CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Ninepins?” Phoenix laughed. He’d never heard of it but could guess what it must be. He reached for the nearest motionless man. A gentle shove in the right direction and the Roman toppled over like a tin toy soldier. He knocked into the person nearest, who fell and in turn collided with his neighbour. Then, just like dominoes, the soldiers encircling Phoenix and Marcus teetered and fell into one another. One by one, with soft, fleshy sounds and heavy thuds, the wall of men toppled and became a heap.
The falling swelled into waves moving in circles away from the two warriors in the middle. Phoenix & Marcus watched in awe as soldiers dropped like cut wheat. Soon though, the bodies were spaced too far apart; the domino effect slowed and eventually stopped. The boys stood in the centre of what looked like a crop circle of flattened people. Swords, legs and arms stuck up at odd angles.
After exchanging an uneasy look, the companions walked where they could and climbed over the soft bodies where they couldn’t find the ground. It was a very strange experience indeed. They were profoundly glad when they could at last weave their way through standing men past the edge of the camp.
Stopping in a clear area, Phoenix peered into the shifting, moonlit shadows. Jade had to be around here somewhere.
“Which way?” Marcus asked. The silent Roman camp behind them was eerie. They both wanted to put space between them and it.
“To Carega Amgarn, of course,” a voice piped up from nearby.
Phoenix felt a big grin split his face. Marcus’ eyes lit up.
“Brynn?” Phoenix squinted into the gloom. “Is that you?”
The Breton boy stepped into the moonlight. “In the flesh.” He grinned. When Phoenix reached out to envelope him in a rough hug, the boy held out his hands and screwed up his nose. “Not until you’ve had a bath, thanks!”
Phoenix looked down at his blood and sweat-spattered self and had to laugh.
“Coming from you, that means I must smell bad. Where’s Jade?” he demanded, “and how did you two do this?” He swept a hand at the still and silent Roman camp.
Brynn grabbed his arm and tugged. “C’mon. Jade met us coming to get you. She and Truda have gone to Agricola’s tent to get your gear back.”
“She met ‘us’?” Phoenix latched onto the first part. “Who’s ‘us’ and who’s Truda?”
There was movement behind Brynn. A dozen or more Druids stepped forward, lowering their hoods. Dewydd led, his expression contrite. Phoenix turned toward him with a growl but Brynn jumped between them.
“No!”
“They sent us into a trap!” Phoenix snarled.
“That was all negotiated before the Elders spoke with you,” Dewydd said humbly. “The Elders were simply trying to stop the Romans from destroying us; delaying them long enough so we could return the Jewel and keep it out of their hands. We didn’t realise what your Quest entailed. We thought you were simply criminals the Romans were trying to recapture.” Brynn’s brother bowed his head. “I represent the Elders in expressing our deepest regrets. We came to rescue you as soon as a decision had been reached.”
Phoenix stared at him. “You did all this?” He waved a hand back at the soldiers. Dewydd nodded, his face serene.
“How?” The scope of it was dumbfounding.
“It’s complicated magic. It won’t hold long, though, and we don’t really have time to explain right now.” There was the merest flicker of a superior grin on the druid’s mouth. “We must get you all to the Stone Circle in time for the Dawn Spring Equinox ceremony. The Ceremony will allow you to complete your Quest here and get the Jewel of Asgard away from the Romans.”
“But what about Jade?” Phoenix grabbed Dewydd’s arm as the other turned away. “And where is the Jewel?”
“I have already given the Jewel into Jade’s keeping,” the druid pointed, “and she is coming up behind you now.”
Sure enough, within seconds, Jade joined them. With her was a young girl about Brynn’s age. She helped Jade to carry their equipment and weapons. As she handed him his sword and shield, she gave Phoenix a friendly smile, showing even, white teeth and clear blue eyes. Fiery red hair was tightly bound in two long braids down to her waist. She wore a cowled robe like the Druids’ and Dewydd greeted her with a gentle smile.
Phoenix was about to ask who the heck she was, when Dewydd turned away and strode off abruptly into the night without another word. Jade threw him a smile and a nod and followed with Brynn, the girl and the other Druids. Marcus and Phoenix exchanged confused looks and trailed behind. Belatedly, Phoenix realised the redheaded girl must be this Truda, Brynn had mentioned.
Dismissing her as irrelevant, he concentrated on following the others without tripping. Clouds scudded across the moon and the ground was dewy and uneven. Add to that his own weariness from the fight and he was bound to fall on his face if he wasn’t careful.
Marcus moved alongside and sent him a speculative glance.
“Good fight,” he murmured.
Phoenix nodded. A savage grin crept over his mouth as he remembered. It had felt good. They had run away from danger too often on this trip. The fight had been somehow....satisfying. He’d managed to resolve the split in his mind over which fighting style to use. Now he could use both, or either at will. It was so cool. His grin widened. This was what he’d started this game for – adventure; excitement; fun.
Abruptly, he was swept by guilt. Fun? Killing people for fun? At the beginning of this adventure he had been sickened by the idea of killing – even though he’d believed, logically, that this was a game and these people were only digital ghosts. After meeting the old woman he wasn’t so sure of that, yet he’d run into that fight like the most bloodthirsty war monger in history and he’d enjoyed it! Not the killing, he realised but the adrenalin rush of the fight itself. If these people were truly real, what sort of monster did that make him?
Not a monster. Just a gamer; a survivor.
But at what cost? Where was the “do the right thing” ethic he’d discovered only a day or so ago? Was the Warrior stronger than his father’s influence and his Sensei’s example after all? As individuals, each one of those soldiers had done nothing to deserve death at his hands, digital or not.
He was revolted by his own actions. The memory of those deaths rose in his mind, lingering. Over and over the soldiers died in front of him. He heard their screams until he thought he was going to throw up.
“What troubles you?” Marcus gripped his arm, drawing him back to the reality he was living now. Phoenix sent him a worried look.
“I killed at least eight of them.” He ground his teeth to prevent bile rising.
Marcus raised his brows and sent him a ‘so?’ kind of look. “And I killed six. It was us or them.”
“But was it the right thing to do?” Phoenix pleaded, hoping to be absolved.
“It was the only thing we could have done,” Marcus replied firmly. “They died an honourable, soldier’s death. There is nothing to be ashamed of. I don’t understand why you’re distressed. We are at war.”
Phoenix looked away. Surely there must have been another, less deadly, way of escaping if he’d really tried to find it. He’d rushed straight in, eager for battle, blood and thrills. He’d let his father, his Sensei and himself down. Now he was going to pay the price. Those soldiers’ agonised faces would haunt his sleep.
“Hey, Marcus!” Jade’s hail interrupted his thoughts and Phoenix was grateful for it.
“I thought you might like to know that I tipped an entire jug of wine over your father’s head and stuck a grape up his nose while he was frozen.”
Marcus stared at her in shock for a moment. Then, to the amazement of everyone who knew him, his calm face lit up in a smile of the most unholy delight. Brynn giggled. Marcus grinned more widely then he too began to chuckle. Bef
ore long, all four companions were laughing hard, holding their sides and hugging each other in relief.
It was several moments before Dewydd could bring their attention back to the matter at hand and get them moving again.
“Thanks for rescuing us – again.” Phoenix smiled wryly at Jade, pushing his darker thoughts aside.
She smiled back, a hint of respect in her eyes. “You guys seemed to be doing pretty well on your own against a hundred or so soldiers. I just figured I should get the heck out of there while I could and leave you to it.”
“Sure you did.” Phoenix refused to rise to her teasing.
“It was Plan B, after all. Anyway,” she added diffidently, “it’s Dewydd and the others who did the magic-freezy trick. Brynn had already convinced them to come to our rescue.”
“Remind me to thank both of them later.”
“You may not have time.” Jade pointed ahead.
Dimly, Phoenix could just make out silhouettes of the massive standing stones of Stonehenge not far away. A faint grey light coloured the eastern sky. It was close to dawn. Dewydd had said they needed to be at the stone circle before the Spring Equinox ceremony was completed. Why, Phoenix didn’t know. He still wasn’t even sure what an Equinox was but he was willing to go on faith for the moment, too tired to do much else. So the weary group picked up their pace until they were almost running across the plain.
The group arrived from the northeast, topping a slight rise just as the first pinks of sunrise began to colour the sky. Phoenix had never actually been to Stonehenge in his own time and he was awestruck by the sheer majesty of the structure. Not only were the stones massive but all of them were in place, just as they had appeared in the hologram shown by their amulets. Jade clutched at Phoenix’s arm and the two stopped for a moment, both stunned by the timeless strength and majesty of the scene before them.
The clouds cleared. The moon had almost set. Overhead and in the west the last few stars sparkled dimly in a washed purple sky. Stonehenge stood magnificently alone in the middle of the plain, its outer ring of enormous grey sarsen stones beginning to catch faint hints of pink.
There were thirty of them; each one four metres high and two wide. Set in a massive circle, every stone was joined to the next by a perfectly-fitted lintel stone lying atop. Within that circle, Phoenix could just make out the inner circle of shorter bluestones. Inside that was a horseshoe of five groups of three huge stones - two vertical and one atop in each set. They looked like five giant doorways. Finally, mirroring those, was a horseshoe setting of more bluestones.
Phoenix glanced at Jade but her gaze was fixed on the great circle. She squinted and blinked at it, tilting her head this way and that. He knew what that meant.
“Magic?”
She nodded. “Lots. I can...kind of...see people inside. Druids, I think.”
Phoenix stared but to him Stonehenge seemed empty. He gave up, taking her word for it. “We should get a move on then.”
Just as he said it, Dewydd waved them forward urgently. The entire group began to run the last few hundred metres to the sacred site, their breath puffing in the cold morning air. Phoenix grinned even though his legs ached. They were nearly there. A few more minutes and they would have confounded Agricola and Zhudai and be into the next level of the Game.
He wasn’t quite sure why they had to be involved in the Spring Equinox Ceremony but everyone else seemed to believe it was vitally important, so he figured it must be. Heck, if all they had needed was the Jewel, and Jade had that then surely the Quest was over. So if it wasn’t then logic said they needed to take one more step. Hopefully this druid ceremony was it.
As if sensing his confusion, Jade slipped in beside him and gave a quick explanation.
“The Vernal Equinox...” She stopped as he blinked at her in mystification. “OK, the Spring Equinox then, is the day when the sun rises right over the Equator. It means spring is definitely here and winter is over. So the Druids thank the Goddess. They celebrate the rebirth of the Earth, animals and plants, and the land’s readiness for planting of summer crops and stuff.” She added as an afterthought, “It was the original Easter celebration, really.”
“O...K...” he puffed as they ran. “I’m not sure I needed to know that but thanks anyway.”
She rolled her eyes. “Honestly.” She jogged ahead, clearly annoyed that he wasn’t interested in her history lecture.
Phoenix sighed. He couldn’t help it if she was a walking encyclopaedia and he wasn’t.
He glanced around. Marcus had fallen slightly behind. The wound on his leg must be giving him trouble. Phoenix slowed down and waited. Ahead, Dewydd ushered his fellow druids, Jade, Brynn & Truda beneath the gigantic sarsen stone ring. Even though he’d sort of expected it, Phoenix still found it unnerving when they all vanished as they passed beneath the lintel stones. Dewydd stayed and waved at them to hurry up. Panting and limping, Marcus caught up with him and the two joined the druid.
“We must hurry.” Dewydd urged.
“Yeah,” Phoenix nodded, “I can see it’s almost dawn but Marcus is hurt and I’m not leaving him behind.” He hooked the Roman boy’s arm over his own shoulder and took some of his weight. Marcus grunted thanks, his face pale and set.
“He’s not the problem.” Dewydd pointed back the way they had come. “They are.”
The boys turned to look – and groaned. Sweeping down the hill, was a wall of scarlet and leather: soldiers. It seemed like most of the Roman encampment had turned out en force to recapture the fugitives.
“They’ve seen us,” Phoenix yelled. “Will your magic keep them out?”
Dewydd shook his head. “It’s only an illusion that prevents people seeing inside the stone circle. We cannot be cut off from the Earth by a shield at this moment. It’s a time to celebrate our connection to the world, not isolate ourselves. If we raise a shield the ceremony won’t work and the portal you must pass through will not open. Your quest would be incomplete and you would be recaptured.” He looked gravely at the two boys. “You cannot allow the Jewel of Asgard to fall into the hands of the Romans or Feng Zhudai. They would have too much power and the Balance and Harmony of the Earth would be disrupted.”
Phoenix snapped a quick frown at the druid, remembering the Yin-Yang, Balance and Harmony amulet he and Jade wore. Could it be just a co-incidence or had the Druid said something significant?
“How much time do we have?” Marcus asked through gritted teeth.
“Our people will do what they can to keep the Romans outside the circle,” the druid replied. “The Elders have begun the ceremony. You must stay together. Phoenix,” Dewydd thrust a small, cloth-wrapped item into his hand and closed his fingers over it, “use this when the time comes. Give it to whoever asks for the Jewel. It will buy you enough time to escape through the portal, if you need it. Brynn will show you the portal, when it opens.” As he spoke, he pushed them between the stones.
Bemused, Phoenix tucked the small parcel into the front of his shirt and hurried on.
Inside, he spared little time on being surprised by the number of brown-robed druids milling about. There seemed to be hundreds and many carried quarterstaves and clubs. A path opened. Phoenix helped Marcus through the respectful crowd to where Jade and the others stood, loosely encircling a large altar stone.
She cast them a concerned look but he waved her back. There simply wasn’t enough time to heal them and he doubted she had the energy right now anyway. Several of the Elders nodded regally in acknowledgement as the companions reunited.
At the altar, an ancient druid chanted something unintelligible. He turned and faced east, toward the rising sun. His voice rose and fell like the sea. Soon Phoenix could almost taste the purple-blue tzing of magic in the air. His whole body began to hum and he felt the insane urge to tak
e his shoes off and dig his toes into the soft earth beneath. He thought he could actually feel grass growing under his boots. Each breath of morning air seemed to taste sweeter than the last; a dawn chorus of birdsongs swelled to fill the sky.
Jade’s eyes were wide with awe. Marcus drew a surprised breath and ducked out from beneath Phoenix’s arm. Glancing down in amazement, Phoenix noticed the ground was now carpeted with flowers of every sort, with more opening each second. The young girl, Truda, bent down, patted the ground like it was a sleeping puppy then calmly picked dozens of blooms and laid them on the altar like an offering. He felt a tug on his sleeve and saw Marcus pointing to his wounded leg. Phoenix raised his eyebrows in surprise. The deep thigh slice had healed into a thin, white scar. Inspecting themselves, the two fighters realised all of their injuries were similarly cured.
Just as the first, shimmering sliver of sunlight peeked above the horizon, the ancient druid’s chant became a shouted, joyous song of life. As he raised his arms, his cry was echoed by hundreds of deep voices and hundreds of lifted arms all around them. Phoenix felt a kind of soft explosion thump through his body and radiate outward from the stone circle. In the distance, even the Roman soldiers staggered as it passed through their ranks.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed the space between the largest set of three sarsen stones quiver and shine like the surface of liquid. As he tried to make sense of what it might mean, Brynn grabbed at his arm.
“There!” He pointed excitedly at it. “That’s the portal. Quick!” He dragged Phoenix forward. “It’ll only stay open a short time. If we miss it the chance won’t come again until the Autumn Equinox.”
“But the Jewel!” Phoenix protested.
“We have it,” Jade answered. “Come on!”
The companions were moving toward the portal when, in a horrible parody of that worshipful druid chant, the Roman horde fell upon the druids with a bloodcurdling battle cry.
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