Curse of the Spider King, page 30
part #1 of Berinfell Prophesies Series
“We’re all fine.”
She looked at the driver. “Who are you?”
“Annelle Brookeheart, but call me Nelly.”
“Nelly,” Aunt Norma repeated. She put a hand on Nelly’s forearm and looked on her kindly. “You’re the one who fought those . . . things and rescued us.” She coughed harshly, turned her head, and started to close her eyes. “Thank you. Thank you.”
“We’re taking you to the hospital,” Nelly said. “We want a doctor to see you.”
“I won’t argue.” Aunt Norma whispered so low the kids in the back could barely hear her. “Please, Nelly, take care of Johnny and Autumn.”
“I will,” said Nelly.
After getting Aunt Norma admitted to the hospital and making sure she was okay, Nelly tried making a call on a pay phone. She tried three times. “I don’t understand,” she said to the kids. “I can’t reach any of them.”
“Any of who?” asked Autumn.
“It’s a long story,” said Nelly.
“This the stuff you were talking about?” asked Johnny. “The stuff you would have told us if we could have come to your shop again?”
“Yes,” she replied. The moment she answered, she had Johnny and Autumn making a scene, begging her to explain. “We have a bit of a drive ahead of us,” Nelly said. “That will give us time.”
41
Kinship
AT 3:00 a.m. the private jet carrying the Sentinels, Dreadnaughts, and the three young lords touched down at Edinburgh Airport. After a short bus ride to Dalhousie Castle, and a brief introduction of Jimmy to the rest of the Elves who had gathered in Scotland, the four young lords had been escorted to their chambers while Mrs. Galdarro and a handful of the senior Elves met with Edward to plan for the day to come.
“Are you tired?” asked Kat. She lay in the dark in a tall bed in between Anna’s bed and two Sentinels she’d come to know as Ril and Lexi.
“I’m exhausted,” Anna replied. “But you already knew that, didn’t you?”
“Not this time.” Kat laughed.
Ril sat up in her bed. “Can you read minds all the time, then?”
“It was off and on at first,” Kat said. “But it seems to be getting stronger. I still have to try . . . have to concentrate.”
“Does it have a range?” came Lexi’s muffled question, her chin resting deep in a pillow. “Or can you just think of someone wherever they are and hear their thoughts?”
Kat scratched her head. “The farthest I’ve ever been was about thirty yards.”
“Still, that would be quite an advantage in battle,” said Ril.
“Battle,” Kat repeated. She’d played many battle-oriented computer and TV games, but she couldn’t imagine physically engaging and trying to kill an enemy hand-to-hand. The very thought of it soured in her stomach. “When we get into the Elf world—”
“Allyra,” said Anna.
“Allyra . . . when we get there, are you going to teach us how to fight?”
“Grimwarden will take you to Whitehall,” the Dreadnaught replied. “There you will learn many things: weapon-craft, combat technique, and most important how to use your powers in concert with the other young lords.”
Kat was quiet a moment. She wasn’t really used to working together with others. Mostly, when it came to friendships, she’d found herself on the outside looking in. “When will the other girls get here?”
“Kiri Lee will be here Thursday,” said Lexi. “She’s staying at the Royal Palace in Edinburgh.”
“We saw her yesterday,” said Ril. “She’s quite extraordinary. Walks on the wind.”
“Is she pretty?” asked Kat.
An awkward silence followed. Lexi turned on a bedside lamp. “Kiri Lee has silky, dark hair; huge, brown eyes; and a perfect complexion. She is stunning.”
“Great,” Kat replied.
There, Anna felt she needed to speak up. “Kat, you’ve no doubt been wounded by very mean and shallow people . . . people who don’t realize how beautiful differences are. In Allyra you don’t need to worry about such things. You know, we have a saying in our home world: ‘Ellos cares not for garments, flesh, or any outward thing. Ellos cares for the heart.’”
“Ellos?”
“It is our favorite name for God,” said Ril.
“Oh,” Kat replied. She pondered that a moment. “I guess I understand what you’re saying, but living on earth . . . things are different. Guys don’t even look at me except to make jokes. And now, it’s just that . . . well . . .”
“What?” asked Anna.
“Do you think Tommy’s cute?”
Anna and the two Sentinels laughed. “I see now,” said Anna. “And yes, Tommy is very handsome.”
“You have to love that curly hair,” said Lexi.
“Great smile,” said Ril. “Of course, Jett is quite the charmer, too.”
“Don’t forget Jimmy,” said Lexi. “He’s a romantic, I can just tell.”
Kat burst into fits of laughter. The others joined in.
“I’m so embarrassed,” said Kat. “I can’t believe we’re in here talking about the guys.”
“Don’t worry about it, Kat,” said Anna. “The boys are probably talking about the same kinds of things.”
“How much blood was there?” asked Jimmy.
“It was coming out of my mouth and nose,” said Jett. “And the paramedics said a broken bone in my leg stuck right out of the skin.”
“Cool!” said Tommy and Jimmy simultaneously.
Tommy shook his head. “Man-n-n, I wish my parents would let me ride a motorcycle.”
“Yu got to ride in a helicopter, too?”
Jett nodded. “A medivac helicopter, but not exactly the way I wanted to do it. I was in a lot of pain.”
“Gentlemen,” said Mr. Spero, “I think you’ve heard enough about Jett’s bike accident. You’d better get some sleep before the sun comes up.”
They all lay quiet in their dark chamber for some time. Then Tommy asked, “What do you think the girls are talking about?”
“I dunno,” Jimmy replied.
“Beats me,” said Jett.
The next morning, some two hundred twenty-one Elves (including a few Sentinels and Dreadnaughts who had arrived just before sunup) met for breakfast in the castle’s cavernous dining hall. There had been no word concerning Nelly and the Briarmans. Kiri Lee wouldn’t arrive until later that afternoon. But the four young lords who sat together at the end of a long table looked to have been in the castle since medieval times.
“Yu should have seen ’im,” said Jimmy, half-choked with laughter. “Straight away into the ketchup, mustard, and tartar sauce. Looked like he lost a paintball fight, he did.”
“Sounds like he had it coming,” said Jett.
Tommy nodded. He’d seen his share of bullies, but his growth spurt between sixth and seventh grade had mostly solved that problem. Tommy stretched to see around Mr. Charlie and a few of the other Elves. Where is that server? he wondered. I’m starving.
“I’m curious about our special gifts,” said Jett. “Kat, you read minds; Jimmy, you can see the future—”
“Just scenes so far,” Jimmy clarified. “And not always when I want to.”
Kat piped up: “Same with me.”
“Okay,” said Jett. “I’ve got strength and healing, Tommy’s an expert archer, and this Kiri Lee kid, she can fly?”
“Walk on air, I heard,” said Jimmy.
“She walks on air?” Tommy grinned. “How cool is that?”
Too cool, thought Kat, but she said nothing.
Jimmy asked, “Anyone know what the others can do, Autumn and . . . Jerry?”
“I think it’s Johnny,” said Jett. “No idea what they can do.”
“Mrs. Galdarro said their powers haven’t developed yet,” said Tommy.
“I hope they’re okay,” said Kat. The rest nodded.
At last, the server arrived at their table. Tommy was just about to give his order when Jett interrupted. “Wait, Tommy,” he said. “I want to try something.” The rest of the table went quiet. “Kat can read minds, and Jimmy can see the future. Let’s see who can figure out first what Tommy’s gonna order for breakfast. Cool?”
Kat shrugged. Jimmy said, “Okay, but no guarantees, you know.”
The Elven server looked at Tommy expectantly. Tommy started to speak, but Kat interrupted. “Western omelet and home fries,” she said.
Tommy looked at her with a kind of curious amazement. He smiled and started to order, but this time it was Jimmy who interrupted. “No, he’s not going to order that. He’s going to get the sausage sandwich on a croissant with DOUBLE home fries.”
“Is that true?” Jett asked, comically turning from Tommy to Jimmy and back again.
Tommy nodded. “As Jimmy would say, ‘spot on!’”
Kat frowned. “But that’s not what you were thinking at first,” she complained. “You just changed it because I was right.”
Tommy smiled at her. “Um . . . under the circumstances, I guess there’s no point in denying it.”
“Will you be having the sausage sandwich and the double hash browns, then?” asked the server.
“And the omelet,” said Tommy. “I’m starved.”
“I knew that!” said Kat.
“Oh, stop!” Jett laughed.
After they placed their orders, Jett smacked both of his hands down on the tabletop so hard that half the dining hall turned and stared. “Uh . . . sorry!” he said. But then he lowered his head conspiratorially and whispered to the other three, “I just realized . . . it’s a Thursday. We’re missing school!”
The four of them exchanged somewhat guilty glances—which turned almost immediately to wry smiles and then full belly laughs. Their laughter went on through the morning meal, especially when they saw how much food Jett ordered.
“And I thought I was eating too much,” said Tommy.
“What?” Jett feigned innocence. “Doesn’t everyone eat four stacks of pancakes, a half pound of bacon, quadruple home fries, and a whole cantaloupe?”
Breakfast went on like that until Mrs. Galdarro’s cell phone chirped.
Everyone in the hall went silent and turned to their leader.
“Galdarro,” she answered. She smiled as she listened to the reply. After a few moments and nods of the head, she announced, “It’s Nelly! And she has Autumn and Johnny safe!”
A great cheer went up from the room and persisted until Mrs. Galdarro shushed them. Her smile was replaced with a thin-lipped frown, and her eyes narrowed. She spoke quietly, shook her head, and ended the call with, “No, we’re waiting for you.”
Mr. Charlie went to her when she closed the phone. The young lords were right behind. “What’s wrong, Elle?” Mr. Charlie asked.
“No, it’s nothing wrong, really,” she replied. “Nelly thinks we should leave now, told me she and the Briarmans would come when their flight gets in at ten.”
“But we don’t even have Kiri Lee yet,” said Mr. Charlie. “And she doesn’t even know what she is.”
“That’s what I tried to explain to Nelly. It’s better we wait and go together. Strength in numbers.”
“I think you’re right,” said Mr. Charlie.
Mrs. Galdarro tried to smile through her worry. “We will wait for Nelly and her two wards. Looks like Kiri Lee will be able to perform her concert after all. Edward will be pleased. Would you be so kind as to spread the word?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh, and Charlie, one more thing. The enemy has left one portal open. They must be near, must be planning something.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Mr. Charlie said. “We’ve got two hundred strong Elf warriors here. And since Monday, Edward’s had Sentinels patrolling the grounds, all ’round the perimeter, I think. But I’ll tell ’em all to stay alert.”
“Good, very good,” she said, nodding. “I lost the lords once to the Spider King. I don’t intend to lose them again.”
Tommy found Kat leaning on a wall atop the castle’s main gatehouse and staring downward. “What are you looking at?” he asked.
Kat flinched a little. “Oh, I didn’t hear you coming.”
“Sorry,” said Tommy, joining her at the wall. “So what’s to see?”
“Um, nothing really.”
“Hey, is that the new girl?” Tommy asked, looking down at a sleek limousine. The chauffeur held the door for an older woman and a raven-haired young lady carrying an instrument case.
“I think so,” said Kat, feigning disinterest. They both watched in silence as the new arrival entered the castle.
“There you are,” came a voice from behind. Tommy and Kat turned and found Jimmy and Jett standing there, looking suspicious.
“We looked fer yu everywhere,” said Jimmy.
“Yeah,” Jett said. “We need to talk.”
42
Crescendo
EDWARD, DRESSED immaculately as always, came bounding down the stairs. “Ready to visit the roons?” he asked, his voice every bit as sprightly and vivacious as the spring in his step.
“Yes, very much so,” said Kiri Lee.
“I should say she is,” said Mrs. Sherman. “She’s done nothing but talk about it all morning.”
“Well then, let us not delay another moment,” said Edward.
“What’s that?” Kiri Lee asked, pointing to a leather satchel under Edward’s arm.
“Oh,” he said, “something fer later on. Shall we?” He held out an arm and Kiri Lee slipped hers through it.
Just then, a tall, blond woman, dressed in a neat, gray business suit approached. “Hullo, Edward,” she said. “Is this Claudia Sherman?”
Mrs. Sherman replied, “It certainly is.”
“Ah, Mrs. Sherman,” said Edward. “Allow me to introduce Rachel Tanner. She’s head of ullic relations for Dalhousie.”
“Yes,” said Rachel. “I was wondering, Mrs. Sherman, if I might have a few minutes of your time. We’ve been looking forward to a visit from the governor for some time. As you may recall, last February, Major General McDowell himself expressed a desire to stay with us. I was hoping we could put that in stone today.”
Mrs. Sherman smiled. “Well, I . . . I didn’t bring my appointment books, but”—she fished around in her purse—“a BlackBerry will serve, I think. Edward, would you mind terribly if I skipped the ruins? My ankle’s been giving me some trouble anyway.”
“No, think nothing of it,” said Edward. “And rest assured, I will take good care of Miss Yuen.”
“What’s this about?” asked Tommy. The four young lords sat atop the gatehouse.
Jett looked at Jimmy, neither one sure who was to start. “Yu know what we’ve gotten mixed up in, don’t yu? Yu’ve read the book, right?”
Tommy and Kat nodded.
“Look,” said Jett, “traveling by plane always seemed kind of weird to me, right? Before you leave there’s snow on the ground. A few hours later, you’re on a beach. Well, we’re about to leave our world. Imagine what that’s going to be like.”
“You’re having second thoughts?” said Kat.
“Not exactly,” Jett said, relieved that Kat apparently was not reading his mind at this moment. “I know what we’re getting into. I’ve fought Drefids and seen the dark trees. My parents did, too. They gave me permission to go, and they know why I’m going. And Jimmy here . . . he knows what—”
Jimmy put a hand on Jett’s forearm. “I’ll speak for meself, if yu don’t mind. I’ll tell yu, Tommy . . . Kat, I’ve got nothin’ to lose here. I grew up in an orphanage. Misery, it was. Finally, I got a home, only to lose it when me adopted parents had a real son of their own. Probably the only two people in this world who cared about me turned out to be Elves . . . and I’m goin’ where they’re goin’. It’s that simple.”
Tommy glanced at Kat. Maybe she knew where Jimmy and Jett were going with this, but he sure didn’t.
“So, we’re in,” said Jett. “But you two have families, and they don’t really know what’s going on, do they?”
Kat blinked back tears. She’d struggled with her parents for a long time, ever since the poly. But she loved them. And now, she was abandoning them. Kat cringed, remembering how she’d brushed her mother off the last time she saw her.
“Do they?” Jett asked again.
“Mrs. Galdarro left a special note . . . a scroll behind,” said Tommy.
“So did Anna,” said Kat.
“Uh-huh,” said Jett, taking charge. “What Jimmy and I need to know, what the Sentinels need to know is . . . are you having second thoughts?”
“You might not know this,” said Tommy. “But I’ve experienced the Drefids, too. And while I don’t exactly know if I’m ready for all this, I’m going. The Spider King wants to kill a whole race—our race. And who knows if they’ll stop there. It’d be like having a chance to stop Hitler, but chickening out. I couldn’t live with that. I’m going, . . . even though I’m afraid.”
“Good,” said Jett, nodding approval. “I like that. That’s what heroes really are, right? They can be scared out of their mind, but still do the hard thing anyway. Looks like, ready or not, we’re on our way to another world.”
They stood up and went their separate ways for the rest of that afternoon. Kat was grateful that Tommy had satisfied Jett’s and Jimmy’s curiosity. She was incredibly relieved that Jett hadn’t asked her again if she was having second thoughts. She would have hated to lie.
After a glorious walk across the oceanic green lawns on the castle grounds, Edward led Kiri Lee down into a wooded hollow. A well-defined path began its serpentine journey to the ruins.
“What exactly are these the ruins of?” asked Kiri Lee as they walked.
“A castle,” he replied. “An outpost, really. It was built in 1712 by Jacobite Highlanders, led by Lord Drummond. They attempted an overthrow of Edinburgh Castle in 1715. They ultimately failed, and what with Dalhousie Castle so close, the old Highlander outpost fell into disrepair. Remarkable place really. Full of tunnels and mysterious staircases.”
