Arrival

  She accepted the milk and said good night. Closing the door, she let out a sigh of relief. Or was it?

  Jane was privately glad she was alone in the room. Glad that her embarrassment was her own. Fern was getting married. It was too easy to block this out of her mind while they were away together, but she knew that as soon as they got back, Fern would marry his fiancée.

  There was another knock at the door and Jane stood to open it. No doubt it would be the girl, come to collect her cup.

  It wasn’t the serving girl.

  Fern was standing at the door, casually leaning against the frame. He gave a shrug and a small grin. “Spotted. I’m far too clever for such an obvious hiding spot. Now you’re mine for the night.”

  “That’s not funny at all,” she said bluntly. “What are you doing here?”

  He blinked. “Can I come in, or are you going to make me stand out here all night?”

  She hesitated.

  “I just want to talk to you,” he assured her and Jane opened the door wider. He walked in and they looked at each other for a moment.

  “What are you doing in here by yourself?” he asked. “Why didn’t you play?”

  She shook her head, looking at the floor. “I didn’t want to.”

  “Why, Jane?” he pressed softly.

  It was like her mouth was glued shut. She couldn’t open it, nor look at him.

  Then she heard him laugh softly. “I should have known,” he grinned, his mouth wide and his teeth white.

  “Should have known what?”

  “You would be far too clever for games like those.”

  Her eyes snapped up to him, and his soft amusement, and she couldn’t help but smile in return. He was just ... Fern. Always kind, underneath the jokes. Always understanding.

  Fern took half-a-step forward and said, “Jane, I—” He paused for a moment and then grinned ruefully. Afterwards, Jane was able to think back to that moment and remember that smile. He was what he was, and there was always laughter in him.

  He ran a hand through his dark hair and looked at her. “I always honour my promises. So I only came here to tell you—and when else, if not tonight—that I love you.”

  Jane’s world rocked in that moment. And amidst the rocking, she had a strange feeling that those words were being reflected through time and worlds and lives. Then it stilled, and there was just Fern, standing in front of her.

  Her heart thumped painfully.

  “You’ve made me understand what love is,” he said. Then he shrugged and walked to the door.

  “Is that all?” she gasped, panic clutching inside her. “You’re going to leave me with that?”

  “What else can I say?” he asked, turning back to her. “I could tell you for hours how I lose my breath every time I see you, and that my life has only seemed to make sense since I met you. But why say these things, Jane, however true they may be, when we both know they will change nothing in this god-cursed situation?”

  “Fern—” she tried, but there was nothing she could think of to say. He was right, of course. But there was a pain in her chest that she wanted, hopelessly, to ease.

  She took a clumsy step forward. Tears welled in her eyes. “You have always said that I don’t need anyone. That I shape my life around being alone, and you are right. I have made sure that I would never need another person to be happy. But Fern, I need you. I’ve needed you since the moment I opened my eyes on that cliff, and I’ll need you for the rest of my life.”

  He breathed out a long sigh and closed his eyes, leaning his head against the door frame.

  “There must be something we can...?” she tried.

  So much understanding in those grey eyes. She tried to drink it in, all of it. Everything he could give her she tried to savour in those few moments, knowing, horribly, that this might be her only chance.

  “I don’t think there is,” he said, and for a second, only the tiniest second, she thought he might weep. He didn’t of course. “I must do my duty.”

  “Go then,” she whispered.

  He nodded again, and once more he turned to the door. Without turning, his back towards her, he said, “I love you so much it hurts, Jane.”

  She felt the tears spill out of her eyes and onto her cheeks, but willed herself not to make a sound. Softly, as calmly as she could, she said. “The mermaid told me that love would save me. But all I feel is scared.” Jane’s words were slurred a little because she had begun to cry.

  Fern turned then.

  “I know, sweetheart,” he said gently, looking into her eyes. “So do I. But maybe just loving each other can be enough.”

  She had been uncertain about falling in love. She had always known why. Because it would hurt so much. But how had she known? How could she explain the alarm bells that had been ringing in her mind since the very first time she’d seen him?

  They looked at each other for a long moment then, each on one side of an un-crossable room, grey eyes into brown. He seemed as though he was going to say something, but he only sighed and she saw his shoulders slump.

  Then he nodded a third time, smiled again in the end, and left, closing the door behind him. Jane was left on her own to realise that Beltane had not brought her soul mate to her, but only made her understand how far away he truly was.

  Chapter 23

  “Land Ho!” Harry ran up onto the deck and looked out to sea. He could just make out the grey haze on the horizon. It was several days after Beltane, and they had three weeks left to get the book back before Accolon set sail for Lapis Matyr. Time was running out and they had no idea where on the Isle of Guanu they were going to find the book.

  The voyagers stood on deck and stared across the sea. Jane and Fern stood as far apart as they could on the small deck and had been doing so since Beltane.

  “How was your night?” she’d asked Harry the next morning.

  He’d felt the colour come to his cheeks as he’d mumbled something in return.

  “Who did you find at sunset?” Jane asked.

  Harry scratched his arm and looked at the ground. Sighing, he muttered, “No one.”

  “What do you mean no one?”

  “I didn’t find anyone! All the girls had already been spotted by someone else.”

  Jane had stared at him for a long moment, then burst out laughing. “Oh, Harry, I’m sorry.”

  It figured that he would be the only guy unable to find someone, even if only to have a drink with.

  The voyage had gone by very slowly and the travellers were tired. Harry was extremely glad to be arriving. Such close confinement for over a week was starting to rake at their nerves.

  As the day went on, land loomed before them, but it was dark by the time they arrived. They sailed around the island but couldn’t find a place to dock, so the ship anchored and they rowed ashore in long boats.

  They all watched in amazement as Fern manoeuvred Nuitdor lovingly into a boat where she stood completely still until they got to the shore. The prince had been adamant that the horse must accompany him on the expedition.

  Harry, Jane and Luca had been told that Guanu, unlike the others countries of Paragor, was made up entirely of lush, enchanted jungle, and that their search, if it led them beyond the beaches, would be difficult to say the least.

  The Isle was shrouded in eerie mist, and as they approached quietly it moved with them, surrounding them. Suddenly Guanu loomed ominously before them. Beyond the beach they could see dense jungle, and in the distance of the small island rose tall green mountains, their sides scattered with rocks and caves. Harry couldn’t help but shiver as they drew closer.

  Blaise and Corte walked in front and Fern walked behind the group, bows drawn all the way, to the small temple. It was close to the beach, and Harry didn’t know what sort of threat they could expect.

  Fey entered the temple to try and negotiate with the priest somewhere for them to sleep. She came out soon after. “They will not let us sleep in their dormitories, so we w
ill have to walk to the warrior school. It is an hour from here, and there may be some resistance when we get there. Non-Frescanians are not usually allowed to see the Amazonian fortress. Quiet now—not a word from anyone while we walk,” she warned.

  Fey led with her sword drawn. Harry peered nervously into the dark jungle. Blaise and Corte were not far behind her. Fern kept a few paces behind the group with his bow drawn, looking very much the warrior prince as he swung his arrow into the gloom, alert to the surroundings. Nuitdor followed softly, a few paces behind.

  They walked in silence. Harry began to feel bored. He turned to Luca and whispered, “Creepy, huh?”

  “Shut up, Harry, you fool. You’ll get us all killed,” Fern hissed.

  But it was too late. Fern looked around them into the trees. Then he did a strange thing.

  He called out in a loud, calm voice, “Time for dinner, Blaise.” Harry saw Blaise stiffen, but he called out in return.

  “Yes, I’m famished.”

  Harry felt a nudge at his ribs. He turned and saw Luca’s eyes darting around the trees.

  Harry looked up and felt a chill run down his spine. Dozens of yellow eyes stared down at them from the darkness of the trees. They blinked and moved, but mostly they just stared.

  Harry froze, but felt a kick in his back. “Keep moving and be silent,” Fern snarled in his ear. Harry blundered forward and crashed into Jane. She turned and glared, but kept walking.

  Fey walked ahead, but Harry could tell that she was not oblivious to their silent watchers.

  Suddenly, they heard galloping hoof beats along the grassy path behind them and though Harry could not have known what was about to happen, he felt himself go cold.

  Fern notched an arrow to his bow and turned in the direction of the noise. As it grew louder, he yelled, “Now!” and a torch flared in Blaise’s hand, lighting up the jungle around them. Out of the darkness loomed a fearsome sight.

  A woman came tearing out of the trees, riding a crazed horse and clutching a small knife in her hand. Her tangled hair was full of leaves and her eyes were the yellow of those that still watched from the trees. The woman wore no clothes, but a layer of dirt covered her body, with only a hint of golden skin glinting through. Blaise thrust the torch towards her. Suddenly blinded by the light, face twisted in hunger, an arrow whizzed into her throat, and she collapsed off the horse with a gurgle of pain.

  Fern ran to her side to check that she was dead. His eyes flashed up to them. “Run,” he growled dangerously, his grey eyes alight with fury.

  And they did. They ran as fast as they could along the narrow path towards the fortress they could now see in the distance. Hoofs beat all around them, and once more Fern shot an arrow and killed one of the creatures.

  Fey let out a high-pitched whistle that must have sounded for miles, and they saw the gates of the fortress slowly opened.

  It wasn’t until they’d crashed through into the fortress with the gates closed behind them that they realised Fern had a knife in his shoulder. Blood seeped to the ground in a puddle at his feet, and his eyes were glazed.

  “Are the gates locked?” he asked.

  Five women came to their assistance. They looked like Fey, but younger.

  Fern grasped the shaft of the knife, gritted his teeth, and wrenched it out. There was a gush of blood, and Fern looked as though he might pass out.

  Jane was at his side. “Fern, you idiot. You’ll kill yourself!” she scolded, breaking the silence they had shared for the past few days.

  “We have bandages inside,” one of the women said.

  Once Fern had been escorted inside, they watched as Fey greeted the five young women. They bowed before their queen, and she acknowledged them quietly, asking for news from the Isle. Lilina and Hella embraced them like old friends.

  “Why are they here?” one of them asked Fey, gesturing to the others. She was young, but with a very self-assured look.

  “We are here to retrieve something. They will stay with us for the next few nights. Now lead us in,” Fey replied firmly. The young girl gave a last, sideways glance at the group and headed in.

  They followed the women into a big compound. It was very plain, made entirely from stone like most buildings in Paragor, but without any decoration.

  They were shown into small sleeping quarters, and told to rest.

  “Yes ma’am,” Harry muttered under his breath.

  The room was drab. Harry was in a larger room with Luca, Corte and Blaise. Fern was in the infirmary having his wounds tended but would join them later. The Isle had a doctor, who was often needed to help with the many injuries that came from hard combat training.

  The beds were small metal frames with a thin layer of straw on them. There was no need for blankets because of the heat.

  “Not exactly five star is it?” Harry looked at Luca and got an understanding grin in return.

  Exhausted from the tensions of the day, they quickly gave into sleep.

  ***

  Ria slept fitfully that night. Phaeries haunted her dreams. Those yellow eyes were etched into the back of her eyelids.

  A noise pierced her thoughts, and she was glad of the interruption. Jane entered, having just returned from the doctor.

  “How is Fern?” asked Ria.

  Jane sighed and answered, “He’ll live, if that’s what you mean ... He’s in pain, but he’d never admit it.”

  “Will he be well enough to come with us tomorrow?” Ria asked. If Fern couldn’t come, then they had little chance of finding The Book of the Dead. She didn’t have a clue what to do without him.

  “Oh, no doubt he won’t be well, but he’ll insist on coming anyway.” Jane sighed in frustration.

  “Is something wrong?” Ria asked carefully and Jane’s head snapped up.

  “How do you mean?” she asked.

  “Oh ... it just seems as though you and the prince were quite close, and now you aren’t,” Ria trailed off.

  “Is there a problem?” Jane asked, her tone stiff.

  “No, I was only asking,” she said quietly and Jane’s face softened.

  “I’m sorry. I’m just a little tired,” said Jane.

  “I’m asking because I’m concerned for you,” said Ria.

  “Well you shouldn’t be. I can look after myself”

  “Yes but Fern has a bad reputation when it comes to women,” Ria said. Jane blinked and looked at her more closely. “What reputation?”

  “Oh ... just that, well Jane, Fern’s parents have wanted him to settle down for a long time, but he won’t.”

  “But he is going to. He’s getting married,” Jane protested quickly.

  “Don’t you think that if he can leave his betrothed, then he can leave a girlfriend?” said Ria quietly.

  Jane said finally, “Didn’t you hear me? He isn’t leaving her, and if you were a little more perceptive, you would see that’s the problem!” Jane stopped and closed her eyes for a moment.

  Ria bit her lip—she had made a mistake. Jane looked at her again, a different expression in her eyes.

  “And why are you saying such things? I thought you and Fern were friends! How do you think he would feel if he knew you were speaking like this about him? Doesn’t he deserve your loyalty?” Jane asked harshly.

  “I am only telling you so that you can be careful. I’m not trying to hurt anyone.”

  “Then perhaps you should think before you speak,” Jane murmured. Then Jane said again, more softly this time, “He isn’t leaving Athena.”

  Ria eventually fell asleep, but was woken soon after by the ringing of two loud bells. The women and girls dressed and ate breakfast in a plain stone dining hall with the Amazonians.

  Ria thought the warriors were amazing. Tall, strong women with sharp minds and a quick nerve surrounded her, and Ria longed to be one of them. She wanted to see them fight, wanted to learn their techniques, but there wasn’t time to stay and observe.

  The travellers gathered to meet with the
woman in charge of the school. Ria saw the young, arrogant woman they had met at the gate the night before. She sat at the head of the table when they came to eat and after everyone else had left, she stayed seated and waited for Fey to address her.

  Ria was surprised that Fey had not taken the head of the table, but it appeared that the Amazonians were more informal with their queen than the peoples of the other countries of Paragor.

  The girl’s name was Faraia, and she had the strong features of her queen. Taking a seat near the head of the table, Fey got straight to the point.

  “Faraia, have you ever heard of The Book of the Dead?”

  The girl’s face was blank as she replied, “In the old stories, but they are just tales.”

  “Tell us exactly what they say,” Fey commanded.

  Faraia took a deep breath. “I have heard only a little, but I remember something about the book being evil. Connected with ... dark things.”

  “What sort of evil?”

  Faraia shook her head in frustration at her lack of memory.

  “Is that all you know?” Fey asked.

  The girl made as if to nod, and then thought better of it. “There was something else. It was said that because of the book’s dark power, it was to be kept in the very centre of the origin of evil. I don’t know if that’s right though or what it means.”

  “It is here,” Fern said. “If my sister said it was here, then it is so. And another—the origin of evil. It is on this island. What were the very first evil creatures to come onto this earth?”

  “Phaeries,” Jane said quietly.

  “So you’re saying that the Phaeries have the book?” Luca asked and Fern nodded.

  “Last night was the largest attack I have ever seen,” Faraia said softly. “Once, before, I have seen a single creature, but never anything like that. I have never seen them in such numbers.”

  “Why did they attack us?” Fern mused.

  “They couldn’t know why we’re here, could they?” Ria asked.

  “I don’t know,” Fern replied quietly.