Spellfall (14 page)

He’d never really believed his father’s scare stories – that if you lived too long outside the Boundary you lost the ability to see in Earthaven, except through the eyes of your familiar. But now, whenever someone closed their hand about Redeye, Merlin’s view of Earthaven was reduced to shadowy silhouettes and he halted, shivering, until the men realized their mistake and let his mouse peep out again. Even this wasn’t perfect. The picture he received through his familiar’s eyes was like a badly flickering monitor stuck on the colour green, and walking ten paces behind his “eyes” made him feel queasy. Added to this, being able to understand his mouse wasn’t quite as wonderful as he’d imagined it would be.

Well, what do you expect?
Redeye said, picking up his thought.
Some rescue this is! First you put a live spell in my bed just where I’d blister my tail on it. After that you half suffocate me with smoke, bruise me in places I’d rather not talk about, dangle me like some kind of sacrifice under the talons of that arrogant hawk, then for good measure drop me head first through a gateway into enemy territory. And, as if that wasn’t enough, you manage to get us both arrested as spies
.
I think I preferred it in the cellar. At least my cage didn’t jerk about down there. Spellclaves! Can’t you tell this bully to slow down? If he doesn’t stop swinging me around soon, I’m going to throw up all over his fine cloak.

“No!” Merlin squeaked. “Don’t do that! He’ll kill us.”

One of the men had plaited some vines to make a little carry-cage for Redeye, which he was swinging merrily as he strode deeper into the tunnels. Merlin caught up with him and tweaked his cloak. “Please sir, can you carry my mouse more carefully?”

The man laughed. “The Caster wants us to be careful with his familiar. Shall we show him how we usually treat ’em?” He fingered his knife.

Merlin cringed, and Natalie looked round with a frown. She still seemed rather pale but she whispered something to the old magehound. The hound stepped in front of Merlin’s tormentor, flipped its ear and growled.

The man took a hasty step backwards and put his knife away. “Don’t worry,” he told Natalie. “We’ve orders to look after your little friend and his mouse. Oq likes her Casters undamaged.”

They seemed to find this very funny. But when they started off again, the one carrying the cage tucked it under his arm.

“Better?” Merlin whispered.

Phaw!
was Redeye’s comment.
His
armpit smells worse than yours, and you’re the scruffiest nestling I’ve ever seen. I can’t understand why that girl didn’t leave you behind
.

“I wish she had,” Merlin muttered, beginning to regret his impulsive flight from the Lodge. But how was he to know they would arrive at the Thrallstone just as a Spell Lord was about to open it? And when Natalie had gone blundering through, what was he supposed to do?

You are stupid, aren’t you?
said Redeye.

“That’s not fair. I—”

Before he could defend himself, they rounded a bend in the tunnel and emerged in a large, glowing cavern where several tunnels converged. As Merlin stood and gaped, a faint whistling came from one of the shadowy openings on the far side. Their escort smiled knowingly as a sudden draught whipped Natalie’s long hair around her face and blew through the holes in Merlin’s jumper, raising goosebumps across his back. In the wake of the warm wind, three shining bubbles the size of small cars whooshed out of the tunnel and stopped in the centre of the cavern, floating a hand’s breadth above the floor. A sweet smell lingered in the air, making him think of candyfloss.

This is no time to be thinking of your stomach,
Redeye said.
The Spell Lord comes.

Immediately, Merlin’s appetite deserted him. Lord Pveriyan strode into the cavern and crossed to the first bubble. When he touched it, the side peeled open with a sound like plastic tearing. He gave Natalie a mock bow and pointed. The old magehound jumped inside, and after an apprehensive glance back the way they had come, Natalie followed. The bubble sealed itself. There was a
whoosh
. Then it was gone.

This all happened so fast, Merlin didn’t have time to think, let alone act. “Natalie!” He rushed forward, heart banging, and rounded on the Spell Lord. “What have you done with her?”

Lord Pveriyan smiled. “You’re worrying about the wrong person, Caster. Get in.” He opened the second bubble.

Merlin shuddered. “Not without Redeye,” he whispered.

“Do you really think I’m going to let you travel with your familiar? Oq only knows what mischief you two would get up to! In, I said.” Merlin shook his head, but two of the cloaked men picked him up by his elbows and thrust him inside. “Hold tight!” Lord Pveriyan called with a chuckle.

There was no time to hold anything. He felt the bubble lift slightly. Then he was hurtling into the tunnel after Natalie, spinning helplessly, rolling forwards, then sideways, then backwards, then head over heels. By the time the bubble floated to a halt and unsealed itself in another cavern far vaster than the one they had just left, he felt bruised all over. He crawled out, groaning.

Now you know what I feel like
, said Redeye, who had travelled in the third bubble with Lord Pveriyan and his magehound.
Oq’s playing with you. Organazoomers aren’t normally so uncomfortable
.

“Organa-whats?” Merlin said, forgetting his bruises as he gaped at the sheer size of the cavern. Like shooting stars, more of the shining bubbles whizzed overhead and vanished into the glittering haze.

I wish you’d wash your mind-ears out! Organazoomers. They’re how you travel inside a soultree. Don’t you know anything?

“We’re inside a
soultree
?” Merlin whispered, feeling a bit sick. “I didn’t know they were so big.” He looked anxiously at Natalie who was clinging to the magehound as if it were the only solid thing in the world.

Lord Pveriyan strode across and nudged him with a toe. “On your feet, Caster. You’ll have plenty of time to talk to your mouse when we’re up in the trunk.”

“Why can’t I have Redeye back now?” Merlin asked, scrambling up before the Spell Lord could kick him again. “I’ll walk quicker if I can see where I’m going.”

The green eyes clouded. “You’ll walk as fast as I tell you to.”

Merlin’s shoulders slumped. But to his surprise, Natalie gave a huge shudder, took a firmer grip on the magehound’s ruff and said, “You’re no better than his father! That’s exactly what he did – took away his familiar. It’s cruel.”

Merlin stared at her. Did she really understand?

Of course she understands!
Redeye said.
She’s got a familiar of her own now, hasn’t she?

“But her spider—”

His mouse sighed.
Use my eyes! Look!
Merlin received a clear view of the two magehounds growling at each other again. Suddenly, a lot of things made sense.

“I’m so stupid,” he groaned.

You can say that again,
said Redeye.
Good job you’ve got someone who’s willing to stand up for you, because you’re pretty pathetic about doing it for yourself.

“He won’t do anything if you give him his mouse,” Natalie was saying. “It’s true what he told you. He can’t cast spells. I know, I’ve seen him try.” Merlin might once have protested about that. Now, he kept his mouth shut, grateful she thought he was so useless.

Lord Pveriyan still looked doubtful. But after a moment he sighed and tossed the little carry-cage at Merlin. “I suppose you can’t get up to much in the trunk. But the moment you step out of line, young Caster, I’ll hang your familiar by his tail from Oq’s topmost branches,” he warned. “Understand?”

Merlin caught the cage with a sob of relief and tore at the vines. Leaves scattered as he smothered Redeye in kisses, drawing a
Yuk!
from his mouse. Yet his familiar didn’t struggle too hard.

“What’s this place called?” he whispered, letting Redeye climb on his shoulder where the mouse could peer beneath his ear.

It was Lord Pveriyan who answered. “This is the Central Root Cavern of the soultree Oq,” he announced with pride, his voice echoing. “The Council meets in the upper branches at midnight. That just leaves you two time to get cleaned up.” He wrinkled his nose pointedly at Merlin.

*

The afternoon passed in a blur. At first, Natalie had difficulty believing they were inside an enormous, intelligent tree called Oq, whose hollow branches and roots formed a labyrinth of passages and tunnels connecting the deepest organazoomer terminals to the highest leafy chambers filled with sunlight and sweet Earthaven air. But by the time they reached a living chamber in the lower branches where rainwater had collected to form an enchanted pool, she’d seen so many strange sights and been told so many strange things by K’tanaqui, she’d hardly have been surprised if the tree had uprooted itself and walked across the clouds. It was as if her store of fear and wonder had been used up, and there was nothing left to be frightened of or amazed by.

Their guide during this time was a young woman who wore orange flowers and berries in her hair. By the green light in her eyes, Natalie guessed she was a Spell Lord even before K’tanaqui informed her of the fact. Her name was Lady Thaypari, and the first thing she said to them was, “Don’t worry, we’re not all as grumpy as old Pveriyan. You caught him at a bad time, I’m afraid. He’s not used to people standing up to him, especially not people a hundredth of his age!” Then she laughed, a warm earthy sound that immediately put Natalie at ease. Even Merlin seemed to relax a bit and his mouse, which had fled under his jumper at the sight of her, wriggled out again to sit beneath his ear.

Lady Thaypari dumped an armful of moss-green clothing beside the pool and smiled at them. “Here’s towels and clean clothes,” she said. “They belonged to some of the Herder children, so they should fit you all right. Little devils, they’re always visiting Oq for a swim and leaving stuff behind, so they won’t miss them. When you’re done, just ask K’tanaqui to give K’aypari a call and I’ll come and dress your hair. Got to look your best when you appear before the Council. Enjoy your swim!”

Finally, they were alone.

Natalie felt her shoulders relax. With a sigh she kicked off her shoes, sat on the edge and dangled her feet in the water. While she and Merlin had been touring the tree, it had grown dark outside. Moonlight shone through Oq’s interlaced branches, making silver-green reflections in the pool. The water was pleasantly warm, sliding around her ankles like Earthaven was sliding around her thoughts. She closed her eyes. Then K’tanaqui jumped in, drenching her and drawing a little scream from Merlin.

She shook herself and looked round. “C’mon, silly. It’s only water.”

“It’s magic,” Merlin whispered, retreating even further.

Natalie wanted to laugh, only she didn’t have the energy. “You’re the one who kept going on about spells. I believe you now.” She looked fondly at K’tanaqui, doggy-paddling under some vines at the far side of the pool.

Pups swim now,
said the magehound in the special place in her head.

She smiled. “In a minute, maybe. That Spell Lady didn’t leave us any bathing costumes.”

Puzzled amber eyes blinked at her.
Costumes would only get wet.

She giggled, then became aware of Merlin watching her. He still looked frightened. Was he worried about meeting Lord Pveriyan again? “I won’t let the Council hurt you,” she promised. “When they hear the truth about your father and everything, they’ll understand.”

Merlin hugged his mouse. “They hate me,” he whispered. “And the tree hates me, too, I can feel it. That old Lord’s got it in for me, I know he has. He’s only waiting for an excuse.”

“He gave you back your mouse, didn’t he?”

“He wouldn’t have if you hadn’t been there.”

“Well I am here, aren’t I? So cheer up! We’ll have a nice swim and maybe something to eat, then we’ll talk to this Council of theirs. They’ll help us, don’t worry. Then they’ll let us go home.” As soon as the words were out, she mentally kicked herself and added quickly, “You can come home with me, you’ll be safe there.”

Merlin shook his head, ripples of moonlight playing across his face. “I’ll never be safe from Father. He’ll be furious I helped you get away. He’ll come after me, and then he— he’ll—” He choked and clutched his mouse.

Mouse-pup sad
, K’tanaqui reported.
Lost motherrr too.

Natalie frowned, remembering what Merlin had said about Claudia not being his mother. “What happened to your mother, Merlin?” she asked gently.

He came forward a few steps, careful not to get too close to the edge, and stared across the pool. “It was Father’s fault. He only meant it as a punishment but something went wrong. She tried to take me away from him, see? I don’t really remember that part; I was just a baby. But I know what happened after, all right. She had a sweet little canary for a familiar. It used to sing all the time. Father clipped off one of its toes, just to hurt my mother’s foot a bit to teach her a lesson for running off. But the canary died of shock.”

His voice broke. Natalie stared at him, wondering if she’d heard right.

He sniffed and went on. “Afterwards, she took a train to the coast and walked off a high cliff. They found her body on the rocks a week later. Father said if I told a soul what had happened, or disobeyed him even a little bit, he’d punish me the same way by hurting Redeye. Only he’d keep me locked in the cellar afterwards so I couldn’t escape like she did. That’s why I tripped you up in the car park and did all those other things. I
had
to.” He dragged his sleeve across his nose.

Natalie sat very still. K’tanaqui jumped out of the pool, shook the water from his coat and laid his head on her shoulder. He whined in sympathy.

“That’s awful,” she said. “Even worse than what happened to mine. The police said my mother’s death was an accident, that she fell in the river because she was blind. Dad told me K’tanaqui had drowned too but there was a flood so they didn’t find the dog’s body. I believed him.” She fondled the magehound’s tattered ear. “If only I’d known the truth!”