Destiny of the Witch, page 36
‘Tell me you didn’t kill her,’ I managed, my throat dry with terror.
‘Why would I do that?’ Havok enquired. ‘Anyway, what does it matter now? You won’t be alive long enough to grieve for her.’
His hand shot out and without thinking I hurled a fireball in his direction. He easily dodged it and laughed gleefully.
‘Enjoy yourself, my pets!’
Focus on the island, Wulfram. Focus!
I tried, I really tried, but I heard Siofra laughing and then the two dogs launched themselves at me.
Instinctively, I threw up my hands to protect myself, then stared in disbelief. They were frozen mid-leap. I looked past them to where the Pendragons were standing, but they weren’t moving either. What had happened?
I stepped away from the tree and moved out of the path of the dogs, noticing as I did so that I was wrong. They weren’t frozen. They were still moving, but so slowly it was difficult to notice without studying them closely.
Even as I registered that fact I realised that something else was happening. Malliss was somehow moving faster than the others. I remembered that Killian had said he was like quicksilver, and I supposed that, although I’d somehow managed to slow them all down, his abilities and speed were ensuring he could still move quicker than I liked.
He slowly turned his head to look at me, and I saw rage in his eyes. Very slowly his hand began to lift. He wanted to kill me, there was no doubt about it. I thought of Zephyr and what this man had done to him, and I was filled with a sudden rage. My fingers began to twitch, and I looked down, shocked to see a sickly green light emanating from them.
This wasn’t something I’d been able to do before and I knew instinctively that it was fae magic. I saw Malliss’s face change. The rage turned to fear as he tried desperately to move out of my line of fire. There was no way he could possibly be quick enough. I couldn’t fail to hit him.
And yet… I couldn’t do it. Whatever this was, I couldn’t kill him in cold blood, and something told me that’s exactly what I’d do, and it wouldn’t be quick or pretty.
No. I’m not that person. I don’t want to be that person.
His expression changed from fear to scorn as he realised I hadn’t taken the opportunity to inflict upon him what he’d inflicted upon who knows how many others. His hand was now glowing with the same green light I’d just extinguished in myself.
Without thinking I hurled a fireball at him, gasping in shock as it hit him squarely in the chest and he fell to the floor. Even as he did so, time moved on and things returned to normal speed again.
‘What have you done?’ Havok gasped, staring at Malliss in shock. His favourite henchman was dead on the ground and Havok turned to me, fury in his eyes. ‘You’ll pay for that, nephew. Your time is done!’
‘Look out, Wulfram!’
I looked round, staggered to see reinforcements had arrived. It was Emrick who’d shouted to me, and I was so overwhelmed to see him again that I almost forgot about the danger I was in, but quickly spun round again just in time to dodge a blast from Spite.
How had they known where I was? Sirius, Harley, and Trinity were with Emrick. And so was Keely! So they were all right. Havok hadn’t killed them! My heart lifted and I was filled with a new determination.
I edged my way backwards towards my family, keeping my eyes firmly on the Pendragons who were clearly shocked by the new arrivals.
‘What are you doing here?’ I managed, blasting a fireball at Havok.
‘No time for that now, we’ll explain later,’ Keely gasped. I nodded and she added, ‘I’m so glad you’re home.’
‘Me, too.’
It wasn’t the most romantic reunion, but it was the best we could manage. That sickly green ray was emanating from Havok’s fingers and Emrick shouted a warning before blasting my uncle with something that made Havok let out a yell and drop his hands.
Immediately, Spite shot out a vivid purple ray, and I glanced round, horrified to see Trinity was in its direct line, but that she wasn’t looking in his direction. She was too busy firing blasts at Siofra.
‘Trinity!’
My warning was unnecessary. Sirius had obviously spotted the danger she was in, and he threw himself against Trinity, knocking her to the ground, where he let out a cry of pain.
‘Sirius, you’re hurt!’
I heard Trinity’s anguished cry but could do nothing to help. I was being blasted by both henchmen now, and it was taking everything I had to fend them off. I wished I could figure out how I’d slowed down time previously, but no matter how many times I threw up my hands nothing seemed to be happening.
Suddenly a white light enveloped us, and I heard Keely say, ‘At last!’
‘Don’t fire!’ Emrick shouted to us, and I lowered my hands realising we were behind a shield.
I looked round and saw Aidan and Killian standing by our side. Killian was holding the shield steady with one hand and he and Aidan were blasting the Pendragons. The two henchmen were killed instantly.
Havok glared at the O’Briens. ‘You again. Well, not this time, traitorous worms!’
He aimed a blast of purple light at Killian’s shoulder, knocking Killian and lowering the shield. We were exposed again. It was only for a moment, but in that time I saw the green light coming from Havok’s fingers and heading straight for me. I stared at it, too frozen with fear to do anything.
Suddenly I was flying through the air as if I’d been catapulted. I landed with a thud on the ground and rolled over and over before coming to a painful halt against a tree.
How had I escaped Havok’s attack?
I glanced round to see who had helped me, but everyone was busy fighting. Then I noticed Siofra, standing a little apart. She gave me a knowing look, put her hand on one of the dog’s heads, and the two of them vanished.
I lay there stunned. What had just happened? Surely Siofra hadn’t helped me? It made no sense. Someone else must have blasted me out of the way. Whoever had done it, I had no time to think about it.
I scrambled to my feet, looking around. Only Havok and Spite remained. Killian threw the shield around the others and Aidan blasted Havok with something which looked like a shimmering blue ice ball. It was a direct hit.
Havok gave an anguished cry and fell to the floor, not far from where his number one henchman, Malliss, lay dead.
Spite clearly saw he was outnumbered. With a cry of anger he vanished, taking the other dog with him. A moment later the bodies of Havok, Malliss, Greywood and Hawdon vanished too.
I sank to my knees, dazed. Havok Pendragon was dead? I could barely take it in. Then I realised Trinity was crying and hauled myself up off the ground.
‘Sirius! He’s hurt,’ she sobbed. ‘Do something, please.’
‘It’s okay. I’m all right.’ Sirius lay on the ground, sweat pouring from his forehead. His leg looked mangled and bloody, and I was pretty sure he was far from all right.
‘We need to get back to the island, now,’ Emrick said. ‘Are you all ready?’
We all grouped together, sitting beside Sirius, too weary and shocked to say anything else. We put our arms around each other and visualised the living room at Peloryon House, then we left Polkayne Woods far behind us and—at last—I went home.
Chapter 46
Trinity
What a couple of days we’d had! Sirius was badly wounded in his left leg, and I’d sat with him day and night, refusing to leave his side for a moment. Iliana had been horrified when she heard what had happened to him, and the whole Castle Clair family had moved to Peloryon House in a show of solidarity and support.
Of course, Castor, Iliana, Star, Sky, Celeste, and even Aurora had chastised us for not calling them to help in our battle with the Pendragons, although we tried to explain that there hadn’t been time.
Once Killian had got a warning about the Pendragons being in the vicinity he’d headed to Ballydraiocht to enlist Aidan, just in case, and the rest of us had rushed to Polkayne to see what they were up to. When we saw them with Wulfram there’d been no time to think about anything else, let alone send one of us to Castle Clair for reinforcements.
I was still amazed they’d let me go with them, but Keely had argued my case, pointing out that I wouldn’t be luring the Pendragons anywhere as they were already there, and that the more witches there were to fight them the better. Even Emrick had decided to go with us. In fact, he’d insisted upon it, and had also spoken up for me. Sirius had been reluctant, but I’d told him I had to start fighting my own battles at some point, and he had to let me take part or how was I ever going to learn to defend myself?
Even so, part of me wished I hadn’t insisted. If I hadn’t been there Sirius wouldn’t have leapt in front of me to save me, and he wouldn’t have been wounded. His leg was a mess, although Iliana had summoned Elinora Harbottle to the island, because she was apparently a very gifted healer.
Elinora shook her head when she saw the wound. ‘Very nasty. Very nasty indeed.’ She gave us all a cheerful smile. ‘Still, it could have been a lot worse, and I’m sure I can fix it. Mind, you’ll probably have a bit of a limp, Sirius. I can do magic but not miracles.’ She winked at him. ‘I always think a man with a cane looks very distinguished, and you’ll have a war wound to boast about, so look on the bright side, eh?’
Sirius was being incredibly noble and didn’t blame me at all. Once the fever had passed, he sat up in bed and demanded to know everything that had happened with Wulfram in 1673.
‘Your guess is as good as mine,’ I said. ‘He still hasn’t told us.’
‘What do you mean, he hasn’t told you?’ he asked incredulously. ‘He must have said something.’
I shook my head. ‘He’s still processing it all, I think. Emrick told us to leave him alone and he’ll tell us in his own good time.’
‘What about the sword?’ he asked anxiously. ‘I didn’t see it when we were fighting, did you?’
I bit my lip. The same thought had been bugging us all, ever since we arrived back on the island. There was no sign of the sword and Wulfram hadn’t mentioned it. No one liked to bring the subject up, and even Keely admitted she knew no more than we did.
‘The only person he’s spent any time with is Emrick,’ I said. ‘Honestly, you should have seen him when we got back to the island. I mean, he was obviously happy to be with Keely again, but it was Emrick he kept staring at. He just sort of staggered towards him, and they exchanged this huge bear hug, and Wulfram cried.’
I swallowed. It had been an emotional sight, watching my brother sobbing in Emrick’s arms. Emrick had soothed him and told him everything was all right, and then he’d led Wulfram into the snug away from the rest of us, where they’d sat and talked for hours, leaving poor Keely feeling very disappointed and the rest of us burning with curiosity.
Sirius insisted, the following day, on heading downstairs to eat dinner with us. Iliana transported him down because she wouldn’t let him even attempt to walk, and I can’t say I disagreed with her. Gee, Sirius was a terrible patient! He kept insisting he was perfectly all right, when it was obvious to anyone that he was still in pain and that, despite Elinora’s healing, his leg was far from better. I supposed he was as stubborn as I was.
Everyone was delighted to see him downstairs, and Ewella and Iliana had pulled out all the stops, preparing a glad-you’re-well-enough-to-join-us and a we’re-so-glad-you’re-home-safe meal in honour of him and Wulfram.
It’s a good job the island knew what we needed, because the dining room would have been packed. Somehow the walls had expanded, and the table had been lengthened so everyone could sit together yet have plenty of space, and Sirius was given a special velvet chair and footstool to make sure he was as comfortable as possible.
I noticed Wulfram was sitting next to Emrick with Keely on his other side. It seemed odd to me that he’d become so attached to Emrick suddenly. I thought Wulfram had been through something extraordinary, and it had clearly had a big impact on him. For some reason he seemed to see Emrick’s presence as a comfort.
It was all well and good, but I was dying to hear about Romy and if she was okay. And where was the sword? That was something we were all anxious about. Had Wulfram failed in his mission? If he had, where did that leave us?
Emrick had made it very clear, though, that we weren’t to question Wulfram, and that he’d tell us everything when he was ready, so no one spoke of his recent jaunt back in time, or of the battle we’d just gone through. Instead we kept things light, praising Ewella and Iliana for the wonderful food, chatting about how Seren was teething already, and discussing Aither’s new nursery school which, apparently, he was loving.
We’d just finished our meal and were about to start clearing the plates when there was a knock on the door.
We all looked at each other, startled. No one ever knocked on that door.
‘Should I go?’ Ewella asked nervously.
‘I’ll go,’ Emrick said. ‘Don’t look so worried. I doubt it’s anything to fret about.’
We heard voices and exchanged glances.
‘That’s Aveta,’ Iliana said. ‘Sounds like we’re being visited by the High Council.’
‘They never knock,’ Keely said. ‘They usually just zap in here.’
‘Not when it’s official business,’ Raiden told her. ‘Sounds like this is important.’
Sure enough, when Emrick returned he was trailing the High Council members behind him. There was another person with him, too. Elinora Harbottle.
‘How lovely to see you,’ Ewella said politely. ‘To what do we owe this pleasure?’
‘We’re here to inform you of a couple of things,’ Aveta said, nodding her thanks as Ewella motioned to the four of them to sit down on the empty chairs that had just appeared at the end of the table. ‘Firstly, the Guardians have selected our new leader. Elinora Harbottle has taken the place of Zephyr Ambrose.’
There were some gasps of surprise at this.
‘No offence,’ Iliana said hastily. ‘I just assumed they’d choose Aveta.’
Aveta held up her hand. ‘Frankly, I’m relieved they didn’t. I’m too old and too tired. The last few months have taken it out of me. Elinora has proved to be a loyal and intelligent witch, and I have every faith in the Guardians’ choice.’
‘Of course. Congratulations, Elinora.’
We all added our congratulations to Elinora, who thanked us warmly.
‘About time we had another woman on the High Council,’ Star said. ‘Well done.’
I sneaked a look at Hector, but his face was impassive. He must have known this, but he hadn’t breathed a word of it to us. Still, I guess that was his job. Fair enough.
‘Secondly,’ Aveta said, ‘following Bob’s demise, we have, of course, another vacant space in the High Council. Elinora?’
Elinora nodded and smiled. ‘The Guardians leave the election of other members of the Council to us, and we’ve decided we’d like to offer the position to you.’ She turned her head. ‘Sirius St Clair.’
Sirius stared at her. ‘What? Me?’
‘Oh, Sirius,’ Iliana breathed. ‘What an honour!’
‘But why me?’ he asked. ‘Especially now. I’m going to be walking with a cane, you said so yourself. Besides, I’ve done nothing to deserve this.’
‘We disagree,’ Kendrew said. ‘For one thing, you’re a gifted and steadfast witch. For another, we’re impressed by your plans to open a school for fae and witch children, and your determination to sow the seeds of friendship and love between future generations of our people. Plus,’ he added with a shrug, ‘you’re a St Clair. We figure it’s best to have one of you on the inside. What is it they say?’ He grinned. ‘Better the devil you know.’
‘Charming,’ Raiden said.
‘You know what I mean,’ Kendrew said. ‘I think we need one of you on our team.’
‘But why not Celeste?’ Sirius protested. ‘She’s the raven, after all.’
‘I really don’t want to be on the High Council,’ Celeste protested. ‘It wouldn’t suit me at all.’
‘And, er… Oh dear,’ Amlodd said uncomfortably, ‘don’t take this the wrong way. Thing is, you’re married to a woman who’s half witch and half fae, Sirius, whereas Celeste… Well, her husband is an ordinary human. It wouldn’t do really.’
I smothered a grin and saw some of the others were trying to hide their amusement at this statement. If they only knew!
Wulfram, however, didn’t look amused at all. ‘Phoenix Tremayne was married to an ordinary human,’ he reminded them. ‘If it was good enough for the greatest leader the High Council has ever had, why isn’t it good enough for Celeste?’
They all looked at each other.
‘We’re not prejudiced,’ Aveta said hastily, ‘and we do take your point. But things are so tricky right now. The witches are saying we let them down by bringing the O’Briens into our midst. No offence,’ she added, seeing Killian sitting next to Harley. ‘We’re having to do a lot of work to reassure them we’re completely on the witches’ side and that they can trust us one hundred per cent.’
‘Except that’s not entirely true, is it?’
‘Wulfram?’ Keely frowned as he got to his feet and glared at the High Council.
‘I had an encounter with Havok Pendragon recently,’ he said. ‘He told me everything.’
We all looked at each other, wondering what he meant. Only Emrick seemed unsurprised.
‘I’m sorry,’ Elinora said, glancing at her colleagues. ‘What is he talking about?’
‘The person who betrayed Zephyr and Trinity to the Pendragons,’ Wulfram said. ‘It was Bob. But then, I guess you already knew that didn’t you?’
‘You must be mistaken!’ Elinora gasped.
We all stared at Wulfram in astonishment. Was he serious?
‘Oh dear,’ Amlodd said. ‘I told you it would come out eventually.’
‘Bob!’ Aurora had gone pale. ‘That’s not possible. He would never betray my father!’
‘I’m sorry,’ Wulfram said gently. ‘It’s true.’
