Twelve and the Frozen Forest, page 23
‘She is persuasive,’ Dog growled.
Hoarfrost nodded as he turned to include Seven, Five and Six. ‘Ye all showed great fortitude, huge bravery.’ He paused and a scowl appeared. ‘So now I find myself in a tricky position. It’s clear that some of the lodge’s most important rules have been broken by ye four. Six and Seven, ye’re siblings?’
They nodded, their faces wax-pale.
‘And ye’re all aware of one another’s clan origins?’ he asked.
They nodded in silence. Twelve thought about pointing out she didn’t know Five’s, but decided against it. Hoarfrost looked particularly fierce at that moment.
His breath exploded out of him in a long sigh. ‘Ye should all be banished for that! Yet over the last few days ye’ve proven yourselves to have the qualities of true Hunters. Without yer actions, last night woulda been a very different affair.’
‘Y-yes, it would have,’ Seven said confidently. She was rewarded with a thundering glare from Hoarfrost.
‘Then there’s the fact that three of ye passed through the Frozen Forest. Did so despite meeting an Ygrex, a deathspinner and whatever manner of creature this Oakhammer was.’
‘We were lucky,’ Six said quickly.
Hoarfrost snorted. ‘Lucky? “Lucky” he says! To meet those critters and survive? No. Five, Six and Twelve, ye’ve performed a feat reserved for much older students and proven yerselves equal to the task. Ye managed to pass yer ruddy Blooding without even being sent on it.’
The little group absorbed this in shocked silence.
‘So … we’re actually Hunters now?’ Five asked cautiously.
‘The youngest in five generations,’ Hoarfrost said. He glared at each of them in turn as though they had planned it. ‘But none of ye will ever, I repeat, ever reveal that Six and Seven are related.’
Four heads bobbed in agreement. Six was so relieved he swayed where he stood. Seven beamed at him.
‘Ye will continue yer studies until ye’re ready to hunt for the clans. If this episode is anything to go by, then ye’ll enjoy great successes together.’ Grudging respect fleetingly appeared on his face. ‘I’ll be announcing it to the others tonight. There’ll be the usual feast to celebrate.’
‘There will?’ Five asked, looking round the ragged campsite doubtfully.
‘Aye!’ Hoarfrost glared. ‘As for these other skills of yers,’ he went on, addressing Seven and Twelve, ‘I reckon I’ll be sending a hawk to the witches. I’m hoping they may be able to identify this unknown “master” of ours. I’ll ask for their advice regarding ye two as well, although I expect they’ll deafen me with their usual silence. Until then though, I absolutely forbid ye to use these … powers.’
Seven opened her mouth to speak, but was silenced by a look from Six. Twelve nodded at Hoarfrost, a muscle in her jaw flickering painfully.
‘Not going to be a problem,’ she said tightly.
Hoarfrost stared at her for a moment and nodded once. ‘Glad to hear it. Any questions?’
They shook their heads.
‘All right,’ he said, his gaze encompassing the others again, ‘I’ll make the announcements. I suggest ye all start thinking about yer new Hunter names.’ A storm-swept smile flickered across his face and was gone. ‘Ye’ve ruddy well earned ’em.’
They made their way to the nearest campfire and sat on the logs around it. Food and hot drinks were pressed on them, but then suddenly they were alone, looking at one another uncertainly. So much had happened and no one knew how to begin to broach it. Feet shuffled, Six became very interested in his tea, Five purposely crammed an enormous mouthful of cake into his mouth. Dog’s gaze moved from face to face, infuriatingly hopeful.
‘Th-th-thanks for rescuing me,’ Seven burst out at last, colour rising in her pale face. The food seemed to have given her a new strength and her words tumbled over themselves. ‘I wasn’t sure you would. I did everything I could to make it easier, but that w-wasn’t much really.’ She shrugged and looked at Twelve. ‘I just gave you the moonstone and h-h-hoped that would be enough.’
A cloud crossed Six’s face. ‘Why didn’t you say something to me?’ he asked. ‘A warning or … or anything! I would have protected you! Or … tried to at least.’
‘I wanted to,’ Seven said miserably, her shoulders hunched against his anger. ‘B-b-but, in most of the paths where I did that, you ended up dead. And –’ she hesitated – ‘things have been so d-d-different between us since we got to the lodge. We haven’t talked properly since we arrived. I kn-know we only came here because of me,’ she added quickly, holding up a hand to stop Six’s interruption. ‘But part of me wondered if you were relieved. To not h-have to deal with … all this any more.’ She made a vague gesture at herself.
Six looked stricken. ‘That’s ridiculous,’ he said faintly.
Seven nodded quickly in agreement, but her expression was uncertain.
‘No,’ Six said more firmly, pulling her into a hug. ‘I missed you every day and worried about you. I thought if I spent time with you it would be more difficult for both of us. I … I’m sorry. I know it’s much harder for you here than for me. I was selfish.’
The smile on Seven’s face was like the sun, changing her features completely. For an instant, Twelve saw Poppy in her again.
‘No, y-y-you were right,’ Seven said. ‘Everything is as it should be.’
Six blinked in surprise and pulled back from her. ‘Really? You never say that.’
‘Yes,’ Seven said, smiling beatifically. ‘For once, w-we were in exactly the right place at the right time. Only one path led here – the chances were so s-s-small – but we’ve made it.’ The relief in her voice was palpable.
Twelve wondered where the other paths had led, what other fates Seven had seen for them. She shivered despite her hot drink, despite Widge wrapped firmly round her neck. Seven’s gift seemed more like a curse.
‘I agree,’ Five said cheerfully. ‘And the time and the place is perfect for giving Twelve a rollocking!’
‘You know I could blast you into oblivion?’ Twelve asked, wondering why she felt amused rather than irritated.
‘I think I’m safe,’ Five shrugged. ‘All right, things we clearly need to discuss: your temper, being rude, punching people and, most importantly, running away and abandoning your friends.’ He ticked each item off on his fingers and shook his head at her. ‘This isn’t how friends treat each other.’
Twelve felt shame burn her cheeks, even as her heart thrilled at the word ‘friend’. It was now or never. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, surprised at how easy the words were to say and by how much she meant them. ‘I said terrible things to all of you and I shouldn’t have.’ She met Six’s eyes. ‘Especially what I said to you about Seven and the cave clan. It was awful of me and … and I was totally wrong about everything. I’m sorry.’
‘I said some horrible things too,’ Six said quietly. ‘We were as bad as each other. I’m sorry as well.’
There was a stupid lump in Twelve’s throat. She decided it was better not to speak so she just nodded, hoping he could see how much that meant to her.
Dog’s tail had begun to wag slowly and now it sped up, relief evident in his face. He paced energetically in front of them.
‘Are you all right, Dog?’ Twelve asked.
‘Yes,’ Five frowned. ‘I know it’s good to focus on the positives, but you’re terrifyingly cheery right now.’
‘I know,’ he said, still pacing, his voice a curious mix of growl and yelp. ‘I cannot help it. You cannot know what it is like. How could you?’
‘What do you mean?’ Six asked.
‘The walls.’ Dog said, halting abruptly and turning to face them. ‘They have fallen.’
‘That means … you can’t return to them,’ Twelve said slowly, understanding dawning.
‘Yes,’ Dog said. ‘Hoarfrost will rebuild them eventually. But for now I am free. I know dark times are ahead, but I feel …’ He paused, searching for the right word. ‘I feel excited.’
‘Now there’s something I absolutely never thought I’d hear,’ said Five.
‘Hoarfrost has had word from the mountain tribe,’ said Dog. ‘They are offering us sanctuary. We begin the journey there tomorrow. For the past millennia, I have only left the lodge to fight. When I travelled, it was to or from battle. Always the oblivion of the walls waited for me. Now perhaps …’ He broke off, looking confused.
‘Now you can live,’ Seven said gently. ‘Y-you’ve already proven you can do more than fight.’
Dog nodded, his tail wagging slowly. ‘Maybe it is time to expand my role,’ he agreed. There was a light in his eyes that made Twelve’s heart sing. ‘I feel different,’ he said. ‘Perhaps what Oakhammer did to me changed something. I feel everything more. The wind. The coolness of the snow beneath my paws. I felt the heat of the walls burning. And food,’ He sniffed the air. ‘I almost think I can taste it.’
Five was the only one who frowned. ‘And pain,’ he added. ‘Morgren’s spells shouldn’t have hurt you, but they obviously did.’
‘That is true.’ Dog nodded slowly.
‘We still beat him,’ Six said, his eyes falling on Twelve. A question hovered on his lips.
‘Are you really, actually a witch?’ Five burst out.
Six, Five and Dog stared at her, their eyes wide.
Twelve’s tongue suddenly felt heavy in her mouth as she struggled to think of how to answer. In the end, Seven saved her.
‘She’s an elemental witch,’ she explained, her eyes warm on Twelve. ‘Her power is clearly over fire. I think Sharpspark helped her understand that.’
Five and Six stared at her with slack-jawed awe.
The mention of Sharpspark made Twelve sit up straighter and glance around. ‘Where is he?’ she asked. Widge growled in her ear, his displeasure obvious, but for once she ignored him. She felt an affinity with the sprite that both excited and terrified her. He had shown her how to use her powers and helped to save them all at great personal cost. But she knew without a doubt that he would have delighted in the destruction of the lodge where she felt only guilt and horror.
‘Hoarfrost sent him away,’ Five said darkly. ‘He enjoyed watching the lodge burn far too much. Might have helped it along a bit too.’
‘Of course,’ Twelve said quietly, pushing down a wave of sadness.
‘H-h-he’ll be back,’ Seven said with confidence, nudging Twelve.
‘Don’t say that!’ Five exclaimed, recoiling in horror. ‘Although –’ he paused and glanced at Twelve – ‘I now understand why he liked you so much.’ He whistled. ‘An elemental witch.’
‘I didn’t know,’ Twelve said, colour rising in her cheeks. ‘I mean, the fire thing happened before, but never as powerful as that. I still don’t understand what it means.’ She looked at Dog. ‘The Croke said the last elementals lived during the Dark War. Do you know anything about them?’
Dog’s happy expression faded and his tail tucked itself between his legs. Twelve’s heart sank.
‘I know a little,’ he said. He spoke slowly, as though choosing his words carefully. ‘Their magic was … unruly. And they were not born with it. A witch of Icegaard is born with her magic. Elementals rise.’
‘Rise?’ Five asked, wrinkling his nose.
‘They are made by their circumstances,’ Dog explained. ‘Circumstances that are always unpleasant.’ He nodded slowly and turned to Twelve. ‘Elementals appear in times of trouble. Times of great darkness. For centuries, there have been none. Now there is you.’
A coldness swept over Twelve, and Widge pressed closer to her.
‘Er, could we just be happy for a second?’ Five said, breaking the silence. ‘I mean, Victory couldn’t kill us; goblins couldn’t kill us; we’re together; we found Seven.’ He ticked the items off on his fingers. ‘By the frost, there’s loads to be pleased about there!’
A shout caught their attention. A group of Hunters were trying to position the next section of palisade wall. Dog sprang up to help them.
Twelve moved round the fire towards Five, knowing she had to clear something up between them. Their fight still whispered in her ear like a wraith. His eyes were fixed on Six, whose arm was slung round Seven’s shoulders, both of them laughing at something, their smiles identical.
Twelve took a deep breath, and sat down beside Five.
This was the last thing. The final piece to mend.
‘There’s nothing between Six and me, you know,’ Twelve said quietly, looking anywhere except at Five.
Beside her, Five snorted. ‘Same here!’
The resignation and hurt in his voice was enough to make her look properly at him.
To both their surprise, Widge leaped lightly on to his shoulder. Twelve was sure she saw him give Five’s cheek a quick lick. A few days ago, she would have been furiously jealous of that. Now the delight and surprise on Five’s face made her laugh.
‘He wants you to stroke him,’ she grinned. ‘Just be warned, once you start, he probably won’t let you stop.’
‘I’m all right with that,’ Five beamed. For a minute or so, he ran his fingers through Widge’s fur, his expression thoughtful. Twelve waited for him to speak.
‘Six and I, we’re still friends,’ Five said eventually. ‘But he doesn’t feel that way about me.’
‘Oh,’ Twelve said cautiously. ‘Isn’t it better you both know where you stand though?’
Five shrugged, but Twelve saw uncertainty beneath the casual gesture. ‘I hope so. I can’t lie about who I am.’
Twelve nodded, feeling on more solid territory. ‘No, you can only be yourself. No one else will do it for you.’
‘Easier if you know who that is though,’ Five muttered.
Twelve thought of her da and Elder Silver. Think about the person you want to be.
‘You get to decide, you know,’ Twelve said slowly. ‘I have.’ A liquid warmth spread through her as she spoke.
Not too late …
Widge bounced back on to her lap, happiness radiating from him as he gazed up at her.
‘What have you decided?’ Six called across the fire. ‘Your Hunter name?’ He hurried round to sit next to them.
‘Not what we were talking about,’ Five said. ‘Your Hunter name is obvious though – Hare. Big ears for eavesdropping.’
‘And yours should be Shrew, in honour of your bad temper,’ Six grinned, without missing a beat.
‘I was actually thinking of Wolf,’ Five said with dignity. His face fell as Six burst out laughing.
‘W-what about you, Twelve?’ Seven asked, sitting next to her. ‘Any ideas?’
Twelve frowned into the fire and thought. ‘Not yet,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘I never expected to become a Hunter, so I never thought about it.’
‘How about Scorch?’ Five said promptly. ‘What?’ he asked, when they all skewered him with a dark look. ‘It would be a warning not to mess with her.’
‘Spark?’ Six offered. ‘A bit less obvious?’
Five rolled his eyes.
Twelve shook her head. ‘It’s an easy “no” to both,’ she laughed.
‘I h-have an idea,’ Seven said a moment later. ‘W-what about Phoenix?’
‘Phoenix?’ Five scoffed. ‘That’s a magical creature. Hunters never take magical names.’
‘Twelve has magic though,’ Seven said. ‘And I c-can’t think of a more perfect Hunter name for her – a creature of fire that r-rises from its own ashes.’
The others fell silent and a strange electricity ran through Twelve. Phoenix. It would be an unusual choice, a bold one. A title she would have to earn, have to live up to every day. She wouldn’t end up like Victory, with a glorious name she didn’t deserve.
‘Phoenix,’ Twelve said, tasting the word and liking it. ‘I’ll think about it.’ Her eyes met Seven’s and the other girl smiled.
‘So you … you will stay with the lodge then?’ Six asked, his expression hopeful.
‘Yes, I’m staying,’ Twelve said slowly. ‘Everything feels different after what we’ve done together. I think I could be happy here now.’
Happy. The word felt odd in her mouth.
Six nodded, a smile spreading over his face.
‘Life will be different now too,’ Five added, a shiver of excitement passing over him. ‘I’ve always wanted to meet the mountain clan.’
‘Me too,’ Six grinned. ‘Do you think they really build wings like the ones that were in the council house?’
‘Th-they do,’ Seven said dreamily, staring into the fire. ‘And soar with them too. Their chief has w-wings made of ice-eagle feathers.’
‘Whoa!’ Five said. ‘How do you know that?’
Seven shrugged. ‘I dream of them sometimes.’
‘Brilliant!’ Five gasped, his face lighting up. He turned to Six. ‘Do you think they’ll teach us how to use them?’
Twelve watched Seven, wondering what else the other girl knew, but afraid to ask.
Seven caught her eye and smiled ruefully. ‘T-trust me, you’re better off not knowing. Most of it doesn’t make sense anyway. Well …’ She paused. ‘It d-doesn’t until it does.’
‘Like keeping the fox muzzled?’ Twelve asked, remembering Seven’s cryptic warning.
‘Y-yes.’ Seven frowned. ‘That came to me so suddenly and so clearly that I knew it was important, but—’ Her face showed her frustration.
‘It doesn’t make sense until it does,’ Twelve echoed quietly. A thought occurred to her. ‘What would have happened if the goblin had managed to draw that sword?’
Seven shivered and shook her head, her lips pressed into a line. She wasn’t going to answer.
A moment later, she reached into her pocket and, to Twelve’s delight, pulled out the moonstone. In the daylight, it just looked like a pretty rock, its surface milky and iridescent. ‘I’d l-like you to keep this,’ she said, holding it out to Twelve as though it was nothing more than a heel of bread.
