Jack Shian and the Destiny Stone (2 page)

The sun glinted off the ring, and with a jolt Jack saw the spirals begin to turn. He felt a sudden whooshing sensation – like the low road, only faster. Instinctively he closed his eyes, but instead of the blur of shade and light of a low road journey, in his mind’s eye Jack could see the street outside Cos-Howe in Edinburgh.

Two men, each tied to a chair, and facing each other. There’s snow all around them, and a burning brazier next to one. The picture’s blurred; I can’t make out their faces … There’s three tall men approaching … That’s Boreus! And he’s slapped one of the prisoners hard … Now he’s holding the man’s head so it faces sideways. Someone else is coming … he’s put a sword in the fire. He’s holding the hot blade up to the prisoner’s eyes …

Bleeurgh! That’s gross!

Jack opened his eyes, and took a deep breath. He felt sick.

That was disgusting!

Jack shook his head, trying to clear the image seared into his mind, but it was no use. Like a film loop in his head he kept seeing the sword slicing into eyes.

He puked.

“What’s the matter, Jack?” asked Rana.

Jack started, and wiped his mouth. Had she seen him puke? He wished his cousins wouldn’t creep up on him like that. Glancing apprehensively at the ring, he noticed that one of the spiral arms had faded. He tried to concentrate.

“I thought I saw something. There was snow.”

“Snow? What planet are you on? It’s not even autumn yet.”

“Shut up, Rana.” Lizzie sounded concerned. “Jack doesn’t look well.”

“I’m all right. I was thinking about the Kildashie.”

“
That uncivilised bunch,” snorted Lizzie. “It beats me how they can order the Thanatos around.”

“It’s the Tassitus charm,” said Rana confidently. “If they can control sound, they can do what they want.”

“And they’re near the Stone too,” added Jack. “That must make them stronger.”

The Stone of Destiny. Jack hadn’t seen it that many times, but he’d
known
it was giving power to the Shian square. Only now the Kildashie and Thanatos were there; and they were torturing people.

I’d better not say anything about this to Dad. He’s still not strong enough to handle this – whatever
this
is.

“More Darrigs and dwarves have arrived,” announced Rana. “There’s some nearly every day now.”

“This little one said he came from Lomond,” said Lizzie. “It was freezing there.”

“It’s freezing wherever the Kildashie are,” said Jack, thinking of the snow in his vision. “I wish we could do something to get them out. This island’s getting crowded.”

“You’re just in a bad mood because you’ve had to start lessons again,” mocked Rana. “Mum didn’t waste any time getting you and Fenrig back to work when Gilmore arrived, did she?”

“It’s not fair. Petros doesn’t have any lessons. I’ve got to spend every morning stitching.”

“At least that gets you away from his wife,” pouted Rana. “Barassie’s so
fussy
. All that stuff about what we can wear in the tents, what we can wear outside …”

“And all her rules about behaviour,” interrupted Lizzie. “They’re a pain. She never stops criticising.”

“Gilmore’s all right, I suppose,” said Jack. “Good luck to anyone who escapes from the Kildashie. I just wish we were planning how to stop them getting the Destiny Stone and the Chalice.”

“At least we’ve got the Sphere, the
Mapa Mundi
,” said Lizzie. “They can’t make the magycks complete until all three are together.”

Jack smiled at the thought. He’d been the one to defeat the Nucklat and retrieve the Sphere. To begin with, Marco and Luka had even said he should keep it. But it had been an open secret that he had it; and each day Jack feared someone coming to steal it. All these Shian arriving on the island: maybe there were spies among them? In the end, Jack had entrusted the Sphere to Marco, but so far he’d kept Tamlina’s ring. Tucked away in his Sintura belt it was invisible; but people must know he had it … He’d got a strange buzz from it sometimes; but nothing like that vision –

… That was an execution …

“Anyway,” continued Rana, “the Sphere showed us leaving here in the autumn.”

“I’ve never said I wanted summer to finish before,” said Jack. “But Marco’s season-wheel is turning so slowly. I just wish we could get on with it.”

In his heart Jack knew that the Sphere had shown an autumn departure; but each week brought more news of Kildashie atrocities. Surely it was time to fight back?

“Can you tell me where Sandy of the Stone is?” A tall stranger had approached without any of them noticing.

Jack hurriedly thrust Tamlina’s ring back into his Sintura belt. Had the man seen it?

“He’ll be up at the house. Past those trees.” Jack pointed; the man nodded, and moved off.

“He’s new, isn’t he?” said Lizzie. “There’s loads of people I don’t recognise these days. D’you think we can trust them all?”

“You don’t think he could be a Thanatos spy, do you?” asked Jack.

“I don’t fancy meeting those Thanatos again,” shuddered Lizzie. “You’ve never seen the unforgiven dead. Believe me, you don’t want to.”

“And there’s Boaban Shee too,” said Rana. “Mum told me they’re like vampires. And there’s Red Caps in the border lands. Most of the country’s Unseelie now.”

“It’s hard to believe it’s like winter almost everywhere,” said Jack looking up at the clear sky. “It’s nice here. Bit cooler, though.”

Jack resolved to give Tamlina’s ring to Marco for safekeeping – for now. Like the
Mapa Mundi
, it was too much responsibility. And that vision had been scary.

“I bet Cos-Howe’s doing OK, though.” Jack tried to sound hopeful. “Cosmo can hold out as long as he wants.”

“If the Thanatos …” Rana was silenced by a shove from her sister.

“Let’s get back to the house,” said Lizzie. “It’s getting chilly.”

The youngsters wandered along to Marco and Luka’s house, surrounded as it now was by tents.

“Good news, kids,” called out Aunt Dorcas. “Marco and Luka are coming back tonight.”

“You mean the low road’s open again?” Jack’s eyes lit up.

“No, it’s still out of action. Anyway, they hardly ever use it. Enda’s bringing them over from the mainland.”

“They’re calling more McCools over too,” added Katie.

Aunt Katie’s changed in some ways,
thought Jack.
More McCools must mean they’re planning something, and once upon a time that would’ve got her frightened. But with Uncle Doonya a prisoner, she’s not scared now, she’s … determined.

“Does that mean we’re leaving soon?”

“You’ll have to see what Marco says, Jack dear. A grig told us they’ll be here this evening.”

Grigs are flying again, even outside the low road. That definitely means things are on the move.

However, Jack’s new-found optimism was to be short-lived. When Marco and Luka arrived that evening, all they would say was that the time was not yet right for a counter-attack. It wouldn’t be long –

(Where’ve I heard that before?
)

– but things had to be in place, otherwise the whole mission might fail.

Despite yet another ‘not yet’, Jack was glad to see Marco and Luka again. Since midsummer they had hardly been on the island. And things on the mainland obviously hadn’t improved. The Kildashie and the Thanatos had most Shian – few as they were – under the thumb. Stories of imprisonment, torture – even murder – were commonplace now. A few areas had managed to resist, but isolated and scattered, and with bitterly cold weather, this was not much use for a counter-attack.

Marco and Luka brought many tales of horror from the mainland. And while the Seelie Shian bore the brunt of the ferocity, the Unseelie made no bones about their hatred for the humans. Every opportunity to cause mishap or mayhem among them was grasped readily; stories of disasters on the roads, or in darkened streets at night, showed that the Unseelie had few qualms and even less remorse. Stabbings, crashes and vicious ‘accidents’ had doubled since the Kildashie had united the Unseelie.

As they sat outside to eat, Jack saw Marco and Enda talking earnestly. Jack hadn’t had a chance to speak with the McCool leader since he’d arrived back; but he was pleased that more McCools were on their way.

They’d be more than handy in a fight. We need them.
And it looks like we’re going to get the go-ahead tonight
.

But if I’m honest, I still don’t rate our chances – not if the Unseelie are as powerful as people say. Dad’s loads better than when we rescued him, but he’s still weak. Uncle Hart’s not ready yet; Grandpa looks so old, though the Phosphan curse is out of his system at last. Finbogie will be useful, at any rate. Ossian too – if we can get him away from Morrigan.

“Friends,” called Marco, standing up at the end of the meal. “You will know that more help is on its way from Ireland; and the growing numbers here on Ilanbeg represent an impressive force.”

Jack screwed up his face.
Impressive force?
Most of the ones who’d got away were women and children.
We need to pull in extra help from somewhere.

“We must stop the Kildashie and the Thanatos, before they get ideas about expanding further,” stated Enda. “We have troubles enough in Ireland with our own Unseelie. If they combine with the Kildashie, then nowhere will be safe.”

“The Seelie around the country will unite,” continued Marco, “but only if they believe the Kildashie can be defeated. That is why some of you must undertake a quest, to recruit allies. When the right force is ready, then it will be time to strike back.”

“Who are these allies?” demanded Telos the McCool. “Why haven’t they made contact with us?”

“The Unseelie control most of the mainland,” replied Luka sternly, “but not the islands. However, there are Unseelie spies everywhere. Some of you will journey north. Others will stay here and join in later. The low road will open when the time is right.”

“In the meantime,” continued Marco, “the young ones are to continue their studies. Weather permitting, some of you will leave in a month or so.”

A whole month?
Jack ground his teeth.
I thought we were going to get the green light now.

Gilmore had done his best to recreate a workshop, but it wasn’t up to much – just a table and a bench; and yet he was somehow managing to add to his materials most days. Despite his gripes about lessons, now that Jack was finally learning about charmed cloths, he knew he was getting somewhere. Invisibility cloth might still be some way off, but shrinking and growing and healing cloths showed great potential.

Shame Freya’s not here
, mused Jack as he stitched a blood bandage.
I miss her.

There had been no news of Freya, or her sister Purdy, since the forced evacuation of the Shian square in Edinburgh nearly four months earlier. Jack had heard that they’d got away; but whether this was true, or where they’d gone, was really anyone’s guess.

Fenrig was first to finish that morning. Presenting his newly stitched cloak to Gilmore, he simply nodded, and left.

Jack tried to finish the stitching on his blood bandages. The edges were important – Gilmore had stressed that; otherwise the blood just gets out of the side. But that’s just the cloth – even humans have them; I need to learn what makes them special, what makes them
Shian
.

Jack didn’t notice his tutor watching him closely as he laboured over his task. When Jack had finished, Gilmore placed his hand upon the youngster’s shoulder.

“Well done, Jack. The bandages will help to stem the flow of blood, but only if they’re charmed properly. I think you’re ready to move on now.”

“Are we going to do the charms?” Jack’s heart began to race.

“It’s time. And we’ll have to pick up speed if we’re to have enough for our journey.”

“Are … are you coming on the boat?”

“I do have some uses, you know. And there’ll be plenty of need for charmed cloths where we’re going. Not to mention good swordsmen. Speaking of which …”

Jack turned round to see his father standing in the tent entrance. He
was
looking stronger.

“Luka and Armina are good doctors,” he said, reading Jack’s mind. “It’s been slow, but I can feel the strength returning. But don’t let me stop you.”

“I was just about to teach him the haemostat charm. Sit and watch if you like.”

Despite the novelty of seeing his father watching, the morning passed quickly as Jack learned how to prepare the bandages for charming. The haemostat one was quite easy, but the Cu-shee ones were tricky. Jack had never come across this famed Black Dog of the North. More werewolf than dog, if half the stories told about it were true.

“Gilmore’s right about having to stock up well,” noted Phineas, as Gilmore went to get his lunch. “There’s some rough journeying ahead.”

“Have you been where we’re going?” asked Jack. “The McCools told me it’s wild up on the north coast – but nice.”

“Enda’s a good man; but he’s only travelled that route in the spring. Autumn winds and winter gales are very different.”

“If it’s that hard, why are we travelling that way?”

“Because that’s the right time to get what we need.”

“The
Mapa Mundi
showed us going north in autumn,” said Jack. “What do we need to get?”

“Well, there’s ‘what’; and there’s ‘who’. We have several places to see before we get to the north islands. Our first stop will be to raise the Hebseelie, and we’ll have to time that right. If we get them on board, we’ve a good chance with the Norseelie. But there’s somewhere else we need to go in between.”

There’s tears in his eyes; but he doesn’t look sad. Quite the opposite, in fact.

“D’you know a lot about the island Shian, then?”

“A little. But there’s one island that’s going to be a real problem. I believe something I went looking for a long time ago is there. That’s when I ended up being suspended by the Grey. Me and Konan.”