The Whisperer (26 page)

Lute looked at Calico Grace and Bitter Olof with astonishment. ‘A magic ship?’

They nodded.

‘Who gave it to you?’

Calico Grace sneered. ‘The Witch Grevilya.’

‘Why would she give you such a beautiful vessel for nothing?’

‘It wasn’t for nothing. It just wasn’t for money,’ Bitter Olof said and he certainly sounded bitter to Lute.

‘Well tell me will you? I can’t guess what you could possibly exchange that is worth a magic schooner.’

Calico Grace made them both sit down. She called for Dash, who arrived, looking nervous. They watched Calico Grace go to a small chest that she unlocked and from it withdrew a dark green bottle. She lifted the glass stopper and sniffed the contents.

‘I’m always amazed that it smells so sweet and enticing.’

Lute glanced at Olof but the dwarf shook his head slightly, telling him to say nothing.

Dash looked unsure. ‘There’s so little left, Captain.’

Calico Grace sighed. ‘I know. But you know what to do with it—all of it if you have to.’

‘But—’

‘Do it, Dash.’

The man took the bottle and departed, throwing an angry glance Bitter Olof’s way. The dwarf looked humbled; Lute
remained quiet. He had no understanding of what was going on here.

‘Happy, dwarf?’ Calico Grace asked Bitter Olof.

‘Thank you, Gracie. I can see that’s all you have left and that you’re about to use it for our benefit. I owe you even more now.’

‘And you will pay, I shall see to it.’ She turned haughtily to Lute. ‘I’m going to tell you everything and let you decide whether you think I’m justified in feeling angry.’

Lute nodded.

She began.

‘A long time ago there was a handsome couple. It’s true they were thieves and they were very, very good at it. But they made every effort to steal only from the wealthy—er, especially the King.’ She grinned apologetically. ‘They were very much in love and decided once they had enough money they would marry, buy a ship and they would sail the high seas as famous pirates. Except one day they stole from a very wealthy noble, who used the services of a witch to track them down. They offered to give back the money and jewels but she said it was too late. The noble was so aggrieved, because it was the third time the couple had robbed him, that he wanted them punished properly.’

‘By hanging,’ Bitter Olof interrupted.

Lute’s eyes widened.

Calico Grace continued. ‘The young couple begged the witch to tell them if there was any possible way she could spare their lives and keep their identity secret but take back all that belonged to the noble. She thought about it for a while. And then she said there was a way to avoid the hanging, and give the loot back, and get away safely. Naturally the handsome couple agreed instantly to whatever the terms were. But the Witch Grevilya told them to be very careful and to be very sure they understood what they would have to give up.

“‘Anything,” they had cried.’

‘Everything,’ Bitter Olof chimed in bitterly, ‘except their lives.’

Calico Grace ignored him. ‘The Witch Grevilya said in return for the woman’s beauty, she would keep their secret. And in
return for the man’s handsome looks and proud figure, she would give them a very special ship to sail away on.’

Lute stared at the pair as it all fell into place. ‘You were that couple?’

‘Isn’t it obvious?’ Bitter Olof growled back. ‘If you’d known me, majesty, you’d have seen a tall, strong-limbed, dashing man.’

‘They said I was not only the most beautiful thief to ever have walked the realm,’ Calico Grace said in a forlorn voice, ‘but I had a face and figure that would enchant even a king.’ She turned to Bitter Olof. ‘Except I loved him, your highness. He promised to marry me, no matter how we looked. He promised to stay with me, on our ship, and sail the high seas.’

‘And the ship is magic, you say?’

‘Oh, yes,’ Calico Grace replied. ‘The Witch Grevilya only dealt with magical things.
Silver Wind
never needs cleaning or polishing. She changes colour to suit her surrounds. She can blend to almost invisible, your highness.
Silver Wind
clothes us and feeds us. As you can see we are a healthy and neatly dressed crew. No-one can catch her. She can pull into the shallowest of waters and, if there is no wind and she has to pull out of those waters quickly, then she can create her own.’ She looked around the chamber. ‘She’s pale and silver today because from far away on this very sunny day you can’t see her easily. If it’s overcast tomorrow, she’ll turn grey and at night, she turns black.’

Lute gave a low whistle. ‘That’s amazing.’ Then he turned to Bitter Olof. ‘So what happened? You deserted Calico Grace?’

The dwarf looked appropriately embarrassed. ‘I couldn’t do it, your highness. We were both so ugly. I felt like we’d sold our souls. And I knew that every time I would look at Gracie or wake up aboard this ship, I’d be reminded of what we’d given up.’

‘But you would have had to give up your lives!’

He shrugged. ‘We could have run, given ourselves up to the King, appealed to him. Rodin was known for his generous ways. I think we took the coward’s way and we have been paying for it ever since. Neither of us is happy. And safety was only ever
guaranteed aboard the ship—we’re both as vulnerable as anyone else when we’re away from it.’

‘You should have married me as you promised. Instead you blamed me!’ Gracie accused.

‘I never blamed you, Gracie. I just couldn’t bear for us to look upon each other like this. And you changed, not just outwardly but inwardly, too. You were just as unhappy. You’ve become hard, even cruel, whilst I’ve become bitter and uncaring.’

‘Well, we’re on our way now. I’ve pulled anchor and you’re stuck on board the ship you hate and with the woman you despise.’

‘Oh, Gracie, I don’t despise you.’

As Calico Grace continued hurling insults at Bitter Olof, Lute felt a familiar tingling tug in his mind and suddenly he was in a silvery cloud with a familiar voice in his head.

Lute, it’s Griff. Where are you
?

I’ll never get used to this
, Lute replied. He could see his companions arguing but he couldn’t hear them.
Are you out of danger
?

Never mind that now. The main question is are you safe
?

For the time being. I’m on board the
Silver Wind,
which belongs to a pirate called Calico Grace. We’ve just pulled anchor and I don’t know where we’re heading but yes, we’re safe—

Lute, you have to remain anchored.

What
?

You must convince the pirate to stay where she is. We’re coming.

Who’s coming
?

I have some good news. Pilo is with me.

Pilo! He’s alive
?

He’s riding alongside me. But listen there’s no time now—we’re all safe and heading towards Ghost Beach.

Wait, Griff. What about the Stalkers
?

They’ve been dealt with. Now listen carefully. I can’t explain it all now because it would take too long but we’re on horses, making for Ghost Beach as fast as we can. Trust me, we have a plan and we will help. But you have to drop anchor now!

I don’t know if Calico Grace—

I don’t care what she says. This is your life at stake and we think we know how to save it. By the way, I’ve got someone with me who’d like to say hello.

Lute heard Griff say, ‘Go ahead and speak,’ and then a new voice entered his mind, one that made his eyes blur with salty tears.

Er, majesty. It’s Pilo.

Pilo?
he whispered.
Truly?

It’s me, Lute. I know what you think you saw but I can handle myself against a few men.
He laughed.
Fate has thrown me together with Griff. We have a lot to tell you and, well, show you. But he’s right. You’ve got to stop Grace taking that ship any further out to sea.

I’ll try.

We have to go.
It was Griff again.
If we’re going to make it by nightfall, we need to hit a gallop right now.

Lute didn’t know what else to say, let alone think about all this. His mind was reeling with relief that Pilo was alive.
See you tonight.

The silvery mist cleared and Bitter Olof was shaking him. ‘What’s up with you, boy…er, majesty?’

‘Bitter Olof, we have to stay here.’

‘What?’

‘Captain Grace, you must stop. We have to stay at Ghost Beach.’

She looked at him as though he had lost his mind and he believed she could be forgiven for that, considering how he must have appeared to them both moments earlier.

‘Please,’ he continued. ‘Bitter Olof, Pilo is coming. Apparently they’ve got a plan and they insist we remain at Ghost Beach.’

‘You said Pilo was dead.’

‘I thought he was,’ Lute said, shaking his head. ‘It certainly looked that way.’

‘Well, how can you know any different?’

‘Because I just spoke to him.’ The words were out before Lute could phrase them in a way that would make more sense.

Bitter Olof and Calico Grace took a step back and regarded him as one might look at a strange insect.

Lute stood, hands in the air in a gesture of apology. ‘Alright, I know that sounds odd.’

‘Odd?’ Calico Grace repeated. ‘More like barmy. Are you sure this is the King and not some lunatic you’ve brought on board my ship, Olof?’

The dwarf made a hissing sound at Calico Grace. ‘Tsk! Watch your words, woman. He could order your head chopped off!’

In return she made a huffing sound, filled with indignation. ‘You are hearing what I’m hearing, aren’t you? Does it make sense to you?’

‘No. King Lute, what do you mean by what you just said?’

Lute sighed. ‘Perhaps it’s now time I told you a story, but you have to trust me and stop
Silver Wind.
It’s important, I promise you.’

Bitter Olof stared at him for a few long moments, then made a gruff sound of resignation. He turned and nodded at Calico Grace.

She shrugged, opened the door and yelled, ‘Drop anchor!’

Lute could hear the order being forwarded via several of her sailors until they heard the unmistakable sound of the anchor uncoiling on its thick rope, plummeting again towards the sea bed.

‘You’re fortunate we hadn’t actually hoisted sails and moved too far from where we were,’ Calico Grace said to him in the weary voice that adults adopt with children.

‘We’re all ears, majesty,’ Bitter Olof said, making himself comfortable.

And Lute told them everything he knew about Griff.

‘…and he’s going to try,’ Griff said, as he finished explaining to Pilo and Tess what had occurred in his conversation with Lute. ‘And I checked in with Davren. All goes well. He’s holding up fine and Helys is a healthy pink. They’re making good ground. Rix is flying with them for the time being.’

Tess nodded, relieved. Pilo didn’t look quite so content.

‘So we don’t know yet whether Calico Grace is going to weigh anchor or not?’

Griff shook his head. ‘I think we just have to believe in Lute—that he can persuade Bitter Olof and Calico Grace to trust him. I imagine he’s going to have to tell the truth about me and how we speak.’

‘And he’s going to sound less like a king and more like the village idiot,’ Pilo growled, more to himself than to Griff.

‘If Bitter Olof trusts the story of Ellin’s whistle then he should trust the story of our magical mindlink. It’s hardly likely that Lute is going to lie about this to him.’

Pilo seemed to accept this. ‘In light of the vessel they’re currently aboard, he should believe him.’

‘What do you mean?’ Tess asked.

‘It’s a ship built from magic.’

Pilo watched as their mouths opened and then a flurry of questions flew at him.

‘No time now,’ Pilo said. ‘We have to ride hard. Come on. I hope you both know how to ride a horse at a gallop?’

They nodded.

‘Let’s go,’ he said and nudged his horse forward with his heels.

Unbeknownst to Pilo, Tess and Griff, they arrived not far from where Lute had been set upon by the thugs who stole Bruno. They walked their horses carefully along the deserted road, waiting for some signal that would tell them that Davren was near.

‘Check,’ Pilo urged Tess, stopping his horse.

Griff followed suit, thinking Pilo looked worried. But as Tess didn’t seem alarmed, he took his lead from her: after all she was the one who could reach Davren at will and with ease.

‘He’s alright,’ she assured them. Within moments they heard hushed footfalls near to where they were stopped and then a beloved head poked through the bushes. Davren grinned at them. Tess squealed softly. ‘There you are, you clever fellow!’

Relief coursed through Griff and he was sure, going by the expression on Pilo’s face, that their friend was also letting out a long-held breath. It had been his idea for them to split up, so Griff could forgive him for feeling so nervous about whether they could meet up again easily. It seemed Pilo had underestimated the centaur’s impeccable sense of direction as well as his resilience.

‘You look tired, Davren,’ Griff said, grinning at his friend.

‘He says that after a few hours Helys feels like she weighs as much as a herd of sagars!’

Helys flashed an angry red.

‘I’m just glad everyone’s safe,’ Pilo said. ‘Well done, Davren. You’re a warrior.’

The centaur banged his fist to his chest and that needed no interpretation.

‘Are you well enough to continue?’ Pilo asked.

‘He says let’s go,’ Tess answered for Davren.

‘Right. It’s going to take another few hours to get around to where they are. Davren can keep us in his sights because this light woodland continues for many miles.’

Finally they reached the coast and led their horses down to Ghost Beach just on nightfall as Pilo had predicted. Everyone was tired, yawning as they picked their way down, but as they finally hit the soft sand, they all became a lot more alert. They were here and, with luck, so too would be Lute and his companions.

‘There!’ Griff said, pointing.

At the shoreline, they could see a light blinking on and off.

‘Ah,’ Pilo said. ‘That’s definitely them.’

‘How can you be sure?’ Tess asked.

‘Olof and I always used a blanket over a lantern. You see? It’s happened three times. That’s his call.’ He ran forwards. ‘Olof!’

Suddenly everyone began to hurry, both parties running towards each other. Pilo reached Olof first, swung the little man easily up into his arms and Griff heard a flood of words from each, both trying to apologise for their own actions and the silence that had festered into such enmity over the years.

‘So you’re not going to kill me then?’ Bitter Olof asked, when he was finally put back down on the sand.

Pilo shook his head. ‘There’s been enough years pass for me to fully accept that it was a freak accident.’ He sighed. ‘Even if you had been guarding her, you might not have been able to stop it occurring. I’ve blamed you for too long for my family’s death. But now you have saved the life of someone most precious to me. You have redeemed yourself in my eyes. Where is Lute?’ He turned to see Griff and Lute staring at each other silently. ‘Ah, I should have said something earlier.’

Bitter Olof turned to regard them as well.

‘What the—’

In the eerie glow of the lamplight it was impossible to tell the boys apart. Griff looked uncomprehendingly at Lute but at least he had been somewhat prepared for this revelation. He
realised Lute had had no warning and he could all but feel the shock of what Lute was seeing, coming in waves of confusion at him.

‘Majesty,’ Pilo began awkwardly. He looked up briefly at Calico Grace and nodded but said nothing, his attention immediately back on the boys.

Lute shifted his stunned gaze from the person standing opposite him, who seemed to be a mirror image of himself. The clothes were different and the hair was longer but the likeness was unmistakable. He looked now at Pilo.

Pilo, Griff and Tess bowed. ‘My King,’ Pilo began, ‘forgive how this must feel. I—’ he shook his head. ‘There was no time to say more. Let me now. Fate crossed my path with Griff’s and I have no explanation for you other than this is a twin brother no-one has ever known about.’

Lute heard Bitter Olof whistle and was surprised but reassured to feel Calico Grace lay her hand on his shoulder. ‘What in Lo’s name possesses you to shock the boy like this, Pilo? Have you gone soft in the head? Does it occur to you that this could be magic being wielded?’

It was Pilo’s turn to look shocked. He swung around to Griff. ‘No, such a thought had not occurred to me.
Is
this a trick, Griff?’

‘A trick?’ Tess squealed. ‘How dare you! Griff’s put his life at risk to get here. Why would he trick anyone?’ She rounded on her audience. ‘Ask yourself, what’s in it for him to risk Master Tyren’s wrath and then his own life and limb against the Stalkers?’ She turned back towards Lute, a sour look on her face. ‘Your majesty,’ she added, though it was far from polite. ‘Shouldn’t you be wondering why you look like Griff? It works both ways, you know.’ Tess’s chest was heaving with her anger. ‘We should all be asking whether these are twins?’

Everyone fell silent at the shock of that suggestion.

Pilo cleared his throat. ‘We will get to the bottom of this. And I know who can clear this up for us.’ He gave Griff a reassuring glance.

Griff shrugged, embarrassed, before he said, ‘It’s alright, Pilo. It’s a shock for me so I imagine it’s a real fright for you, Lute, er your highness.’

Lute was yet to say anything; his throat felt suddenly dry and his tongue felt as though it was stuck in his mouth. ‘So this is why I don’t look like either of my parents?’ he finally croaked. Pilo began to say something but Lute cut him off. ‘No, wait. Janko made some accusations which reminded me of all my childhood anxieties. It’s always worried me that I don’t resemble either of them. Janko said I would lay false claim to the throne and he’s right. I’m no heir. I’m an impostor,’ he said, his voice breaking with anger. ‘Janko can have the throne!’ He turned and strode away from them all. Everyone looked helpless, but Griff followed. ‘And stop calling me by a title until this is all done. Until we’re rid of Janko, I’m just Lute!’

‘Make it right in his mind, Pilo,’ Bitter Olof said, ‘or we’re all doomed.’

But it was Tess who moved first. She ran after Lute and Griff.

‘Lute,’ she said softly.

He didn’t take offence to her ignoring manners, and anyway this was no longer about kingship or politics. Suddenly all that seemed to matter at this moment was finding out the truth behind his birth. He was reeling from the shock of learning the mother he’d loved was most likely not the mother who had given birth to him. He stopped walking away.

‘I’m Tess, Griff’s friend.’ When he didn’t say anything, she continued awkwardly. ‘You know, I think Griff has been suffering all of his life from hearing voices in his head. Everyone else’s thoughts invade his own. Imagine how hard that is!’

‘Yes, he told me,’ Lute said.

‘Well, I was there when he first heard your call for help. You came to him not as a thought but as a clear voice, as though you had picked him out to give your cry of help to.’ Lute kicked at the sand but he was listening carefully. ‘Since that moment, although I know Griff has done everything he can to help me and my creature friends to make a run for safety, his
risks have actually been taken for you. He felt an immediate link to you that was so much more than the random connections he makes with people all day, every day of his life. He hates it, I’m sure he told you that too. He spends his time climbing around scaffolding to avoid them. Anyway, none of that matters. What matters is that you reached out and you found your twin brother. I know this changes everything you know about your family, but Lute, your twin hasn’t had a mother for all of his life. And he’s had to give up the father he loved in order to earn a living travelling with strangers and being pushed around by nasty people like Master Tyren. You got the good life, Lute. You’ve been raised as a crown prince by parents who I imagine worshipped the very ground you walked upon.’

‘They loved me, and I them, but—’

‘No buts. You have no idea what it is to be without loving parents in your life. Griff and I do. You should be counting your blessings, not blaming them for loving you, giving you such a special life. And now you’ve found your twin brother—and there are two more brothers in your life as well. How lucky are you? Even Pilo survived. And everyone is here now to try and save your life; they’re all prepared to risk their own lives while you get upset because you’ve just discovered you’re not the true heir. Lute, you are the King because Rodin has named you his heir, whether or not you’re his real son, and that’s why Janko will do anything to get you out of the way. But
you
are King, not Janko, and you’d want to start behaving like it because I haven’t galloped all over the realm and watched my beloved centaur take an arrow or risked the others’ wellbeing for anyone other than my King.’ She finished her long speech breathlessly, then turned to stomp off back to the others.

‘Wait!’ Lute called after her. Tess was right. As much as it hurt him to learn about his mother not being the woman who birthed him, he could never say he was unloved or ever felt he was anything but a real son to the King and Queen. Yes, indeed, he muttered to himself, Janko might be an heir but he
is not the King! He caught up with Tess. ‘Only Pilo talks to me like that.’

‘Well, I suppose I have nothing much more to lose, so I don’t care that you’re King and could probably have me swinging from the highest tree. I’m tired of being on the run. This at least gave me purpose and I hoped by you being the new ruler, you might be able to change things.’

‘I can,’ he said.

‘But will you?’

‘Yes!’

‘Good.’ She stopped and gave an awkward curtsey that made them both smile. ‘Then come, your majesty. Listen to the plan that we’ve come up with to restore the throne to its rightful owner.’