Oak And Mist (The Ambeth Chronicles Book 1) (3 page)

‘Please sit down and I’ll try to explain. It’s always weird, the first time you cross over. At least, that’s what I’ve been told.’    

Caleb gently took Alma by the arm, leading her to a nearby bench set against a tall green hedge. He took the seat next to her as she sat down slowly, trying to take it all in.    

‘Cross over?’  Alma was in a daze. She thought of pinching herself again, then thought better of it. But this was like every story she had ever read rolled into one, only rather than reading of finding doorways through wardrobes or secret knowledge hidden in tree trunks, she was living it. Caleb was still talking to her, so she made an effort to take a deep breath and relax. She wasn’t terribly successful.

‘Yes,’ said Caleb patiently, his kind face still concerned, ’you have crossed over. From your world, the human world, into Ambeth.’

‘Amb-‘ Alma started, but Caleb interrupted, his eyes starting to twinkle.

‘Yes, this is the Realm of Ambeth, and you’re not going to repeat everything I say, are you? It’s just, it will make everything take so much longer.’ He nudged her with his elbow and Alma grinned at the familiar gesture, starting to feel more like herself again. She started to relax.

‘Okay, okay,’ she said, hands up, laughing. ‘I promise I won’t do it anymore. I’m… just a bit confused.’

Caleb laughed too then and the sound was reassuringly normal. He offered her a bottle made of silver metal, beautifully engraved with spiralling patterns.

‘Would you like a drink? Oh, don’t worry,’ he said, seeing Alma eye the bottle doubtfully. ‘It won’t turn you into a frog or anything – at least I don’t think so.’

He winked and Alma realised he was teasing her again. Taking a breath, she raised the bottle to her mouth and took a long draught. The drink tasted like strawberries and mint and she handed the bottle back to Caleb, wiping the rim. ‘Thanks,’ she said, grinning. ‘Yep, still me, no frog’s legs,’ she went on, then blushed at her feeble joke. But Caleb laughed out loud, nudging her with his elbow again and all it once it was like they’d been friends for years.

‘So, shall we-’ he started, but Alma lifted her hand to stop him before he could speak.

‘Sorry, Caleb, before we go anywhere else I need some answers. Like, how did I get here, and how do I get back?’

Caleb looked at her strangely, like he didn’t understand. ‘You passed through a Gate, the Oak Gate, to get here. Didn’t you know…?’

‘Wait, passed through? I… don’t even remember.’ Caleb waited, watching the emotions cross her expressive face as she figured it out. ‘So, it was when I went between those two oak trees…?’ Alma frowned at Caleb and he nodded. ‘But… I still don’t get it. Is it like… magic?

‘Well, I guess,’ started Caleb, starting to frown as well. Then he noticed her wrist and his eyes widened.

‘Where did you get that?’ he asked, awe in his voice.

‘Get what?’ asked Alma, mystified. Caleb reached out a careful hand to touch her bracelet and they both jumped as a couple of golden sparks shot out of the stone. Alma snatched her arm back quickly.

‘Wh-what did you just do?’ she stammered, eyes wide.

‘I don’t know,’ said Caleb, looking equally astounded. ‘I really don’t. Seriously, where did you get your bracelet?’

‘Um, my mum gave it to me – it’s from my father’s family, an heirloom,’ Alma said, rubbing her fingers slowly across the gemstone.

‘Really?’ said Caleb, still looking puzzled. ‘I’ve only ever seen one other like it and it was here. They are quite rare and precious. I wonder how it came to be across in the human realm?’

Alma stared at him, her mouth open. ‘You mean my bracelet came from here? But… that’s impossible.’

‘Impossible or not,’ replied Caleb, ‘that’s what I mean. Are you sure you don’t know anything else about it?’

‘No,’ said Alma. ‘All I know is what I’ve told you.’ Her voice increased in volume without her meaning it to. This place was just so confusing. All at once she wanted nothing more than to go home, even if Ellery was waiting for her. Then another voice spoke, deep and strong.

‘Well met, Caleb.’

Alma looked up to see a tall robed figure silhouetted against the sunlight. She blinked, dazzled by the glare, while beside her Caleb stood up and bowed, deeply, from the waist. Alma stood up as well, bobbing her head awkwardly, feeling ridiculous. The figure moved into the shadow of the hedge and then Alma could see his face. She suppressed a gasp. His smile faded for a moment as he looked at her, a frown wrinkling his perfect brow. He looked almost shocked, thought Alma, though she couldn’t imagine why. Then he recovered, holding out a hand to her in greeting.

‘Welcome,’ he said. ‘My name is Thorion.’ Alma took his hand, trying to control the pounding of her heart.  But he was just so good looking! Shoulder length dark hair framed high cheekbones, a long straight nose and smooth lips that curved above a square jaw. Sea-blue eyes smiled at her. Realising she hadn’t spoken and was still holding Thorion’s hand, she dropped it quickly and introduced herself. Good grief.

‘Alma,’ said Caleb, grinning as though highly entertained. ‘Thorion is our High King, Lord over both Light and Dark.’

‘Uh, wow,’ said Alma, blushing furiously. Thorion seemed amused by this.

‘Thank you, Caleb,’ he said, nodding at the boy, ‘and Alma, it is a pleasure to meet you. We were not sure, you see, whether you would make the crossing or not.’

‘Wait – you were… expecting me?’ Then she remembered – Caleb had said as much when he met her in the woods. ‘But… how did you know? And why?’

Thorion smiled at her again and she almost forgot what her question was. ‘Suffice to say for the moment that you were expected, which is why Caleb was waiting at the Gate,’ he replied. Then his expression became serious and his blue eyes shifted colour, becoming stormy and dark. ‘What is unexpected, however, is that you are wearing a talaith bracelet. It is a rare gift, a treasure of our Realm and you are lucky to have it.’

‘But wait,’ said Alma. ‘How would I have this bracelet anyway? And, like, this is another world, like in a fairy tale? And…’ She stopped as a laughing Thorion, his eyes back to sea blue, raised his hands as though to defend himself. As he did the sleeves of his blue robes fell back to reveal strong muscled arms. But really, what did they expect? Here she was, in a strange place surrounded by strangers (even if they were ridiculously handsome). A few questions were definitely in order. Folding her arms, she waited, resisting the urge to tap her foot.

‘Yes, this is another world, Alma. Ambeth is home to the Lords of Light and Dark, lying adjacent to your human world. In fact, several of your fairy tales are based on mortals visiting our realm,’ replied Thorion, a twinkle in his eye.

‘But what about my bracelet?’ She held out her wrist to him. The stone glowed a serene blue and the sunlight picked out the silvery links binding it to her wrist.

‘I cannot tell you everything today, Alma, but I promise you, I will tell you,’ said Thorion gently. He bent his blue gaze on her again and she suddenly felt the urge to cry. She rubbed her hands over her face and through her hair before emerging to squint at Thorion. What was wrong with her? She shook her head.

‘But I don’t understand,’ she whispered. ‘My mother gave it to me,’ she repeated, her tone becoming insistent as she looked from Thorion to Caleb. ‘I think, maybe,’ she went on, trying not to panic again, ‘I should just go home.’ She looked pleadingly at Caleb. ‘You said you’d help me - please will you take me back?’

Caleb stepped forward but Thorion stopped him, a gentle hand on the boy’s arm. ‘Alma,’ he said, his face full of compassion. ‘We will not keep you here if you do not wish to stay. And do not worry about getting home. Your bracelet will help you – tell me, did you notice anything about it when you came through the Gate?

‘I, um, well, the stone was, er, glowing, I guess,’ she replied, frowning as she remembered the panic of her entry.

‘Good,’ said Thorion, smiling. ‘That means it is still active. When you go back, take a moment to think about when you would like it to be, and you will get back at that time. It cannot be earlier than when you crossed over, that is all.’

‘When I’d like it to be?’ repeated Alma, folding her arms. ‘Really?’ This sounded a bit much.

‘Really,’ echoed Thorion, his lips twitching slightly. ‘Go now, if you feel you must, but will you come back to us? We would very much like to see you here again. And hopefully, next time, we can answer some more of your questions.’

Alma looked at the High King and then at Caleb, both smiling expectantly at her. She looked around at the beautiful gardens, the gleaming Palace – were they serious? Despite her confusion, she realised she wanted to come back, to know more. This was beyond anything she had ever experienced before.

‘Yes, I mean, that would be great,’ she said, butterflies dancing in her stomach. ‘But when?’

‘Whenever you wish,’ said Thorion, his smile even more glorious than before. ‘You are always welcome here, Alma. Caleb will meet you at a time of your choosing. Until then.’ With a nod of his noble head, he bade them both farewell before disappearing back into the garden. Alma gazed after him as he went.

‘Is he always like that?’ she asked, her eyes wide as she turned back to Caleb, who seemed to know what she meant.

‘Thorion is somewhat…’

‘Overwhelming?’ said Alma, still recovering.

‘Well, yes, that I suppose,’ frowned Caleb. ‘No, I was going to say mysterious. He doesn’t mean to sound that way, he just does. He will keep his word, though. You will find out all that you need to.’

In spite of Alma’s protests, Caleb insisted on taking her on a more meandering route back to the Gate.

‘Thorion wouldn’t lie to you,’ he insisted. ‘Your bracelet will take you back home in time. Besides, don’t you want to see more of the gardens?’

Alma, wringing her hands as she looked around her, finally gave in. She was already really late – a few more minutes wouldn’t make any difference and she did want to see more, she couldn’t deny it. Besides, she still wasn’t sure that any of this was real. So, squashing her worry down she wandered through the gardens with Caleb, taking winding paths past flowerbeds and sections of green lawn. Hedges rose around them like a maze and every corner revealed something new – an intricately carved stone bench next to a fountain, a small wooden bridge leading to a summer house perched on the edge of a pond, a perfectly circular green lawn strewn with colourful cushions.

‘This place is… amazing,’ Alma sighed. ‘You could spend days exploring, I guess.’

‘The Gardens are very old and constantly changing.’ Caleb smiled, pride in his voice. ‘They are a wonder of our world.’

Finally, they reached the meadow path and Alma fell silent, lost in thought. ‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ she said, blushing a little when she eventually came out of her reverie. ‘I’m being rude. It’s just, there’s so much to take in.’

‘I know,’ said Caleb, grinning at her. ‘And you’re handling it really well, you know.’

Alma laughed. ‘Thanks. I think it’ll hit me later, you know? It’s all just a bit… surreal at the moment.’ She looked down for a moment, hands in pockets, then up at Caleb. ‘So, can I ask some more questions?’

Caleb nodded. ‘Ask away,’ he said. ‘I told you I’d explain as much as I could.’

‘Okay, so…’ Thinking hard, Alma framed her first question. ‘Have you always lived here, in… Ambeth? Did I get that right?’ she asked, stumbling over the unfamiliar word.

‘Yes, always,’ said Caleb, seeming amused. ‘I was born here. And yes, you got it right.’ He nudged her gently with his elbow and she grinned, finding his presence oddly comforting as they walked through the field under a sky not her own.

‘And, are you one of the Light, or-or the Dark?’ She was sure she already knew the answer; Caleb just felt so right, she knew he had to be of the Light. But his response surprised her.

‘I’m neither. Well, my allegiance lies with the Light but actually, I’m half human.’

‘How… what?’ Alma couldn’t think of any way to ask the question that didn’t seem rude but Caleb knew what she was getting at. He briefly looked away from Alma before replying, his face dappled in light and shade as they moved between the whispering trees.

‘My mother was human,’ he began. This brought up a whole new lot of questions for Alma, but she wisely kept quiet, sensing all would be revealed. After a small pause Caleb went on. ‘My father was of the Court of Light. He travelled over to your world, met my mother and they fell in love. When she became pregnant, he asked her to come back here to be with him but something happened, I don’t know what exactly and they split up before I was born. She decided to stay here and raise me but,’ his voice grew low, ‘I have never known my father.’

‘But, I- I don’t understand,’ said Alma, treading carefully. ‘Surely your mother can tell you-‘

‘She died,’ said Caleb, still quiet. ‘She died when I was small and so she never did tell me who he was.’ His face clenched with anger for a moment. ‘I have a set of leather armour from him, but that’s all. I don’t remember her much really, just an image of long golden hair, a voice singing, warmth.’

‘Oh, Caleb,’ Alma said, but he shook his head.

‘No, it’s all a long time ago now. I was brought up in the Court, I’ve never wanted for anything – it’s all fine.’