Vega Jane and the End of Time, page 3
‘It did indeed, Madame Prine.’
I stared. It had not occurred to me that Pillsbury had not always been a suit of armour. ‘What were you before then?’
‘I was a man,’ said Pillsbury simply. ‘A man dies, Mistress Vega. An enchanted suit of armour lives forever. And that was what was called for. Oh, I did so willingly.’
I said, ‘But who enchanted you?’
‘Your ancestor, Jasper Jane.’
‘Jasper Jane!’ exclaimed Delph, who, along with Petra, had lingered behind.
Pillsbury stared up at Delph. ‘Yes. It was necessary. Empyrean had to be kept safe. Master Jasper well knew that centuries might pass before things were made right, if they ever were. Thus, there had to be those who would remain here to take care of Empyrean.’
I looked at Astrea. ‘But why didn’t you come here directly after leaving the Quag?’ I asked. ‘You obviously knew of its existence. Your portrait hangs on the wall here.’
She shook her head. ‘I was not the one who enchanted it, thus I did not know its location.’
‘Who did, then? Alice and Gunther were dead before it became enchanted.’
‘Jasper also provided the protective incantations,’ said Astrea. ‘He knew the darker side of magic better than the rest of us. And as Pillsbury has already said, he wanted to ensure that Empyrean survived. It was his ancestral home, after all. It meant everything to him, and his sister. He would have done anything to protect it. And he did.’
‘I guess I can understand that,’ I said. ‘But why didn’t he inform you of this?’
‘It was a tumultuous time, Vega. It’s not like Jasper and I had the time or opportunity to sit down over tea. We were fleeing for our lives with a great deal to accomplish in a very short period of time. How did you find your way here?’
I held up my wand. ‘The Elemental led me here.’
She nodded. ‘Of course. It is the Elemental’s home as well, having belonged to Alice.’
Petra said, ‘Look, I know it’s a nice home and all, but would the Maladons finding this place back then have mattered all that much?’
Now Astrea’s piercing gaze bored into Petra. ‘Would it have mattered all that much?’ she said forcefully. ‘As you have no doubt discovered, there is much magic in this place. In addition to it being his beloved home, Jasper also believed that it would provide a safe haven one day for his descendants who had taken up the fight. That of course turned out to be correct. Not to mention that the golden wand of the slain Bastion Cadmus hangs on the wall. We would never want that instrument to fall into the hands of the Maladons—’
I interrupted her. ‘His wand no longer exists. I magically broke it apart and sent its pieces to provide wands to my army,’ I said. ‘Fifty wands from one.’
I had only once before absolutely stunned Astrea. Back at her cottage I had unleashed a magical blast without a wand, resulting in Astrea being blown off her feet and flung into a wall.
Well, I had just stunned her for a second time with only my words.
‘You . . . you created fifty wands from Bastion’s one? How? There is no incantation known that would accomplish that.’
‘I know. I created my own.’
She continued to stare at me in a way that was making me feel quite uncomfortable. ‘I see, Vega,’ she finally said.
‘Yes, I think you do,’ I said. ‘I have seen and talked to Uma Cadmus’s spirit. And also to Alice,’ I added.
Astrea’s jaw slackened. ‘You have seen Alice?’
‘I have.’
Astrea put out a hand to the wall to steady herself. Archie said worriedly, ‘Mum? You OK?’
With an effort, Astrea composed herself. ‘Yes, of course. It’s just that I never thought I would see dear Alice again. I never . . .’
‘Well, now you can,’ I said, looking at her curiously.
‘And how is she?’ asked Astrea anxiously.
Unsatisfied was the only word I could come up with. Pillsbury, who had been hovering in a corner of the room, stepped forward.
‘Madame Prine, would you care for some food, a bath, some clean garments and a soft bed upon which you could regain your energy?’ He swivelled his visor around to Archie. ‘And for your son too of course.’
Astrea nodded. ‘Yes, Pillsbury, that would be very welcome. Our beds have been the dirt and our food only what we could scrounge.’
She and Archie followed Pillsbury upstairs.
Astrea turned back on the stairs and looked down at me. Again, it seemed as though she could peel away my skin and look right into my head and heart. She had both irritated and intimidated me when we had first met. Her confidence seemed to be limitless. Yet I had ended up more than holding my own. So why did I feel like a schoolgirl once more?
It was so disconcerting that I turned and walked off, though I could still sense her watching me.
Petra and Delph followed, peppering me with questions.
‘Not now,’ I said. ‘We can talk later about it.’
‘But, Vega Jane—’ began Delph.
‘Not now!’ I barked.
I raced down the stairs to a room I knew well. The last time I had gone there, I had received the most shocking and terrible news of my life. That Wormwood and all those in it were gone.
Still, I needed to talk to someone.
A dead someone.
Sometimes, they know far more than those of us still alive.
4
THE RIVAL
‘Alice?’
I looked around the drab, shadowy interiors of the room. It was here that I had first encountered the ghost or spirit or whatever it was of Alice Adronis, my people’s fiercest warrior. I had seen Alice do battle, watched her die. Been given the Elemental by her. And she had known me by name.
That was one thing I wanted to ask her about. I hadn’t all this time because, well, I guess I was afraid of what her answer might be.
‘Yes, Vega?’
She had appeared behind me, wearing the chain-mail armour in which she had perished on the battlefield. Her mortal wound still gaped in her chest. Each time I saw it, my own chest hurt.
‘I have news.’
‘I already know.’
‘You know? How?’
She glanced down at my wand, which I had slid through my belt.
The Elemental had once belonged to her, but it no longer acknowledged that – or so I had thought.
‘What the wand can see, I can see also,’ she said.
I looked down at the Elemental, feeling a bit betrayed.
‘So, you know that Astrea is here?’
She nodded. ‘I expect her to come and see me, soon.’
‘She told me you two were friends.’
‘I’m sure she told you many things.’
‘She taught me how to be a sorceress.’
‘She was always an able mentor.’
‘I owe her for that,’ I said slowly.
‘You owe no one anything,’ was her surprising reply. ‘You came to Astrea’s cottage by your own courage and ingenuity. You took her lessons and made the most of them. But your magical ability was always inside you, Vega. Astrea merely allowed it to find purchase. And then you left her and made your way across the Quag. You came here, and you have been fighting the Maladons with bravery and honour all this time. I repeat, you owe no one anything. Including me.’
‘Do you trust her?’
‘I have long trusted Astrea.’
‘So why are you telling me these things, then?’
‘Astrea has her own way of doing things. She does not take the advice of others often, or with . . . grace.’
‘She let me change her mind and cross the Quag.’
‘Yes, she did. And how did that turn out for her?’
‘I . . . I don’t know what you mean.’
‘When you’ve thought deeply enough about this, Vega, come back and see me.’
And with that, she vanished.
‘No, wait,’ I cried out. ‘I wanted to ask you something else.’
But she did not return.
‘Vega, you idiot,’ I muttered. ‘Why didn’t you just ask her the most important question first?’
I headed back upstairs.
It was a ritual I dreaded.
We were all lined up, dressed in our finest clothes.
I was at the head of the line.
I looked at the wooden coffin containing the mortal remains of Alabetus Trumbull.
We were in the rear grounds of Empyrean, which had been returned to its past glory by the loyal enchanted outdoor staff. It was a beautiful day with nary a cloud in the sky. But there were no beautiful thoughts in my head or my heart.
Only a deep sense of loss.
In my mind’s eye, I could see Alabetus smiling or making a quip over a meal. I could see him fighting alongside me against the Maladons. I could also see him grip the hand of Regina Samms, with whom he had grown very close.
We would be burying Alabetus next to Regina, for she had succumbed in battle one month earlier.
Alabetus had never been the same after her death. I suspected that the loss of Regina had driven him to take more and more risks in fighting the Maladons, as a way of avenging her death. And, finally, that had ended in his own demise.
I pulled my cloak tighter around me, stepped in front of the coffin and briefly eyed the grave that had been dug by the outdoor staff. Their marbleized forms stood off to the side at respectful attention.
I eyed the long line of graves previously dug. Today we would be adding Alabetus to this depressing number.
I shook off these thoughts and turned to the crowd facing me. Petra and Delph stood side by side.
Harry Two sat beside them.
On the far right were Astrea and Archie.
She wore robes of emerald green, while Archie was more plainly dressed in a sombre brown.
Astrea gave me a little nod, as though letting me know it was OK to start.
I frowned at this. It wasn’t like I needed her permission.
I cleared my throat and began.
‘Alabetus will be much missed, just like all the others,’ I said, my gaze drifting to the row of graves. ‘He fought bravely and ably by our sides. He gave his life in the fight against the Maladons. He will always be remembered as the fine warrior and good person that he was.’
At this Mrs Jolly used one of her wooden appendages to place a large hankie next to her eyes, while Pillsbury patted her gently with his metal hand.
‘I know that our losses have been heavy,’ I continued. ‘But with each of our fallen, we have forcefully let it be known to the Maladons that we will fight to the very end. That we will triumph over them. There will be no stopping us.’
I paused and fought back an urge to become strident in tone, to rally my troops. I could see in the grief-stricken faces riveted on me that this was not the time nor place to do so.
‘I want each of us to reflect on our loss and to think, each and every day, of Alabetus and the others we have lost. I want us to keep them in our heads and hearts. And devote ourselves to making sure that none of them will have died in vain.
‘But Alabetus was far more than a soldier fighting in a war, no matter how honourable that battle is. He was a man. A son. He had hopes and dreams of a better future.’ I cast my gaze sideways at Regina Samms’s grave. ‘He wanted to fall in love, marry and raise a family of his own. He wanted to have a life free from fighting, free from war. He wanted to live in peace, as we all do.’
I turned to the coffin and placed both my hands on it. I closed my eyes and bowed my head.
‘Alabetus, I believe that you can hear me. I want you to know that we all miss you and will never forget you. That we will fight on. In your name and in that of the others we have lost. We send your remains into the grounds of Empyrean, a haven of comfort, safety and fellowship. As to your spirit, it will remain always with us. It will help us in the days and months to come. It will make us better warriors. And better people when peace arrives for us all. Goodbye, Alabetus, honoured brother.’
I raised my wand. All those behind me did the same.
We sent waves of light into the air.
I lifted Alabetus’s coffin with an incantation and placed it gently into the grave.
With a sweep of my wand, the mound of dirt next to the grave moved and covered it.
I bowed my head, said a silent prayer, then lifted my head and turned to the others.
As was our usual custom, I said, ‘Does anyone here wish to say a few words?’
At other such burials, we usually had one or two who came forward.
For the last two interments, though, no one had stepped forward. As I looked over the downcast faces, I thought such would be the case here until she stepped up.
‘I would like to speak.’
I looked in surprise at Astrea Prine.
Her gaze was not on me; rather it was directed at all the others.
She walked forward until she stood directly in front of me. Flustered by this, I stepped awkwardly to the side.
‘My son, Archie, and I did not know Alabetus, but it is quite clear that he was a fine man and a worthy warrior. He fought with great bravery and died a hero to the cause. We wish his spirit peace.’ She paused, and I could see her features harden.
She pointed her wand at the row of graves. ‘There lies nearly half your number.’
I stiffened because I had some inkling of where she was going with this. I shot Delph a glance. He had the exact same look on his face as I’m sure I did on mine. When I looked at Petra, she was simply staring curiously at Astrea, waiting for her to proceed.
Astrea said, ‘I have been through a war with the Maladons before, many centuries ago. I fought against them as you are doing now.’
I looked around the group and saw, to my considerable dismay, that the others were listening raptly.
Astrea continued. ‘Because of that, I know them better than anyone here.’ She glanced at me. ‘Even better than Vega Jane.’
I felt my face begin to burn, but I remained silent. I had no wish to create an altercation at such a sacred ceremony.
‘I have come here to help in the fight,’ she continued. ‘My son has accompanied me. We have not been here long, but we have succeeded in killing a dozen Maladons already.’
There was a murmur from the crowd. She had impressed them – though I had killed far more Maladons than that myself.
She went on. ‘Vega is a fine sorceress and warrior.’ She smiled at me, and I found myself having to return the smile.
Her next words struck it from my face.
‘She should be because I trained her.’
I once more looked around the crowd and saw many surprised countenances. Some glanced at me before turning their attention back to Astrea.
‘Yes, I trained her, and while I believe that all of you have received instruction, I may be able to augment that education and convey to you the benefit of my magical ability and fighting experience.’ She glanced at me. ‘You may find it as useful as Vega did. Without it, I’m sure she will concede that it would have been impossible for her to reach this point in the war.’
There was nothing I could say. Because she was undoubtedly right.
She continued. ‘You have fought hard and well through what I am sure are many skirmishes and battles. But winning one or two battles is not important.’ She paused as she surveyed the crowd. ‘What is of critical importance is to have a strategy to win the war!’
She said this last word so fiercely that several in the crowd jumped.
‘The Maladons outnumber you on a vast scale. This is undeniable. At your current mortality rate, the conclusion of the war is inevitable.’ Here again, she paused. ‘You will lose.’
I shot a glance at Petra. Had she been talking to Astrea? Had she expressed the same concerns to her as she had to me?
‘This is not a reflection on you,’ Astrea said. ‘Or your fighting ability. Or your heart. It is simply that you are outnumbered. We had the same problem before, when we fought the Maladons.’
I could hold my silence no longer.
‘And you lost your war, did you not?’
Astrea turned to face me. The look on her features was not pleasant.
‘We did indeed lose that war. Which is why I’m here. To make sure that history does not repeat itself. I have valuable knowledge of the Maladons. I can make sure you do not make our mistakes. I can lead you to victory.’
I shot another glance at Delph. He looked outraged by her words.
Yet when I looked at Petra, she, once more, merely looked curious, even intrigued.
Enough is enough, I thought. Alice Adronis’s words came ringing back to me. I owed no one anything, least of all Astrea Prine.
I took a step forward and smiled, when what I really wanted to do was blast Astrea Prine into a million pieces. ‘Thank you, Astrea. We would be foolish not to accept help from such an experienced sorceress. If you could supplement the training they have received and suggest to us different tactics and strategies, we would be very grateful. Any information you can provide us on the Maladons, the techniques, weaknesses, ploys they tried in the past, would also be invaluable in aiding our effort. You can work directly under Delph and me in implementing these things.’
Astrea looked around at the others. They were all nodding.
‘Very well, Vega,’ she said, returning my smile. ‘We will work well together now.’
‘I’m sure of it,’ I said pleasantly, even as the Elemental shook aggressively in my hand. Perhaps it was channelling Alice!
‘Perhaps we can discuss further after dinner?’ she offered.
‘It would be a pleasure,’ I replied, perhaps laying it on too thick.
She grimaced rather than smiled, turned and stalked off, with Archie quickly following her, though he kept shooting glances back at me.
Like mother, like son. While the rest of the group quickly dispersed and headed back to the house, I stayed behind with Delph and Petra.
‘What was that about?’ exclaimed Delph.
I whirled on Petra. ‘Did you speak to Astrea before this?’ I asked.
