The Watching Wood (8 page)

‘Eh, we didn’t win,’ Una replied.

‘Gaukroger won,’ Adie said firmly.

‘Tempest Bridge won,’ Gaukroger gently corrected her. ‘It was a team effort.’

‘Indeed, indeed,’ Eder quickly shook the tall boy’s hand, ‘and a splendid win it was too, you must be very proud. But you,’ he spread his arms wide, enclosing the girls only, ‘you are the story that everyone wants to hear. What a mottled group you make. A companion out of control, the rest of you running to keep up and
only one
using the permitted charms. Not to mention your missing member currently enjoying the hospitality of the Hunters’ Mansion. I demand an immediate and candid profile from each– Beep-bee-beep,
b-bee-beep, b-beeeep.’

‘Eder would be very grateful,’ Peach didn’t miss a beat, ‘if you would join him in the dining room for an informal chat. He’d love to know a little more about each of you.’

‘And Gaukroger,’ Adie said quickly. ‘He did win the Trial today.’

‘Of course,’ Peach said, with warm politeness. ‘I’d love to hear about the training at Tempest Bridge.’

‘It’s pretty standard,’ Gaukroger blushed and was clearly aware he was being included for politeness’ sake, ‘but I’ll tell you anything you want to know.’

Eder’s twitching and beeping continued as the odd group made their way to dining hall. Jenny fell behind and whispered as Grace turned away from the others.

‘I stashed the web stuff in one of the gondolas,’ she said. ‘Where are you going?’

‘Just … to the library.’

‘Again? What for?’

‘Oh, you know me and books. Looove my books.’

Grace was rubbish at lying and scratched her face to hide any reddening of her cheeks. Jenny looked suspicious for a moment.

‘Alright, but you’d wanna keep this visit short if you’re going to grab dinner before the kitchen closes.’

‘Mmm,’ Grace said, rubbing her belly mockingly. ‘Can’t wait for more of that gorgeous stuff.’

Stop it
, she thought to herself,
you’re making it worse
.

This time Jenny stared at her for more than a moment.

‘See you soon, then,’ was all she said.

Grace nodded and hurried away. She would have to make it quick. She fingered the map in her pocket that she had torn out of the green-covered library book. She had felt a terrible pang of guilt about tearing out the page – her mum had taught her that defacing a book was a worse crime than stealing – but desperate times called for desperate measures. Trouble was, she didn’t know what scale the map was drawn to, so she had no idea how far it would be to the edge of the island.

She was surprised when she found the main door of the castle unguarded, and even more surprised to find it unlocked. Clearly the students were free to come and go as they pleased, though apparently no-one did. She glanced around, making sure the coast was clear, before pulling open the heavy iron-studded door and slipping outside. As she blinked against the green hue, she could have sworn she heard footsteps behind her but, when she swung around, there was nobody there. Feeling nerves set in, she unfolded the map and headed out across the barrenness towards the woods.

8

The Ferryman

Rachel blinked in the shaft of light that shone through the break in the silk curtains. It was morning, and none of it had been a dream. She turned over and smiled, taking in every inch of the yellow room that she had so desperately wanted to see the day before. The bedroom was like the five-star hotel rooms she had seen on tv. It wasn’t just a bedroom. Beyond the four poster bed that was insanely comfortable, there was a chaise longue and two armchairs, then another section of the room that contained a small breakfast table and chairs, with vases of silver flowers, and draping silk everywhere.

She was conscious that, back at Tithon Castle, her friends were much less comfortable. They might also be worried about her, but she couldn’t bring herself to get out of bed
and end the fantasy until there was a gentle knock on the door. Alinda’s smile was as glorious as morning as she placed a plate of fresh fruit on the table.

‘Breakfast,’ she said. ‘And I brought some fresh clothes, if you would like to change.’ Rachel’s heart skipped a beat when she saw the leather corset, breeches and blouse draped over Alinda’s arm. ‘And there is a scouting party heading for the river today, if you would like to join us.’

‘Oh, I’d love to,’ Rachel stammered, not wanting to turn down the invitation, ‘but my friends–’

‘We can send a message to Tithon on your behalf. You have no need to be concerned.’

Rachel gazed at the soft cotton blouse and decided not to worry.

The ground was rock, cracked and full of fissures, and Grace had to keep an eye on her feet. She stumbled often as she tried to decipher the map and walk at the same time, but she was sure she was heading in the right direction. The entrance to the woods was just short of the river, which curved through the barren rock, sweeping through the trees, and a few metres in she found what had once been a path. It was overgrown now – clearly no-one had been there for years – but the vegetation was shorter and sparser, and she could follow the trail without too much trouble. She fought
off the feeling of eeriness, telling herself there was nothing to fear, but she couldn’t ignore that there was something very strange about these woods. There wasn’t a sound. Not a single sound. No birds singing, no wind whistling, no scurrying of little animals in the bushes. The woods were silent. There was the barest rustling of leaves by a gentle breeze, but that was all. Where were all the animals?

This isn’t my world
, she told herself firmly.
Maybe there are no little animals in Hy-Breasal
.

But she didn’t believe it, because there were always animals in woodland, but also because of the nature of the silence. There was something expectant in it. Like the creatures were there, but they were holding their breath, watching and waiting.

She let out an involuntary shiver when she finally cleared the trees, and stepped out onto a pebble beach. She’d reached the edge of the island.

It stretched as far as she could see in either direction, but the thick fog that sat on the water obscured her vision. She had never seen mist so dense, and the closer she moved to the shore, with the spray of seawater dampening her skin, the more tired she felt. The trek through the woods must have been harder than she thought. She ambled down the beach, slipping on wet pebbles, and almost forgot why she gone there in the first place. Until she saw a light in the fog.

Beneath it the silhouette of a row boat became clearer and
darker until she could make out the hooded figure that stood on the bow. His grim fingers gripped the pole that held the lamp and he remained motionless until Grace was within speaking distance.

‘Can you pay?’ His voice was like sandpaper, rough, gritty, and monotone.

‘I don’t know,’ Grace said, her own voice high and wobbly with fear.

‘Can you pay?’ he repeated.

‘What’s the price?’

Jenny’s warning sounded in her head and Grace felt sure of hearing the words,
your soul
. But the Ferryman swung the lamp-pole and suddenly Grace was racing through Tithon castle in her mind. Rooms rushed into her mind’s eye, some she recognised, most she didn’t, until Madame Three appeared, her arms draped eagerly around what looked like a massive snow globe. Inside was a lifesize silver-plated statue and, at its feet, the most beautiful blue rose made of pure, glittering sapphire. The rose swam in Grace’s vision and she was sure.

‘I … I don’t think I can get that,’ she said, her head still reeling.

‘After the moon sets in the west, thrice,’ was the answer.

‘Three moonsets … you mean, three days from now? You will take us home three days from now?’

Water lapped against the boat and the Ferryman swayed.
But he didn’t speak again.

‘If I can’t get the rose. What if …? Can we pay with something else? What if we don’t make it to the ferry three days from now? Will you wait?’

Nothing but the water lapping. Somehow the boat and its Ferryman drifted back into the fog, until even the light of the lamp had disappeared, and she was alone on the beach.

‘When three moons have set.’ The voice was nothing more than a breeze over the water.

Rachel plucked at the boned corset, trying not to let anyone else see, and cursed herself for eating so much lunch. Life at the Hunters’ Mansion moved slowly, despite their action-filled existence, and the scouting party had not left until the afternoon. After dressing, she had stood in front of the mirror for a full ten minutes, taking in the wonderful sight of herself as an old-world privateer. She looked gorgeous, and she didn’t care who knew it. The only drawback to the outfit was that the midday meal had been as lavish as dinner the night before, and she had tried a bit of everything. Now the corset, which had cinched in her waist beautifully, was digging into her ribs. The other corset-wearers looked lithe and stoic, and not at all uncomfortable.

You must just get used to it
, she thought.
Or maybe your ribs squish in after a while
.

‘Bogles off the port bow!’

She glanced to the left, and saw a clump of grey scatter in the wake of the boat. They hadn’t yet reached the river and the boat, smaller than the ship Aruj had piloted, scraped speedily along the barren landscape.

‘Ha ha!’ A blonde Hunter raised her bow, firing an arrow into the fleeing creatures.

Rachel looked to Aruj, who lounged against the side of the boat next to her.

‘Bogles are vicious,’ he said, ‘but of very little threat. Gallant is wasting arrows.’

Gallant overheard, and winked at them, before firing another overboard.

‘What kind are you looking for?’ Rachel asked.

‘There are rumours,’ Aruj replied, ‘of Merrows moving upriver. Merpeople are rarely seen in freshwater, and their gathering here is suspicious.’

‘Gathering, in general, has become our greatest concern.’ Alinda stood on the other side of Rachel. With her eyes on the river she looked almost weary. ‘Breeds do not mingle, but of late we have found more and more species together, in groups. Their numbers are increasing in this area and this
gathering
suggests a strategy of some kind.’

‘You think they’re going to attack you?’

‘It is possible.’

‘Merrow!’

The boat had reached the river, and this time the whole scouting party jumped into action. They fired arrows, but only into the water. Where each one landed a flare soared into the air, and hovered, like a satellite in the sky.

‘You’re not going to kill them?’ Rachel felt relieved.

‘This is a scouting party only,’ Alinda reminded her. ‘We will mark their positions along the river, and return when we are sure we have found–’

She was interrupted when the boat suddenly swung to the left side. Rachel was thrown to the floor and, as the boat tipped even further, she clung to the mast to keep from falling overboard.

‘A merrow has hold of the stern!’ a voice shouted.

She looked back, and the creature gripping the back of the boat turned her legs to jelly. It wasn’t any mermaid she had seen in cartoons. It was easily three times the size of a man. It did have the scaly bottom half of a fish, but its upper body was not human. It had a torso, and arms, but a ridged fin ran the length of its spine, and its head was shaped like a moray eel. A protruding snout was filled with razor-sharp teeth, and it had a huge mane of fleshy tentacles that lashed around its terrible head. It held fast to the gunwale, shaking the boat with powerful arms, and smashing its tail against the keel.

The boat groaned against the pull; spraying river water dampened the mast, making it slippery. Rachel was losing her grip.

‘Help,’ she yelled, scrambling to keep hold.

Her arms ached as the stern dipped lower and lower into the river, finally taking on water. The wood was too slick and she slipped, sliding inexorably down into the horrible embrace of the merrow. His mouth full of barbed teeth was just inches away, and his breath was cold and putrid. She tried to scream but no sound came out. The merrow raised one webbed hand …

Chunk
.

Rachel opened her eyes just as Aruj grasped her collar and swung her behind him. In his other hand she saw the flash of a sword, and there was a pained, gurgling cry. She closed her eyes again, and didn’t dare open them until the sound had stopped. Aruj stood panting, his sword dripping with greyish liquid, his beautiful skin dark and shining in the sunlight.

Rachel slid and floundered, trying to get up, but her legs were useless. Without a word, Aruj picked her up and carried her to the bow, as if the deck were made of velcro and she weighed nothing.

He was so freaking cool.

Grace didn’t feel confident about stealing the sapphire rose, but when she left the beach behind she felt a new surge of energy. She wasn’t tired anymore, and was able to pick up the pace through the woods as daylight faded. Finally, there
was noise in the trees, the
whishy whishy
sound of the wind through the leaves. And fireflies. In the darkness the woods were dotted with the white light of fireflies glowing in the bushes. In pairs. Like eyes. Grace looked over her shoulder and picked up the pace again.

As night fell the sound of the wind became more distinct, like whispers. And in that moment, Grace grew very afraid.

Wishy, wishy

Witchy, witchy

Naughty witch, bad witch

The fireflies seemed to blink in pairs, and she knew now that they weren’t fireflies at all, but that this wood was full of little creatures watching her.

Naughty witch, bad witch

Witchy-witch

Kill
the witch

‘I’m not a witch!’ she screamed, breaking into a run.

The whispering echoed through the trees and the eyes were everywhere, but she didn’t slow down until she felt solid rock beneath her feet. Stumbling over the fissures in the stone, her heart pounded in her chest until she pushed through the huge iron-studded door and closed it behind her. Panting with relief, she went to find the nearest gondola, leaving the door as she had found it, unlocked.

‘Hey, where ya been?’

Una was clambering awkwardly into a boat on the canal, with Adie and Delilah beside her.

‘Library,’ Grace gasped, resisting the urge to hug her friends as she squashed in behind them.

‘Well, you missed a trick. That Eder bloke’s a laugh and a half.’

‘We’re getting a special write-up in
The Lyceum Gazette
,’ said Delilah.

‘Splendid.’

‘And I don’t think Gaukroger’s even getting a mention,’ said Adie, ‘and he’s the one who saved us all.’

‘After I was the most rubbish person ever,’ Una said. ‘God bless him.’

‘Don’t be so hard on yourself, Una. That dragon was epic.’

‘And nearly ate you all. I’m so sorry and I swear, from now on, I’ll shut up and do as I’m told. I’m no good to anyone.’

‘Hey,’ Grace slapped her on the shoulder, ‘that’s my friend you’re talking about.’

‘And besides,’ Adie said, smiling, ‘we’ve got a surprise that’s bound to cheer you up.’

She winked at Grace as the gondola took off at full speed.

Jenny must have snuck off during the dinnertime interview to work on their surprise in the Venetian Room. As the
gondola sailed to a stop, they all looked up at the sticky web that spanned the width of the room. It was close to a web-shape, though not as pretty as a spider would make, with a shallow sack of gossamer in the middle, suspended high above the floor. Jenny was still in the air, putting the finishing touches to the ladder on the wall.

‘It was Grace’s idea,’ she said, smiling down at Una.

‘What was?’

‘Your new bed,’ said Grace.

Una stared up in puzzlement.

‘You climb up the ladder here,’ Jenny said, dropping gently to the ground, ‘then across into the bed bit in the middle.’

‘That’s Jenny’s design, by the way,’ said Grace. ‘Pure genius.’

Una didn’t say anything, but slowly climbed the ladder, crawled across the web and disappeared into the sack-bed. A contented sigh arose from its depths.