The Aedyn Chronicles Page 7

  Help would certainly not come from her brother. Peter had abandoned and betrayed her, taken in by the dark lords of Aedyn and his silly need to impress, to be on top. She rested her chin on her knees and looked up at the night sky. The stars were winking into place in the purple velvet heavens. And then she remembered Gaius and Simeon, and how they had spoken of the One who was greater than Marcus. Surely this was the moment to call on him. So there and then, on that dark, cold night, Julia asked the Lord of Hosts to be at her side. To stand by her, even in this darkest hour. And to help her set his people free. Then, exhausted, she fell asleep on the uncomfortable floor of the cage.

  Something woke her some hours later—she could never be sure how many. It was still night, and the guards were still patrolling. But something was different—some hint of intrigue was in the air. Julia stayed still, rooted to the spot in apprehension. In the moonlight she could just make out a small group of shadowy figures coming soundlessly toward her—was she to be executed immediately? She wanted to scream, wanted to cry out for help, but what good could that do? There was no escape from the Death Cage.

  As the figures came closer Julia could distinguish four of them. The two smallest seemed to lurk behind in the background—perhaps to prevent any escape for the doomed prisoner. The other two were running towards the Death Cage, silently but swiftly. They reached the guards, who had not seen or heard them coming.

  In the darkness Julia could not be quite sure what was happening, but she could see a scuffle between the two figures and the men guarding the cage. The strangers had the element of surprise on their side but the guards were quick and well-trained, and for a moment it looked as if they might gain the upper hand. But finally the guards were overpowered, and the two figures in the background approached to help tie and gag them. Not a word was spoken. It was as if the whole operation had been well planned in advance. Julia watched in astonishment as one of the raiders extracted a set of keys from one of the guards and opened the door. The stranger made quick work of the ropes that bound Julia’s hands and helped her roughly to her feet. “Who are you?” she hissed, rubbing her wrists where the ropes had cut into her skin.

  “I am Lukas,” the stranger said briefly. “Gaius sent me from the forest. You’ll be safe with us. Come. “The two trussed guards were dragged into the Death Cage and the doors locked. Lukas hid the keys within his robes as Julia looked, for the first time, at the other figures.

  “Alyce—and Helen!” she breathed. The younger woman grinned and Helen caught Julia into a hard embrace. “How—how did you…”

  “There is no time for stories,” said the fourth figure, a man whom Julia did not recognize. “We ride.”

  Lukas guided Julia into the darkness of the trees, where five horses stood tethered and waiting. A few moments later, just as dawn was beginning to touch the sky, they galloped off toward the dark forest of the west.

  CHAPTER

  11

  The Lords of Aedyn looked up with irritation as a guard knocked at the door and opened it to admit Anaximander. The Jackal sighed deeply, annoyed at the intrusion. They had been discussing their plans over breakfast for the new weapon which Peter had agreed to design for them.

  Anaximander was robed in his ceremonial best and had planned to deliver a great deal of flowery speeches along with his news. But something he saw in the Wolf’s posture—something in the dead coldness of the eyes behind that mask—indicated that this might not have been the wisest approach. And so he said, quite simply and without apology, “My Lord, the prisoner has escaped.”

  An awful silence fell upon the room. The Wolf stood, and the eyes behind the mask were no longer cold but full of fire. But the Leopard spoke instead. “You will interrogate the guards who permitted her escape. We need to know if they had help from inside the castle.”

  Anaximander nodded. “It is almost certain that she was freed by renegade slaves—the same who got away from the working party some months ago, overpowering their guards.”

  “Another failure on your part,” said the Wolf in that strange, emotionless voice. “Go. Find out what happened—and remember that the fair stranger must know nothing of what has transpired. We shall discuss your future on your return.”

  The Lord Chamberlain paused for an imperceptible moment, then bowed low to the lords, turned on his heel, and left the Hall. He walked as one already condemned. Unless he sorted this out very quickly, he would be dead within days. The Lords of Aedyn tolerated no failure on the part of their servants.

  Knowing he would need his rest, Peter had forced himself to go to bed. But he’d slept poorly and rose with the first light of dawn. With nothing to do, he paced up and down inside his apartment, hungry, miserable, and more convinced with each passing moment that he had made a terrible mistake. The Lords of Aedyn were evil, but that did not make them fools. He had been mad to think that they would allow Julia to go free simply because he told them how to make a cannon! And of course they would want to make sure it worked before releasing her. He should have seen that coming.

  Peter sighed and ran a hand roughly through his hair. What a mess! He racked his mind again, trying to work out whether there was anything that could still be done to turn the situation around. But what could he do? His apartment was now kept locked from the outside, and he could not leave the room—much less the castle—without the permission of the Lords of Aedyn. He was under house arrest, and there was nothing left to do. He sat down on the bed, his head in his hands. If only he could think of something clever that would get them all out of this mess! Some drastic escape, and a heroic rescue for Julia…

  The door swung open. The captain of the guards entered, accompanied by two of his men. His face was grim, and he wasted no words. “You will come with me to the Great Hall to show us the construction of your cannon.” A slave entered the room behind him, carrying a tray with a simple meal. “Eat,” said the captain. “You have five minutes. I shall be waiting outside for you.” He and his men left the room, locking its great door behind them.

  Peter drank deeply from the cup and tore off a piece of bread. His last meal, he thought grimly. He was just about to bite into the bread when he noticed that something was wrong. There was a piece of paper rolled up inside it.

  Looking around to make sure he was not being watched, Peter unrolled the paper, his eyes going wide at the message written within.

  “J escaped. Safe in forest. Destroy this message.”

  Peter read it again, making sure his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him. Julia was safe—safe in spite of all his stupid blunders. He wondered who could have sent the message—maybe one of the slaves of whom Julia had seemed so fond? There was no way that the Lords of Aedyn would tell him about this. They wanted him to think he was at their mercy. But if this message was true, they no longer had any way of controlling him.

  Hurriedly Peter placed the rest of the bread in his mouth and began to chew. There were no more messages. Finally, he crumpled up the paper up into a little ball and swallowed it, grimacing. He knocked on his door for the guards to let him out, and as he left the apartment a plan began to form in his mind just as a smile began to form on his lips.

  “Are you ready?” asked the captain.

  “Yes, I’m ready,” said Peter.

  CHAPTER

  12

  Julia and her companions galloped into the forest of the west, the sun slowly rising behind them and bathing them in its red glow. Lukas reined in his steed, checking that his companions were safe and they were not being pursued. Once deep in the forest they would be safe. None but those who dwelt in the wood itself knew its hidden paths and trails. Outsiders would be lost within moments, enveloped in its green wilderness without any means of finding their bearings. In some parts of the forest the light of the sun never penetrated the dense canopy of leaves, and Lukas and his followers had made their base in the darkest and most impenetrable region. Here they would be well hidden.

  As the rising sun was j
ust beginning to burn the mist off the ground they entered the forest. Julia looked around her. She had been here before but she knew no landmarks to help her find her way. She was grateful for those riding with her, for she was not a strong rider and could not have directed her horse alone.

  But the sure-footed horses seemed to know where they were going. They needed no guidance, and after an hour’s ride they came to a halt in a clearing. Everyone dismounted, relieved to stretch their legs after the ride. Lukas gathered them together and pointed towards some logs piled at one edge of the open space.

  “We will rest here for a few moments. The horses will no longer accompany us. They have done their job, and done it well.” He bowed to the five horses, and they lowered their heads briefly in return before cantering off down a trail that Julia had failed to notice. She wanted to know where the horses were going—she had so many questions that she didn’t really know where to begin. How had Helen and Alyce escaped the palace? Where was she being taken? But this, she suspected, was not the right time to ask questions. This was a time for action, not conversation.

  Julia sat down on a log. A dark green tunic, just her size, was draped over its branches. She looked around and noticed that the others were already shedding their black robes and changing into the tunics. Camouflage. The robes were being buried in a shallow hole back in the trees: they would leave no evidence.

  She changed quickly, discarding the heavy brocades of the castle, and turned to continue the journey. Lukas nodded approvingly and beckoned towards another trail leading from the clearing into the denser forest.

  “This is the road down which we must travel. We are nearly at our journey’s end, but we must be quiet. Noises travel, even in the forest. They say that the trees have ears, and no one can know that we have traveled this path. So keep quiet, and follow me.”

  The five travelers moved off down the trail, Lukas leading and his comrade bringing up the rear.

  It was not much further before they reached their destination. Julia had no doubt where it was. They were back at the secret garden she and Peter had discovered on their first day on Aedyn. But she tried hard not to think of Peter—it would only make her angry. And anyway, she was sure she would have enough to think about without worrying about his treachery.

  The five travelers entered the garden. The monk Gaius rose to meet them, greeting Julia and embracing the four others. “You have done well,” he said to them.

  Gaius beckoned to them to join him at a table that had appeared near to the throne, covered with fresh bread and luscious fruits. He smiled at his visitors.

  “We can talk safely now. We are too deep in the forest for any lackeys of the dark lords to find us. There are eagles posted throughout this region, and they will know what to do if strangers approach. We will have plenty of warning.” He turned to Helen and Alyce, nodding at them. “It is many years since you have been in this garden, is it not?”

  Alyce smiled up at Lukas. “Not since I was a child, and taken to serve in the castle,” she said. “I never thought this day would come.”

  “We’ll help the others escape soon,” Lukas said gently, touching her arm. “We would have tonight, had we more horses…”

  Helen was looking around, taking in the scene. “Gaius, it’s ruined! What happened to the garden? To the fountain? To everything!”

  The monk nodded, his expression grim.

  “It is as you say. The garden mirrors the condition of Aedyn itself, and it is in a sad state of ruin and decay. But when Aedyn is renewed, this garden will once more become the place Marcus knew. Even the garden you remember cannot compare to that! And that day is to hand.” His gaze shifted to Julia, who tried all of a sudden to look very small. “The fair strangers have come,” he said softly, “and the Lord of Hosts will visit and restore his people. He has seen our suffering at the hands of our oppressors, and the time has come. He has raised up a deliverer who will break the power of the dark lords.”

  Julia blushed, not precisely sure what to say. How could she save anyone or anything? Peter always used to tease her for being clumsy and silly—and how could a girl of thirteen deliver a nation from such evil? But someone had to do it. Maybe she had yet to discover herself. It all seemed so—well, so improbable. But how could she walk away when the need was so great?

  Gaius nodded at Julia, seeming to read her thoughts. “No one is ever ready for the world to turn upside down, dear one. And so we have brought you here to prepare yourself for what must come.”

  What must come…the man seemed to speak exclusively in riddles, Julia thought. In anyone else, this would have been intensely irritating. Gaius smiled at her and continued.

  “You will go deep into the forest. During that time, you will discover whether you really are the deliverer that we have been awaiting. You will remain there for a time and then return here, to this garden. It is tomorrow that we mark the Great Remembrance.”

  “The Great…what?” repeated Julia. “Is that what you told me about before, when everyone comes to tell stories?”

  Helen stepped forward. Her eyes were bright, and for the first time Julia caught a glimpse of the joyful young woman that, in a different time and place, she might have been. She spoke in a voice that was serene, and somehow far away.

  “We came out of a distant land, Lady Julia, and were led over the seas to this island. It would be a new beginning for us as a people. We would be the good Lord’s people in a good land. When our ancestors arrived in Aedyn, Marcus told them that they were to mark their safe arrival in the new paradise. Every year, the story of the journey across the sea to this island would be told again. We will never forget this moment in our history, nor the faithfulness of the One who brought us here. Marcus was the first to tell that story, in the Great Hall of the Citadel of the Lord of Hosts. It is a solemn reminder of our past. Our identity as a people is so closely intertwined with this event that we must never forget it. The dark lords think that they have suppressed this event by preventing it from happening in the castle—they know that the surest way to destroy a people is to erase the memory of their past. But this garden was built as a way of remembering the past and looking forward to the future.” She smiled at the monk. “Gaius is our story keeper, the one who guards our history. We come and remember, and wait for the deliverer.” And then, looking at Gaius, her eyes went dark. “Of course, there are not many who can come to remember. So many of the faithful are enslaved in the castle…” Her voice trailed off, and Gaius took up the story.

  “We need you here for the Great Remembrance, Lady Julia. If you believe that the Lord of Hosts has called you to deliver us from the dark lords, then you will be acclaimed as our deliverer. And then you must find the answers to the great question of Aedyn. Only then can we hope to break free from the dark power of the lords.”

  Julia was absolutely baffled.

  “Question? What—what question? I don’t know this place well enough to…” Gaius hushed her.

  “Julia, we need to know why Marcus’ most trusted lords betrayed our paradise. We need to know how such evil could arise in this place. Unless we can find the root of the evil, we shall never be able to restore this paradise to what it was meant to be. We must destroy the source of this evil before it can contaminate others.” He smiled at her expression—a look of intense concentration and utter confusion, and took her hands between his. “If you are indeed the deliverer, you will not struggle on your own. The Lord of Hosts will be with you. He will guide you and give you new power as you seek answers.”

  “I will do my best, Gaius.”

  “I know you will.” He squeezed her hands as his eyes smiled at her. “You will leave this garden in two hours and go deeper into the forest, but now you must rest. You will need all your strength for what lies ahead.”

  CHAPTER

  13

  Peter, as he accompanied the captain of the guard to the Great Hall, was feeling immensely pleased with himself. Now that Julia had escaped, he tho
ught, he could give the lords a faulty design for their cannon without worrying about her safety. He had recalled something from one of his grandfather’s long talks—lectures, more like—about Lord Nelson’s naval strategies at the Battle of Trafalgar. If cannons were not made properly they exploded, killing those who loaded and fired them.

  His idea was simple—simple but brilliant, he told himself. He would get the lords to make a clay cannon and clay cannonballs. Clay could never withstand the force of an explosion. The weapon that the Lords of Aedyn hoped to use against their enemies would destroy their own guards instead.

  There was, of course, the simple matter of his own escape, but as they approached the Hall he put it out of his mind. All would be well. He was sure of it.

  All three lords were waiting. One of them gestured to a table that had been set up with paper and ink and Peter, understanding, made a hasty but complete sketch of a cannon. Finishing, he brought it to the lords.

  “You put the gunpowder all the way down here,” he said, pointing. “And the cannonball—those are the clay balls I told you about—is placed on top of it. Then the gunpowder is ignited through this little opening here. It explodes and propels the cannonball into the distance.”

  “And how far does it travel?” asked the Jackal.

  “It all depends, my lord,” Peter replied. “That’s part of the testing process. But it will go far indeed—farther than an arrow.”

  “But surely the cannon itself will explode? How could clay withstand the pressure?”