In the Shadow of Mountains: The Lost Girls

Chapter Fifty

  Modern Girls

  As soon as Jai-Soo had gone, Paula burst into tears. Karen hugged her, patting her back. Anne quickly left Prince Carl and went to help. She took Paula in her arms, pulling her away from Karen.

  “Look at me, Paula,” she said, and forced Paula to do just that. “Come on, now, you have to stop this,” she went on very firmly. “You have to be strong. She’s still your friend, you know that. It’s just that she can’t be with you, that’s all. You have to understand. Now, come on.”

  Paula stopped crying, but she was still upset. “But it’s not fair!” she complained.

  “I know, I know. But life isn’t fair,” Anne told her. “It’s hard and unbalanced. It doesn’t care about being fair or about what’s right or wrong; it just does what it does. And if you get on the wrong side of it, you get squashed. You have to learn to live with it, to cope with the nasty things it throws your way. You have to think positive. Jai-Soo is still alive, you’re still alive, who knows what might happen?”

  That final thought caused Paula to brighten. “If she were to become bonded, we could be friends again, couldn’t we?”

  “Yes, you never know, maybe you could.”

  At last, Paula began to calm down. She hugged Anne, and Anne rather gratefully hugged her back.

  Prince Harold cleared his throat. “It is time we all left here.”

  Prince Carl was quick to agree. “My brother speaks the truth. We have dallied here long enough. The night is almost over. Come, everyone! We should leave this place and retire somewhere more comfortable. We will spend the rest of the night and the morning in the North Tower.”

  Becky jumped down from the hatch of the drone where she had remained ever since Jai-Soo had appeared. “What about the secret tunnel down to the ship?” she asked.

  Prince Carl turned to look at his brother. Without a word, Prince Harold went into the alcove and twisted the torch hanger that closed the doorway to the steps below. They all watched it close, listening to the scraping sounds the stone made as it ground slowly shut.

  With the way below now closed, Prince Harold turned to face them all. “Now we can leave,” he said.

  And leave they did. One by one, they all made their way up the debris to the chamber above.

  Prince Harold led the way. Behind him, Rolf led Soo-Kai along, holding on to her hand and being very attentive. Prince Carl did the same with Anne, while L’Barr followed behind Sophia, keeping a firm grip on her hips. It made her laugh, and her sexy chuckles were the last sounds to be heard in the chamber.

  Paula found herself in a daisy-chain with Emile in front and Karen behind her. They all carried the packages containing the uniforms. Craig and Amy came next. They helped Jean, Jane, Rowena and Jemma carry all the boots. Jai-Soo had been right, they were odd in number.

  Near the end came Vanessa, silent, with her head down. But it was Becky who was the last. And as she slipped through the narrow gap in the doorway, she paused to look back one more time at the broken artifact and the drone from which it came.

  The journey through the passageways of the West Tower was awful. They squeezed easily enough through the narrow gaps left by Gil-Yan, her stone hard corpse now no more than an awkward obstacle. But the smell and stains of death still hung in the air and covered the walls and floors. It created an evil, dreadful atmosphere.

  They were all relieved when they finally reached the open air. And as they all stood together in the courtyard, Prince Carl stared at the length of Gil-Yan’s corpse. It stretched almost to the gatehouse.

  “She has two heads,” he exclaimed.

  “Wrong, brother,” Prince Harold replied. “She had three, but one she lost.”

  Prince Carl smiled. “Aye! And ‘twas the one that counted!”

  Like the passageways of the West Tower, the courtyard bore the scars of the battle with Gil-Yan. The ground was tainted with the blood of those who had perished, and although the cool wind of the night carried away any smell; their eyes could find no equivalent respite from the scenes of carnage. They hurried on to the North Tower.

  Inside, Sir Malcolm greeted them from the table in the dining room. It was where the men had laid him, and it was where he had spent the night, shouting orders to all the servants. His tunic was open and his chest heavily bandaged. Although he still looked to be in pain, his joy at seeing the two Princes alive and well brought a smile to his lips. He sat up on the table and hugged them both.

  “Harold, Carl! For a time I feared you were both dead and I would be the one to break the sad news to your father!”

  Prince Harold was more pleased to see Sir Malcolm than was his brother. “It was I that feared you were dead,” he said. “You have the luck of the Devil, Sir Malcolm, but I am glad of it.”

  “Aye! The luck of the Devil but the pain of a stuck pig!” Sir Malcolm replied bitterly. “Whoever fired that arrow, fired with venom. The barb still lies within,” he gestured to the servants, “and these butchers could do naught to retrieve it. Now I will have to bear the pain until I return to Ellerkan where I hope the Court Physicians will have a sharper knife.”

  Prince Carl then said, “Have you sent word to our father as we asked?”

  Sir Malcolm nodded. “The rider should be at the Palace as we speak. Your mother will faint and your father will bellow. A force should be here by late morning.”

  “Good. Until then we should rest.”

  “Then you are in luck,” Sir Malcolm said with a smile, holding up his finger. “Due to the recent demise of the previous owner, all the apartments are prepared and available. Please feel free to take your pick.”

  It was then that Rolf came with Soo-Kai to face the two Princes.

  “The North Tower is not for us,” he told them. “My wife and I have already risked much. I wish to be home with her. We will be leaving.”

  It was a bombshell to the girls. They quickly gathered around him and Soo-Kai, begging them both to stay. But Rolf was not to be swayed. He was more worried about Soo-Kai than anything else. He wanted to get her away from everyone, he wanted to get her home and safe, and he wanted to do it quickly.

  Prince Harold did his best to persuade him.

  “You will not stay? Not even until the day?”

  Rolf shook his head. “I would rather leave now. Soon this castle will be filled by many men, even the King himself may come. There will be questions and confusion and turmoil. No, I want to leave now, while the night is still calm. By tonight, we could be home.”

  “We have horses to spare. You will ride home, and your journey will be quicker.”

  “Then I will be happy to arrive early.”

  Prince Harold could see that it was no use. “Then this is farewell,” he said sadly. “I brought you on this quest against your will, now you leave against mine. There is some irony there.”

  Rolf managed to smile. “I hope my cart is alright.”

  “If the horses were kept safe, so will be your cart.”

  Rolf and the Prince shook hands. When Prince Harold shook hands with Soo-Kai, it was almost as if she were Kai-Tai. For a moment as he looked into her eyes, his mind returned to the events of the night before. But the thoughts were only fleeting and then the moment had passed.

  Prince Carl was just as sad to see them go. “I am glad we met once again,” he told Rolf. “I will keep my word to you and to your wife. I am a changed and wiser man. Farewell, tailor.”

  “When your time comes, be a good King,” Rolf replied.

  Saying goodbye to the two Princes was relatively easy compared to saying goodbye to the girls. They didn’t want to let him go, not him, nor Soo-Kai.

  “But you can’t leave now!” Karen insisted. “You promised to take us to your friends, remember?”

  Rowena almost jumped up and down in her eagerness as she said, “Yes! Mai-Zen and Gustavo! You promised, Rolf! You did!”

  “Yeah!” Jemma added. “If you go, we’re going
with you!”

  To Rolf and Soo-Kai’s surprise, all the girls began to agree. But if they were surprised, Anne was horrified.

  “No!” she said in a loud and desperate voice. “You can’t go with them! We have to stay together! It’s all been arranged!”

  All the girls turned to look at her, and now that she had their attention, she wasn’t quite sure how to proceed. It had all seemed so simple and straight forward when she had discussed it quietly and calmly with Carl. But now, with them all staring at her, it didn’t seem simple at all. She took a deep breath and plunged right in.

  “Look, girls, whether we wanted to get back home or not doesn’t really matter now. We’re stuck here, at least for twenty-eight years, and we have to make the best of it. When that Portal opens again, I’ll be fifty-two, and I’m not prepared to throw my life away sitting around waiting until then. Carl has asked me to marry him.”

  Anne was so worried that the girls would think her foolish that she quickly rushed on, doing her best to dispel any possible arguments before they were even uttered.

  “I know I’ve only known him less than a day, and God knows he’s not the best man I’ve ever been out with, in fact he’s not even as good as the worse man I’ve been out with! He’s an arrogant, self-centred, male chauvinist pig of probably the worst kind. But for some daft reason I can’t even understand myself, I like him. I’ve said yes.”

  Anne’s worries were totally unfounded. Karen and Sophia both screamed, and all the girls gathered around Anne, kissing her and hugging her. Only Rowena stood on her own. She began to cry.

  “You’re going to be Queen,” she muttered, rubbing her eyes. “How romantic!”

  As Prince Carl stared open mouthed at Anne, Prince Harold said, “She has your character down to a tee. Congratulations, you have your spirit of freedom at last. May you fight often.”

  It took a moment for Prince Carl to react. But then he turned to Prince Harold.

  “Thank you for that kind thought, dear brother!” he replied rather sarcastically, but then he smiled. “Of course, it means a wedding at the Palace.”

  Then Sir Malcolm said in a thoughtful voice, “Your mother will be pleased, but your father will be angry.”

  “Why so?” Prince Carl asked him.

  “Because your father is always angry.”

  The two Princes looked at one another. Prince Harold nodded.

  “‘Tis true, brother, he is always angry.”

  Anne was busy telling the girls the plans she had made with Prince Carl. “You’re all coming with us,” she told them. “It’s the only way, really. We can all stay in the Palace together.”

  Amy began to shake her head. “No, I’m staying with Craig,” she said, backing away. She went to stand next to Craig, holding his hand. “I love him, and I don’t want to leave him.”

  Craig looked across at her, squeezing her hand in his. “I should hope so!” he replied, smiling at her. “I’ve loved you since I first saw you.” He put his arm around her and pulled her close, kissing her.

  Rowena cried even more. “I can’t take any more of this,” she wailed.

  Becky was more realistic. She put her hands on her hips and said, “Oh, yeah? And where are you going to live?”

  “Don’t worry about us,” Craig told her. “We’ll find somewhere.”

  Then Jane said, “But how will you get any money? You can’t get any social here.”

  Now Craig smiled. “I have a knack for selling,” he said very confidently. “Give me a street corner with people passing by and I can hock anything! And I mean anything!”

  Prince Carl laughed. “Then you had better come with us to Ellerkan after all! There you will find street corners a plenty, and many will be the passersby with full money bags!”

  Prince Harold sighed loudly. “So, now we have two weddings at the Palace,” he exclaimed.

  L’Barr now cleared his throat. “I, too intend to marry.” He quickly pulled Sophia away from Anne and the other girls and thrust her towards Prince Carl.

  Prince Carl looked at L’Barr’s proud expression, but he turned instead to Sophia. “You agree to marry this ruffian?”

  Sophia nodded eagerly.

  “Then you shall have him with my blessing!”

  Sir Malcolm smiled and called out, “It is a fine match, L’Barr! You will be the envy of the whole of our father’s army!”

  Prince Harold said, “Call him Sir John L’Barr from now on, he deserves it. And as a Knight of the Realm it will mean a third wedding at the Palace.”

  Sir Malcolm’s smile grew broader. “Three weddings at the Palace. Think of the cost, think of the organisation, think of your mother’s excitement.”

  Prince Carl laughed. “Father really will be angry!”

  Sir Malcolm turned to the servants and shouted, “Wine!”

  By now, Rowena was a blubbering wreck, she could no longer talk. She just stood in the middle crying while the other girls congratulated Sophia, Amy and Anne. It was a joyous moment, but one not shared by Vanessa or Paula.

  “We aren’t going to the Palace,” Vanessa said very firmly to Anne. “We’re going with Rolf and Soo-Kai.”

  Anne looked at her in surprise. “Vanessa, you don’t mean that! Stop it, now! I know you’re upset, but you can’t speak for everyone like that. It’s not right.”

  Paula quickly said, “She speaks for me. I’m not going to the Palace.”

  As everyone calmed down and began to stare at Vanessa and Paula, Becky said, “I’m sorry, Miss, but I’m not coming with you either.” She looked most sad to have to tell Anne, but it was the way she felt.

  “I’d like to be there for the wedding and all that,” she went on. “But like you said, we have to make our lives here, and mine isn’t at the Palace.”

  To Anne’s astonishment, Jane, Rowena, Karen, and even little Jemma all agreed with Becky.

  “I’d love to be at the wedding,” Rowena told Anne. “It’s so romantic and everything. But I like Rolf and Soo-Kai. They saved us. I want to go with them. I want to meet Gustavo and Mai-Zen”

  Anne didn’t know what to say. She felt completely let down. “But you can’t mean that!” she moaned.

  “It’s not you, Miss,” Becky told her. “We’d love it if we could all stay together, it would be fun. But the fun wouldn’t last. We can’t play at being schoolgirls forever. We have to grow up.”

  “But we might never see each other again,” Anne pointed out.

  That final thought upset them all. But it was Craig who gave them the answer.

  “Then we’ll have a reunion! No matter what happens, we have to meet again in twenty-eight years time! It’ll be like a class reunion, it will be a class reunion! We can all meet at Rolf and Soo-Kai’s house in twenty-eight years time. Agreed?”

  At first there was no response, but then Jemma said, “I’ll be forty-four in twenty-eight years time. I wonder what I’ll look like when I’m forty-four?”

  Sophia quickly said, “Exactly the same as you do now, midget. I on the other hand will be at the peak of my beauty and appeal. Glorious, sensual–”

  “And fat,” Becky put in. Sophia stuck her tongue out at her, but all the other girls laughed.

  Craig looked around at them all. “Then it’s agreed?”

  Anne quickly said, “Yes. If we have to split up, then we must meet again. I don’t even know where Rolf and Soo-Kai’s house is, but I will be there in twenty-eight years time, so you lot damn well better be.”

  All the girls smiled at her and said as one, “Yes, Miss Jenkins!”

  For the first time in what seemed like ages, Soo-Kai spoke.

  “Why do you wish to go with us? Life in the forest or the mountains of Falonbeck will be far harsher than in the comfort of the Palace of Ellerkan. Go with your teacher. Life will be more comfortable.”

  It was Vanessa who answered her. “We would have all been killed if it wasn’t for you and Rol
f. They would have carted us all back to the castle and no one would have been the wiser. I might be angry with Kai-Tai over what happened to my sister, but I can’t be angry with you. Like Rowena said, you saved us. Thank you for that. You didn’t have to help, but you did. As for why we want to go with you, well, it should be obvious. We trust you both; we know you’re on our side.

  “Life in the Palace might be alright for Amy and Sophia; they have someone to share it with. They can make a life there. We can’t, and anyway, we aren’t used to life in a Palace, we’re modern girls. If we went there, we’d only get bored. But listen, you don’t have to take us if you don’t want to. We’ll understand; you’ve done enough for us already. If we have to, we’ll find our own way.”

  Soo-Kai turned to look at Rolf. “Our house is small, and there might not be the time. But they would be a great distraction.”

  Rolf caught her meaning. He shrugged. “We will keep them until after the weddings, and then we go to Falonbeck. There should be time for that.”

  Soo-Kai paused a moment, then she nodded.

  The girls all hugged Rolf and Soo-Kai, happy to have got their agreement.

  That agreement spelt the end of any lingering hopes for Anne, and she looked very forlorn, but Vanessa quickly turned to her.

  “Don’t be angry with us, Miss. You’re going to be a Princess, and then the Queen. Enjoy it while you can. We’ve got to find our own way. Don’t worry about us, we’ll be fine. At least you’ll have Amy and Sophia. And we aren’t actually going to wait twenty-eight years. We’ll see you for the wedding. And there will be times after that.”

  “Oh, I know,” Anne said sadly. “You’re all being very grown up about this, and I’m really proud of you, I am, but I still feel responsible for you all, and I can’t help feeling that it’s wrong to split up.”

  Prince Carl put his arm around her. “You cannot be their teacher forever you know.”

  Anne sighed. “I suppose not.” Then another thought occurred to her. “What about the two French boys?”

  Vanessa said, “They can come with us, too. Right, girls?”

  All the girls nodded and answered her with one voice. “Right!”

  Jean was eating from the food on a nearby table when he was suddenly grabbed and surrounded by the girls. He looked round at them all in surprise, but he quickly took the chance to put his arm around Jane.

  “Where’s Emile?” she asked him.

  Jean shrugged.

  The girls all looked around the room. Emile was gone.

  The sun was up. It shone brightly and cast shadows through the leaves and branches. Jai-Soo ran through the forest. The other Destroyers were still too far ahead for her to scent, but she followed their trail. She ran quickly and determinedly. But she wasn’t running to catch them up, but to out-pace the one who chased her. He also ran with determination.

  She had warned them. Why did they not listen?

  He ran, she ran. But they were both beaten by the rising sun.

  Fool! Idiot!

  I warned them. It is not my fault.

  Your weakness with these humans reveals your defective integrity!

  I have done nothing wrong. I warned them both. It is not my fault.

  You associate with them too freely! It has always been your weakness!

  It does not threaten the Purpose!

  The others know!

  And they accept me. Stop it. I have done nothing wrong.

  Then why run? Stop, wait for him! Kill him!

 

  The treaty was over.

  The change in feeling came over Jai-Soo slowly. It happened without her control or understanding. Her attitudes changed as did her mood and character. But her memories altered, too. It was as if she awoke from a dream. A dream in which she was free to choose those she allied with. A dream where the Purpose was dormant. But a dream was only a dream, and it faded with the reality of morning.

  Almost without realising it, she forgot why she was running. She slowed and stopped. The scent of the one following her drifted to her on the wind. That scent brought a rush of hormones and other enzymes to her brain and the reaction was instant hate.

  Spinning round, Jai-Soo dropped the two uniform packages she carried and drew her sword. She moved behind a tree to wait. She didn’t have to wait long.

  Emile was running through the forest when Jai-Soo suddenly sprang from behind the tree and raised her sword. Emile was more shocked by her angry expression than he was by her sudden appearance, but he reacted instantly, holding out both hands.

  Jai-Soo froze, her sword still raised.

  The previous night, Emile had seen Prince Harold take bread from L’Barr and ride away with Soo-Kai. When he had returned, Kai-Tai sat with him upon his horse. Although Emile hadn’t understood much of what was said, its implications were not lost on him. Now, as he stood before Jai-Soo, he hoped he had guessed right.

  In his left hand, Emile held a piece of bread, while in his right he held a small leg of roasted meat. He had retrieved them both from the table in the North Tower. He quickly spoke to Jai-Soo in French. She didn’t understand him, but it didn’t matter. What he said, Jai-Soo already knew. She had known since he had held her sword.

  Jai-Soo stared at Emile in shock, and slowly, she lowered her sword and her anger left her.