconds Mr Duir’s eyes flicked to Seb and then as quickly looked back at the elf. When his answer came Seb noticed The Caretaker’s head lift.
“No.” The Head’s voice was firm, resolute and then he walked over to stand beside the hooded figure but said nothing more.
Now The Caretaker walked to the spot he had left and gazed impassively at the elf.
After a moment’s silence the elf asked, “Guardian, is it the end?”
The Caretaker turned and stared at Mr Duir, giving the answer directly to him.
“For as long as he serves, I will serve
.”
Mr Duir looked horrified. In a shocked voice he said, “Morgan, you cannot!”
The tinkling rose above him. “The pledge is made. The question will not be asked again.”
Before leaving the spot The Caretaker had more to say.
“Aelfric, I had never thought to see any soul willing to make the sacrifice you were willing to make last night. The physical punishment you took to prevent Braddock’s escape or his opening of the Soul Drop was harsh enough, but your willingness to risk banishment to that eternal darkness … with them … in order to save others … For a Custodian, knowing the full implications of such a fate and to accept it anyway … well, that is the noblest of any act I could imagine. What I have said, I have said. My service is tied to yours.”
Seb wasn’t sure if something had gone wrong. Mr Duir seemed appalled.
The Caretaker, without another word or look at anyone, walked over to stand beside Aelfric Duir who now had his head bowed a look of such disbelief and sadness on his face.
Without waiting to be called Miss West stepped forward. Facing the Elders she put a hand to her frizzy hair, trying to tame it slightly.
Almost before the tinkling voice had finished the question, “Guardian, is it the end?” she answered, “For as long as he serves, I will serve.” And she pointed at Aelfric Duir.
Mr Duir looked crushed. He raised his eyes to her. “Trudy,” he said helplessly.
“The pledge is made,” the elf said and Seb thought he detected a note of surprise. “The question will not be asked again.”
Now Mr Duir took one step forward.
“They have had no time to think, to consider what they are doing and they are not aware— ” he addressed the Elders.
The Dryad put up a hand and Miss West returned to stand beside The Caretaker, smiling up at Aelfric Duir.
Next to the vertex, diamond sparkling behind her emaciated form, was Miss Angel. She looked stern, serious, her forehead crumpled into at least five frown lines.
“Seer, is it the end?” the elf asked.
Miss Angel didn’t turn from the elf; she stared directly into his eyes. For a good few seconds she said nothing. Then she looked at the fairy and smiled. Reaching a scrawny hand out she pointed at Mr Duir.
“For as long as he serves, I will serve.”
“No!” Mr Duir seemed to feel her answer like a body blow. “I do not wish this ceremony to continue! This cannot happen.” He looked from the Elders to Miss Angel. “Lily, you cannot tie yourself to me – you do not know what it means. You cannot do this!”
“Aelfric, I know you. And like Morgan and Trudy, I pledge my soul’s service to yours. I am honoured to be one part of your group.” With that she almost skipped back to the line.
Seb had never seen Mr Duir so upset. He thought he should be pleased and wondered what it was that distressed him so much at the loyalty his group and The Caretaker were showing him.
“The pledge is made. The question will not be asked again,” the elf said as Dominic White solemnly took the spot. Like someone preparing to swear an oath to a court, he straightened his clothing and stood more upright.
The elf, more reticent with the question, asked it anyway. “Guide, is it the end?”
After only a moment’s pause Mr White, looking across to Mr Duir, droned his answer. “For as long as he serves, I will serve.”
Mr Duir let out a small groan, “Dominic.” He put a hand over his face.
There was no qualifying speech from Mr White. Straightening his back a bit more, he walked over to Aelfric Duir, who looked devastated. He placed his arms around his shoulders and mumbled words into his ear before releasing him and standing beside a happy-looking Miss Angel.
“The pledge is made. The question will not be asked again,” the elf repeated, more quietly now.
All eyes turned to Mr West. He didn’t go directly to the spot. He shuffled over to stand in front of Lily Angel. She bent down, smiling, and they kissed.
Zach gasped and whispered, “Did any of you know that? Are they … well, are they going out?”
Shuffling further to Mr Duir, Mr West took his hand. “Aelfric, if you could feel the relief and happiness I feel from them all you would not take this so to heart.” Mr Duir looked at him, pain written all over his features. “I do feel your concern, the burden of responsibility and a fear you will cause us all so much suffering. But Aelfric, the only suffering I have ever felt in your service was the hour in which I thought we had lost you. I will not bear that again.” Releasing his hand he waddled over to the vertex and awaited the question.
Mr Duir, head still bowed, could not watch.
“Sensor, is it the end?”
“For as long as Aelfric Duir serves, I will serve,” Mr West said and returned to the line of smiling teachers.
“The pledge is made. The question will not be asked again,” the elf stated.
Aiden and Scarlet were sniffing and Nat was beaming. Zach just looked bemused.
Finally Dierne flitted over and stood opposite the Elders. Before the elf could ask the question Mr Duir stepped forward again.
“You must let me speak with my twin. There is something he needs to know …” His voice was so emotional the elf paused. “Aelfric Duir,” the tinkling eventually continued, “though we understand your position, all these souls are free to make their own choices. That you have sparked in them such loyalty and devotion is unique in all of history. But just because it is unique it is not a reason for the course of the ceremony to change. All know the consequence of their words; all know the power of their pledge. Leave your twin soul free to make his own decision.”
“They do not know!” Mr Duir said angrily. “And if he makes this pledge, he loses his freedom,” he whispered, staring at the elf. “He loses that choice and he loses his chance to one day gain independence from service – and from me.” He turned to Dierne.
The Dryad looked angry now.
“Why would you ever suppose I would want independence from you?” He turned from Mr Duir. “Ask the question,” he rustled at the elf.
Without waiting for a further interruption the elf said, “Weaver, is it the end?”
Dierne was instant with his answer.
“For as long as he serves, I will serve.” With a straight face he whooshed across to hover beside Mr Duir who looked like a broken man.
“The pledge is made. The question will not be asked again,” the elf said finally and nodded.
The smiles of the teachers had gone, the atmosphere was tense as they all looked at the defeated figure of Mr Duir, his shoulders drooped and his head bowed.
And then Zach, punching a fist in the air, yelled, “Woohoo, Team Duir!”
The effect was miraculous. The tension evaporated, the teachers laughed and hugged one another, Dierne hugged The Caretaker and Aiden openly blubbed.
Only Mr Duir did not celebrate.
Seb had no idea what he had just witnessed. Having never seen the ceremony before he didn’t know what should have happened. All he knew was that Mr Duir still looked bereft. He was reacting more as though he had been betrayed than honoured and Seb couldn’t fathom it. The teachers were still smiling. They seemed invigorated, motivated and content. To Seb that was a good thing, but Mr Duir now begged an audience with the Elders and moved over to them, away from the others. Dierne hovered nearby but did not join them.
“What’s wrong?” Seb asked Alice. “Why is he so upset? I would have thought them all agreeing to carry on with him was a good thing.”
Alice didn’t have an answer. “Me too. All I know is what Dierne told me to expect. The normal answers from each person or Dryad are either No, in other words it is not the end or Yes, at which point a new ceremony occurs which is the Sending of the Soul. He told me to expect a long wait from some people because this was the first opportunity Aelfric’s group has had to end their service. It is only an option open to older groups once a new group has been formed. Aelfric’s group have ser
ved for well over two hundred years! They might need time to consider.” He pointed at the hooded figure of The Caretaker who stood quietly with Miss West. “Dierne suggested The Caretaker might choose to end, having lost every other member of Heath’s group. So I am not sure what they have all done and why Aelfric is so upset by it.”
Seb stared at Mr Duir, feeling helpless, until Dierne, seeing the look on his face, fluttered over to him and Alice.
Seb asked him outright, “Why is he so upset?”
The Dryad’s rustling response was so quiet Seb had to strain to hear him.
“We have all given up our independent choice to end. We will serve until Aelfric ends. In all future ceremonies only he will be asked, only his answer will matter.”
Seb still didn’t see why that was such an issue. Dierne continued, even more quietly. “Seb, if one of us tires of this responsibility we cannot stop. Only when Aelfric stops serving will we.”
Light started to dawn for Seb. Mr Duir now had to contend with the fact that one or two of them may, over time, regret their decision, become disaffected, wanting to leave but unable to because of their pledge to him.
“So he may have some of you pressuring him to give up when he isn’t ready to?”
“No Seb, it is more than that. Aelfric himself has told us on countless occasions that he will never give up. He believes so wholeheartedly in what he has been destined to do that he has committed to continue until Nature itself relieves him of that role; which effectively means if some event leads to his physical death. And Seb,” Dierne leaned in closer, “on the day your father’s soul was ousted by that trespasser, the day Aelfric sees as his biggest failure, he made his own pledge. At the end of the equinox he swore he would be a Custodian until Nature took his life!” Dierne let the words sink in and as he saw Seb’s eyes open wide he nodded. “Aelfric cannot be pressured to end, he cannot choose to end. He made his own pledge, and now we have tied ourselves to that promise, to his pledge. We will all continue until Aelfric’s host body dies.”
“So he thinks he has sunk you all, condemned you all, to centuries more of this life.”
Dierne nodded.
“Yes, but the reason he is so upset is that he does not know we know he made that pledge. It was done in secret with the Elders. He believes that we made our pledges thinking that one day he will eventually end his service and yet he knows that is not possible.”
“So why not just tell him?”
Dierne looked away, glancing at Mr Duir and then staring at the diamond twinkling on its pillar. His head dropped slightly as though he were ashamed.
“We broke a trust. On that day, after the equinox, Aelfric was so distraught – he truly believed he had failed in his role, had betrayed his calling. He demanded an audience with the Elders and told us to stay away. But Heath was so concerned about him, probably feeling guilty for his part in keeping Aelfric from the task, that he spied on him. Discovering what Aelfric had done he returned to us wanting to tell all. We decided Aelfric must be permitted to tell us when he chose, if he chose, what