‘It is good to have so many of my enemies gathered together in one place. I will slay you now, one by one. You will be the last to die, Ward. Your apprentice will be the first!’
As Golgoth uttered that final word, ‘first’, Jenny’s mousy hair suddenly became faintly dusted with frost. She screamed and dropped the lantern, but it still illuminated that terrible scene.
I knew that any attempt to intervene would result in my own death, but Golgoth was going to kill me anyway. I had to do something.
But then, reacting much faster than me, Meg scuttled out of the darkness towards the voice. Her legs were a blur, but she had barely covered half the distance before the Butcher God turned his attention away from Jenny and struck her down.
Meg was instantly covered in white ice; frozen solid. Then, with a snapping sound, her body shattered into pieces. I’d barely time to take in what had happened before Alice stepped between Jenny and the voice from the darkness, protecting her from the malevolence of Golgoth.
My heart leaped in fear for her. She would be the next to die. Dressed in green and brown, with an emerald clasp holding her white hair back from her forehead, she glowed with beauty. In seconds that lovely skin would be shrivelled with cold and her bones made so brittle that they would snap like twigs. Despite her powerful magic, she was mortal; she could not resist the wrath of one of the Old Gods.
As I watched, I saw anger flicker across Alice’s brow. Despite everything, she was determined to fight. She raised her arms and began to chant. Sparks danced at her fingertips. Then she hurled a bolt of light into the darkness, straight at our enemy, and I heard a cry of pain and anger.
I was astonished. Had Alice really hurt Golgoth? Was she that strong? Did she have a chance of winning?
But then, immediately, Golgoth retaliated. Alice fell to her knees, her whole body instantly dusted with frost. And now, out of the dark, a pair of huge red malevolent eyes glared at her – the eyes of the Old God.
Alice was finished. What chance did she have against such ancient power? I was trembling with emotion. But what could I do? Nobody could save her now.
However, I gripped the Starblade and stepped forward. Golgoth was not using magic now; he was exerting the force of his essential being; that extreme coldness was part of him, and the Starblade offered no protection against that. I could feel the cold eating into my own bones. I wanted to run at him, but all I could do was stagger forward, realizing that it was over. We were all about to die.
The cold intensified further. I drew a breath, and the freezing air seared my nostrils and burned my throat. Alice was now on her knees, covering her face with her hands.
‘No!’ cried a furious voice, and suddenly Grimalkin was running towards those baleful eyes, hurling her blades as she did so. She moved with the consummate grace of the skilful assassin that she had always been, but the courage that had helped her triumph against overwhelming odds was now surely sending her towards her death.
In an instant she was white from head to foot and halted in mid-stride. My heart sank into my boots as I saw her toppling like a tree; the moment her arms, head and the upper body struck the ground, she shattered into pieces. There was no blood; just white fragments of what appeared to be ice. Her flesh, blood and bone had been frozen with such intense cold that she’d become brittle.
When Golgoth finally left this place, these fragments would thaw, just as Morgan’s had. I had to acknowledge that Grimalkin was dead.
TOM WARD
I GAZED DOWN in anguish. Grimalkin was a witch, but she had also been my ally and my friend. We had shared much together, and I felt a stab of loss in my heart.
It was then that I heard the music; suddenly I was filled with hope, for it was a thin, high melody played on pipes: the music of Pan.
Suddenly Pan materialized to our right, bathed in a bright green light; he was sitting on the floor, his back against the wall, dressed in garments that were made out of leaves, grass and bark. He was very pale, but apart from his ears, which were elongated and pointed, he looked like a human boy. Then I noticed his bare feet, with their long toenails that curled up into spirals.
Alice had told me that an Old God would not risk confrontation with one of his peers – but Pan had come to protect her.
The pipes at his lips looked like simple reeds, but the music was extraordinary; it had bewitched the animals that had materialized with him: rabbits, hares, mice, stoats, ferrets and squirrels gambolled around him. Small birds circled his head, flapping their wings. A white dove perched on his shoulder.
Pan was smiling, and looked utterly serene, happy and confident. He was here to fight Golgoth.
But which Old God would prove to be the stronger? I wondered.
All at once I noticed the ice begin to form on Pan’s feet; the animals around him were quickly coated with frost. And was I imagining it, or was the music now fainter?
Alice was crawling back towards the near wall now. I saw the dove on Pan’s shoulder topple forward and shatter on the mosaic floor like a glass goblet. The music died, and Pan dropped the pipes as he reached forward and touched the frozen fragments of the dead bird, his face twisted with grief. The other small birds began to drop, one by one, crunching onto the ground and exploding into pieces of white ice.
Rather than facing the glaring red eyes, Pan turned back towards us, his face full of grief and terror. Tears began to trickle down his cheeks: he looked like a child frightened of the dark.
At first I thought that Pan was looking at me, but then I realized he was staring at Alice. She had risen to her feet and had turned to face him, her whole body shaking. She was trying to speak and I could see the terror on her face.
Slowly, as she struggled, I saw her expression change: the fear went. Now her face flamed with anger.
Suddenly she cried out to Pan. ‘Boy of tears – get up off your knees and fight!’ she screamed. ‘Get up and fight! Be a man, not a boy! Shift your shape!’
In that instant I understood what Alice was attempting to do. Pan, the god of nature, had two aspects: firstly was that of the benevolent boy playing his pipes and charming the creatures of the forest. The second aspect was huge and terrible: nobody could look upon that face and live. The name Pan had given us the word ‘panic’ – the state induced in those exposed to that dread apparition.
Alice’s words had the effect she intended. The boy vanished, and something huge reared up in his place.
Pan let out a great roar of anger: it was thunder; it was an avalanche racing down a mountain destroying everything in its path; it was a giant wave obliterating a coastal town; it was the magma at the Earth’s core spewing forth fire; it was a blade of green grass splitting a rock.
He was now huge, towering up towards the roof of the barrow, still vaguely human in shape but somehow more than that. And the green aura that surrounded him was changing – first to orange, then to red. I could feel warmth on my face.
‘Get down!’ Alice screamed. ‘Cover your faces!’
I dropped the Starblade and threw myself down onto the rocky floor, and shielding my head with my arms as best I could. But the light was so bright that I could see my bones through the flesh. It was as if the fierce fire of the sun itself was in the cavern with us. We were surely all going to burn.
Then the pain became unbearable and I lost consciousness.
I remember very clearly the moment I awoke.
I saw Alice sitting by my bed, and for a moment I forgot all that had happened between us. I was back to the first year of my apprenticeship, looking at the beautiful girl who had been my closest friend; who had shared my life at the Spook’s house in Chipenden.
Then everything came flooding back and I sat up suddenly, grief tearing at my insides. I realized that we were back in the winter house.
‘Take it easy, Tom,’ Alice said softly. ‘You’ve suffered no permanent damage but there are superficial burns to your arms, back and shoulders. The worst trauma was in your head. Some
have been driven mad when Pan is close. Once I’d brought us all back here, you were put to bed and given a sleeping draught. You’ve been asleep for almost two days.’
‘Is Jenny all right?’ I asked.
‘Yes – I shielded her with my body and she came off far better than you. She’s out hunting rabbits.’
‘Grimalkin!’ I cried, remembering what had happened to her, seeing her bones shatter on the floor. ‘How can we manage without her? Why did she run at Golgoth like that? What a stupid waste. It was suicidal.’
Alice smiled sadly and shook her head. ‘There was nothing stupid about it. Grimalkin knew exactly what she was doing, Tom. She didn’t throw her life away needlessly. She did it to save me from Golgoth’s wrath. In seconds I’d have been dead, frozen solid. She died in order to buy us all a little more time.’
‘I still can’t believe that she’s dead. It’s a terrible loss. Did Pan destroy Golgoth?’
Alice shook her head. ‘No, but he hurt him badly and sent him back to his own domain in the dark. For now, the portal is closed and sealed, but Golgoth will eventually heal and be as strong as ever. And Pan drained a lot of his own strength to achieve that. He’ll need time to recover too. The battle between them is far from over. One big danger now is that Talkus will intervene directly.’
‘We’d have no defence against him then—’
‘Ain’t quite true, Tom: he’s still not reached his full strength, though if it happens soon, we’ll struggle,’ Alice replied.
‘Poor Meg,’ I said.
‘Yes, poor Meg – but she was brave, wasn’t she? Meg bought me the time I needed to begin my magic. Though I think her time had come, Tom. She came back to the County to find John Gregory, but he was already dead. Maybe she didn’t want to live anyway? Who knows? Anyway, the Round Loaf will be her tomb and also the tomb of Grimalkin. I replaced the stone and covered it with earth.’
‘The sad thing is that Meg and John Gregory won’t be together after death,’ I said. ‘She’s gone to the dark, while he’ll have gone to the light.’
Alice nodded and I saw the sadness in her face. We both knew that the situation was similar to our own, but let it remain unspoken. Then she came closer and put her arms around me. She was warm, and I was hungry for the heat of her body, but inside I was still cold from my memories of the Butcher God.
Two weeks have passed since the traumatic events in the chamber below the Round Loaf and we are back at Chipenden. Slowly I’m coming to terms with the death of Grimalkin but our future looks bleak.
Even now a decisive battle against the Kobalos is probably being fought. If the human army is defeated our enemies will be free to cross the Northern Sea and invade our island.
My life at the moment is bitter sweet. In one respect I’ve never been happier. I’m with Alice and that’s a dream come true. But with that comes the bitter pain of anticipated loss. Alice closed the portal to keep Golgoth at bay but their mages can still use the space between worlds to reach the County. They could come for me and Alice at any time. Talkus might wield power against which we have no defence.
So our happiness might well be short-lived.
I continue to train Jenny and she is working hard and learning fast. She would make a good spook. I only hope she gets the chance to become one.
As I write, the sky is darkening to the north and the first snowflakes of an early winter are falling towards the Chipenden garden. If the dark army of the Kobalos arrives we will defend the County and ourselves to the best of our ability. That’s all we can do.
Thomas J. Ward
GLOSSARY OF THE KOBALOS WORLD
ORIGINAL WRITTEN BY NICHOLAS BROWNE
Notes added by Tom Ward and Grimalkin
Anchiette:
A burrowing mammal found in northern forests on the edge of the snow-line. The Kobalos consider them a delicacy eaten raw. There is little meat on the creature, but the leg bones are chewed with relish.
Note: I tried eating the creatures (which are hardly bigger than mice) and I definitely prefer rabbit. However, they are numerous and easy to catch and are best eaten in a stew. With the addition of the correct herbs the meal is tolerable – Grimalkin
Askana:
The dwelling place of the Kobalos gods. Probably just another term for the dark.
Note: This is intriguing. Nicholas Browne could be right, but could it be that the Kobalos gods exist outside what we term the dark? Cuchulain dwelt within the Hollow Hills, accessed from Ireland. That too was not directly within the dark – Tom Ward
Baelic:
The ordinary low tongue of the Kobalos people, used only in informal situations between family or to show friendship. The true language of the Kobalos is Losta, which is also spoken by humans who border their territory. For a stranger to speak to another Kobalos in Baelic implies warmth, but it is sometimes used before a ‘trade’ is made.
Balkai:
The first and most powerful of the three Kobalos High Mages who formed the Triumvirate after the slaying of the king and now rule Valkarky.
Note: We have not yet faced Balkai. It is terrifying to think that his magic is more powerful than that of Lenklewth, who came close to defeating us. Only the Starblade can protect me – Tom Ward
Berserkers:
These are Kobalos warriors sworn to die in battle.
Bindos:
Bindos is the Kobalos law that demands each citizen sell at least one purra in the slave markets every forty years. Failure to do so makes the perpetrator of the crime an outcast, shunned by his fellows.
Boska:
This is the breath of a Kobalos mage which can be used to induce sudden unconsciousness, paralysis or terror within a human victim. The mage varies the effects of boska by altering the chemical composition of his breath. It is also sometimes used to change the mood of animals.
Note: This was used against me; it leached the strength from my body. But I was taken by surprise. It is wise to be on our guard against such a threat and not allow a haizda mage to get close. Perhaps a scarf worn across the mouth and nose would prove an effective defence. Or perhaps plugs of wax could be fitted into the nostrils – Tom Ward
Bychon:
This is the Kobalos name for the spirit known in the County as a boggart.
Note: It will be interesting to discover whether these boggarts fall into the same categories we have in the County or whether there are new types there – Tom Ward
Chaal:
A substance used by a haizda mage to control the responses of his human victim.
Cumular Mountains:
A high mountain range that marks the north-western boundary of the Southern Peninsula.
Dendar Mountains:
The high mountain range about seventy leagues south-west of Valkarky. In its foothills is the large kulad known as Karpotha. More slaves are bought and sold here than in all the other fortresses put together.
Dexturai:
Kobalos changelings which are born of human females. Such creatures, although totally human in appearance, are susceptible to the will of any Kobalos. They are extremely strong and hardy and have the ability to become great warriors.
Eblis:
This is the foremost of the Shaiksa, the Kobalos brotherhood of assassins. He slew the last King of Valkarky using a magical lance called the Kangadon. It is believed that he is over two thousand years old and it is certain that he has never been bested in combat. The brotherhood refer to him by two other designations: He Who Cannot Be Defeated and He Who Can Never Die.
Note: Grimalkin told me that Eblis is dead. He was defeated by Slither and finally slain by Grimalkin. So the brotherhood was proved wrong to give him the above designations. He was defeated; he did die – Tom Ward
Erestaba:
The Plain of Erestaba lies just north of the Shanna River within the territory of the Kobalos.
Fittzanda Fissure:
This is also known as the Great Fissure. It is an area of earthquakes and instabi
lity which marks the southern boundary of the Kobalos territories.
Note: The Fissure is north of the Shanna River, but both have been described by Browne as boundaries between Kobalos and human lands. It is likely that the borders have changed many times over the long years of conflict – Grimalkin
Galena Sea:
The sea south-east of Combesarke.
It lies between that kingdom and Pennade.
Gannar Glacier:
The great ice-floe whose source is the Cumular Mountains.
Ghanbalsam:
A resinous material bled from a ghanbala tree by a haizda mage and used as a base for ointments such as chaal.
Ghanbala:
The deciduous gum tree most favoured as a dwelling by a Kobalos haizda mage.
Haggenbrood:
A warrior entity bred from the flesh of a human female. Its function is one of ritual combat. It has three selves which share a common mind; they are, to all intents and purposes, one creature.
Haizda:
This is the territory of a haizda mage; here he hunts and farms the human beings he owns. He takes blood from them, and occasionally their souls.
Haizda mage:
A rare type of Kobalos mage who dwells in his own territory far from Valkarky and gathers wisdom from territory he has marked as his own.
Homunculus:
A small creature bred from the purrai in the skleech pens. They often have several selves, which like the Haggenbrood are controlled by a single mind. However, rather than being identical, each self has a specialized function and only one of them is capable of speaking Losta.
Note: In Valkarky, I encountered the homunculus that was a servant to Slither. The one that could speak was like a small man and it reported directly to the mage; another took the form of a rat and was used for espionage. I found it easy to control and subvert to my will. There was a third type which was able to fly, but I did not see it. Such a creature could be used to gather information about us at long range. The three selves of the homunculus share one mind (as did the Haggenbrood): thus what it sees is instantly known back in Valkarky – Grimalkin