Jack Shian and the King's Chalice Part 15

Jack looked quizzically at Freya, who just shrugged. Fenrig and Doxer stood beside her, both looking down at their feet.

"I am very sorry to report that some cloth has been stolen." Gilmore avoided looking at any one of the four youngsters. "In all my years of teaching apprentices I have only once had to deal with theft before. This is not something we expect of apprentices here."

Nonplussed, Jack looked at his colleagues. Freya didn't look worried, but fidgeted with a square of silk. Doxer was silent, and continued to stare at the table. Only Fenrig dared reply.

"How d'you know? There's piles of stuff all over this place."

"The 'stuff', as you call it, is expensive, some of it rare." Gilmore fixed him with his eye. "I have been teaching you how to look after it, to know it and care for it. It would appear that you do not have the qualities to make a good tailor. Now, have you removed any cloths from this workshop?"

Fenrig stared back. "I don't need your stupid cloths. So what are you going to do about it?"

"I will contact your father and ask him to remove you. It is clear you do not wish to learn this trade."

"My father's not going to be pleased if you send me away. Not pleased at all," sneered Fenrig.

Gilmore paused, evidently weighing this up. Eventually he spoke again. "I will see you first thing tomorrow morning. I suggest you find something else to do until Murkle's lesson."

Fenrig sloped off, and the others took their places at the table. Finally, after a strained silence, Gilmore spoke again. "I will not tolerate theft. Is that understood?"

Jack and Freya mumbled a.s.sent, and set to work on their cloths.

When Gilmore had gone to his house for lunch, Jack and Freya discussed Fenrig's dismissal.

"Gilmore will never expel him," said Freya matter-of-factly. "My dad told me Fenrig's father and Gilmore go back a long way. Briannan's supposed to be smart, but Fenrig's an idiot. He was bound to get caught sooner or later."

"You know he was stealing?"

"I've seen him slipping bits of cloth into his satchel. I'm surprised Gilmore didn't notice before."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"None of my business," said Freya casually. "Besides, it's useful having someone as stupid as him here. Helps distract Gilmore." She looked at Jack evenly.

Jack examined her face, but couldn't work out what she had meant by this.

Murkle's lesson that afternoon lived down to expectations. After an hour and a half of sheer boredom, Murkle dismissed the cla.s.s, but asked Jack to stay behind. As the last youngster left, Murkle went back to his chair.

"I trust you are not going to be over-ambitious in the matter we discussed?" he asked brusquely.

"Whawhat d'you mean?" Jack tried to look evenly at his tutor, but his voice betrayed him.

"I mean there are things that are the concern of the Congress, not of young apprentices, and you have already meddled with very dangerous people. You may be brave, but do not be stupid."

"I just want to find my father," said Jack, turning to the door.

"Jack." The unexpectedly friendly tone halted Jack in his tracks. "Be careful."

Jack turned and looked at Murkle, but there was nothing in the tutor's demeanour to suggest that he had even spoken.

When Jack got home, he reported the story to his grandfather, who shrugged.

"I never could make Murkle out. He's clever enough, but completely without charm. But if push came to shove, I'm sure he'd be on the right side."

"Gilmore thinks Fenrig's been stealing," said Jack. "He's threatened to expel him."

"As you know, the Congress has its reasons for allowing Fenrig to be here. For a start, it allows the Brashat to think they've achieved something. And you can keep an eye on him."

"He disappears after cla.s.s. I don't know where he goes."

"Nevertheless, keep a close watch on him. I've heard he speaks carelessly; you might learn a great deal."

Jack pondered this. "When are we going travelling, Grandpa? You said we could go and find out things."

"Equinox is at the end of next week. The time will be right then. In the meantime, see if Daid can throw any light on the Cup. Remember it's called the King's Chalice in some stories."

However, Jack was to get no chance to ask Daid any questions, for his teacher was mysteriously absent on the Thursday when the apprentices met outside his house.

"How're you getting on with your book?" asked Purdy as she and Jack walked slowly back down the square.

"It's too long, I should've chosen something shorter. Bits are interesting, but it just goes on and on."

"Mine's not bad. This rich lady kept a diary when she went travelling around the north lands. She even talks about some of the humans who mixed with the Shian. I think that's why Daid has the book."

Jack's ears p.r.i.c.ked up. "I didn't know the humans were that interested in us."

"Not many are. You can borrow the book if you like. I've nearly finished it."

"No thanks," said Jack. "I've got enough to read with my book."

The next few days pa.s.sed slowly. Fenrig continued to appear at Gilmore's, but nothing more was said about his presence or the stolen cloths. Jack couldn't concentrate. He was itching to get away again, to feel the fresh air on his face. It made him feel free. Being cooped up wasn't helping his mood, and he snapped frequently. Rana and Lizzie's attempt at a simple levitation hex was met with a withering retort, and Aunt Katie's encouragement to finish his meals only brought on grumpiness.

After what felt like the longest week of his life, the day of the autumn equinox and the trip to Keldy finally arrived. Jack's heart raced at the thought of the 'little walk in the woods' Grandpa had planned for the boys.

Doonya led Katie and the girls to the low road mound. Jack watched as his uncle's cloak enveloped the small group, and then witnessed the spinning that seemed to start from under the cloak before all four disappeared.

"Us next," said Grandpa, and the three of them stepped onto the mound.

"Wind-flock Keldy."

The others were waiting for them. Rana, grinning widely, had clearly enjoyed the journey. Lizzie looked peaky, but seemed determined not to give this away.

"Come on, they'll be waiting for us at the house," said Katie.

The group of seven made their way along the path, and soon found themselves in the big house.

"Oh, it's good to see you," beamed Aunt Dorcas. "It seems like ages since you were here."

"Only three months," said Rana. "Just after midsummer. Can you show Lizzie and me how you do your baking?"

Petros looked questioningly at Jack. His sisters were not usually so keen on domestic affairs.

"Are you two feeling all right?" he asked, only half-jokingly.

"Oh yes," said Rana nonchalantly "I'm sure you've got things to do. We'll just get on with some home cooking. We can have things ready for when you get back."

This sounded suspiciously keen to Petros and Jack, but Aunt Katie was delighted. "Oh good," she said. "We can do all sorts while the men are away."

"We'd better be going," said Hart.

The others followed him, and within minutes were heading into the woods.

"Are you sure you know where she is?" asked Doonya.

"A grig told me two days ago," replied Ossian. "She collects roots at equinox by the big hawthorn. I told the grig to pa.s.s word that you'd be comin'."

"How many did you say there would be?" enquired Grandpa.

"I didn't say a number, just that Jack from Rangie and some family would be there."

"What?! You mentioned Jack by name?" demanded Doonya.

"She's met him before. I thought that made sense," replied Ossian huffily.

"The last time she met him she tried to give him some kind of potion," pointed out Grandpa. "And it wasn't hawberry juice."

They walked on in silence. Suddenly a buzzing noise was heard, and a grig flew in and made towards Hart. The tiny creature perched on his shoulder, and a whispered conversation took place.

"What is it?" asked Grandpa as the grig flew off.

"It's Dorcas. Something's happened at the house. I'd better go back." Hart turned to Ossian. "You take care, you hear? Don't be taking unnecessary risks."

24.

Equinox

After several minutes they came to the clearing where they had waited on their previous visit.

"She'll send a grig when she's ready," announced Ossian. He sat down and began pulling pieces of twine into snares.

Jack leant against a tree stump and started to peel bark off the dead wood. Petros, quickly bored, began stamping on dead branches. Sitting around in the woods was not his idea of fun, and he mused longingly on Edinburgh's many attractions.

They had waited about twenty minutes when Jack thought he heard a rustling and a low giggle behind him. He turned round, but saw nothing unusual. Ossian stood up and stretched. He began whistling, tunelessly. After a couple of minutes of this low monotonous sound, Doonya snapped, "Can't you be quiet?!"

"I'm callin' someone," Ossian shrugged, and resumed his whistling. Within seconds, a small antelope-like creature had emerged from the trees, making a soft purring noise.

Jack looked at the animal. Like a roe deer in shape, it had a strange mixture of colours brown, red, grey, yellow and a small horn between its eyes. He whispered to Petros, "What is it? It's too small for a unicorn."

"Tappa, Kirin," said Ossian soothingly. He turned to the others. "This is the Kirin. He's come to say the History Pool waters are disturbed."

Grandpa turned with interest. "Indeed. I have myself only once seen them in that state. How far off are they?"

"About a mile. I've never seen them like this before. Who wants to come?"

"We have to see Tamlina," said Doonya urgently. "Who knows when we'll get another chance?"

Grandpa Sandy, evidently torn between two impulses, reflected for a moment, then said, "Pierre, you go with Ossian and watch the waters. They may have something to tell us."

"All right. But if there's not much happening when we get there, I'm coming back."

Once Ossian and Doonya had followed the Kirin into the woods, Jack turned to his grandfather.

"Grandpa, where'd that creature come from? I've never seen one before."

"The Kirin come from j.a.pan. They're said to bring judgement punishment and reward. I've never seen one before, either. Young Ossian certainly has a way with creatures."

"What's the History Pool?" asked Petros.

"It's a pool which reveals stories from the past. When the circ.u.mstances are right, the waters get ruffled; when they clear, they reveal pictures of mysteries. There's no knowing what it may tell, but it's certainly worth investigating."

"Is it like that time your simulsimul-something ..."

"Simulacrum?"

Jack nodded. In his mind's eye he could see again the tableau of silent figures as they played out the history of the Stone.

"No, Jack. Those pictures showed what I could remember. But sometimes what you think is true isn't true at all. My memories created those pictures, and memories can distort. The History Pool only ever shows the truth. Now, I wish that enchantress would let us speak to her."

After what seemed like ages, a flurry of tiny wings heralded another grig. It flew up to Grandpa and perched on his shoulder. He took out a tiny biscuit from his pocket and gave it to the creature.

"We can proceed," he said quietly to the two boys. "But carefully, all right? I am not altogether certain that we can trust Tamlina. We are to follow the path to the west."

The barely visible path was not the one the boys had used in their earlier encounter. They walked on in silence for several minutes, when an abrupt voice commanded them, "Halt!"

Obediently, they all stopped. After a pause, the voice resumed.

"Did ye think ye could trick me, Sandy o' the Stone? I will not be made a fool of."