Jack Shian and the King's Chalice Part 21

"Rowan betrayed us," said Doonya. "He removed the charm around the fire. It was easy then for the Brashat and Hobshee to sneak up. But where are the girls? Did you send them home?"

"No, Dad. They're around somewhere so's Ossian. They must be all right, otherwise they'd have been brought here too."

"Tell him about the bonnets, Petros."

"They've got invisible bonnets. I think Freya made them. They're smart enough to keep out of harm's way."

"I hope you're right," muttered Doonya. "I can't imagine what your mother's thinking now."

Jack nudged Petros, and indicated Konan.

"He's the one who tried to grab me back in Edinburgh," he whispered.

"You sure?"

Petros looked panicked, and Jack thought he'd leave the subject for now.

"Briannan's forgotten the Hobshee are inland creatures. They don't like the sea." Grandpa winced and clenched his teeth. "And there's a rip tide coming. I can hear it."

Jack could see that some of the Hobshee were glancing apprehensively around. The sound of the sea was growing in intensity.

The tide runs into this cave! Briannan's left us to drown here!

One of the Hobshee uttered a grunt and made to climb up the slope towards the hermit's cell. Two more followed, leaving just two by the cave. Distracted by this, Konan went to give them orders to remain.

Jack saw his chance. Reaching into his satchel, he retrieved the silk shifter Rana had given him back at the oak tree. Gripping his satchel, he surrept.i.tiously placed the cap on his head just as Konan turned back towards the prisoners.

Whish!

Jack was hoiked fifteen yards outside the mouth of the cave. He fell on his side, but was quickly up and running as fast as he could. He heard shouts and curses behind him as Konan reprimanded the Hobshee.

The sea. They'll never follow me there.

Jack ran towards the sound of the water. His heart was pounding, but he knew he had to keep going. The shouts behind him grew dimmer as the noise of the waves before him became louder. At last, rounding a clump of rocks, he saw in front of him the great dark loch of Dunvik.

30.

Counter-Attack

Exhausted, Jack collapsed behind a large rock. Terrified that his gasps for air could be heard half a mile away, he tried to hold his breath, and listened for the sound of pursuers. He didn't dare to look out from behind his rock.

As his body recovered from the exertion and the terror, Jack began to think. His impulse had been to get away. The memory of Konan's menacing eyes and his threats to kill the prisoners set Jack's heart racing again. He had escaped on impulse, but where could he go?

Jack looked out over the dark loch. The moon shone brightly now, its light reflecting on the ruffled waters. The waves were lapping at his feet. Ossian had said that the sea sometimes even ran into the cave.

That means this rock will be under water soon. I can't stay here long. But where do I go now? I wish Petros was here, or Grandpa.

Jack shivered. The wind was starting to whip around him now, and his body was cooling down quickly. He pulled his coat tighter around himself, but it made little difference.

I'd almost be better off in the cave, at least it's sheltered there.

Realising that he would have to make a move, Jack was debating which way to go when he heard a twig snap behind him. He froze again. Someone had followed him. Well, he thought, it's either drown or die on my feet. He stood up, and stepped out from behind his sheltering place.

"Hiya, Jack," said Cosmo casually. "How're you doing?"

"You could see me?" said Jack. "But how? It's dark."

"My oscuroscope. I'll tell you about it later if there's time. But first I've got to ask you: has Briannan really got the Chalice?"

"The Cup? Yes, he's taken it up to the hermit's cell."

"d.a.m.n! It's going to be hard now for us to get it back."

"Who's 'us'?"

"I've got some friends with me. Look Jack, the Cup's proper name is the Chalice. Do you know what it really is?"

"I know it's one of the three treasures. We've got the Stone in the castle. Or the humans have got it. But if we get the Cup ... I mean the Chalice, that'll make the Stone stronger. They say it tells secrets of life and death." Jack thought for a few moments. "You know all about the Cup, then?"

Cosmo just smiled. "Used properly, Jack, the Chalice could double or even treble the power of the Stone. And with the Sphere who knows?"

"But you told the Congress you didn't know much."

"I didn't trust them. And it looks like I was right. There's a traitor, isn't there? The Brashat could never have outwitted the whole Congress."

Jack looked down. "Rowan gave them away."

"It's just as well I didn't say much then, isn't it?"

Jack could only agree, but this still didn't help them to rescue Petros and the others.

"Come on," said Cosmo. "We'll go and join my friends. Then we'll have to decide what we can do."

Together they walked around the sh.o.r.eline, eventually reaching an old cottage by the water's edge. As they neared it, Jack could clearly hear Rana.

"We were doing fine! Those stupid Brashat couldn't see us. We could've got to Grandpa and the others if you'd let us."

"I'm no' goin' over this again," said Ossian in exasperation. Then he looked up. "Hiya, Jack! Cosmo find you all right?"

"How many Brashat are there?" asked Oobit, emerging from the doorway.

"Dozens," replied Jack. "And Konan had some Hobshee with him by the cave, and more went off with Briannan."

"The plan kind of centred around getting to the Chalice first," admitted Cosmo.

"But many people believe the Cup is theirs." Henri spoke up for the first time. Jack had not seen him in the gloom.

"Before we can decide where it goes, we have to get it back," replied Cosmo. "Are you with us?"

"Cosmo, you asked me as a friend, and I honour you for this," said Henri. "We are proud to join you as your allies tonight."

Allies! Jack's mind raced. Where had he heard that before? Of course! Tamlina had said the ram's horn would summon allies in the quest. Jack felt in his satchel. There it was, wrapped up in his spare shirt. And there was something else, deep down in his memory ... He frowned in concentration, gritting his teeth as he tried to remember.

"What's the matter, Jack?" asked Rana. "You look like you've just signed up for extra lessons with Murkle!"

"That's it!" shouted Jack. "Murkle's lesson when Purdy drew the spirals! The ghosts can be conjured up with a ram's horn."

Reaching into his satchel, Jack withdrew the horn.

"Where'd you get that?" gasped Cosmo incredulously. "D'you know what it is?"

Jack hesitated. "It ... it's for summoning allies in the quest for the Cup. Tamlina gave it to me."

"Jack, that's a vococorn. If Tamlina gave you that, then you're meant to summon the monks who made the Chalice. And they have powers that we can only imagine."

Putting the horn to his lips, Jack blew steadily. For a while, nothing happened. Then a low murmuring sound reverberated around the woods, a single note that grew louder as it carried out across the water. Echoing off the rocks at the far side, it got louder still. Lizzie put her hands over her ears, vainly trying to shut out the din. Louder, and louder. Earsplitting. And then, suddenly, it stopped. The stillness of the night was almost deafening.

A series of yelps came from the direction of the cave.

"The Hobshee," said Cosmo. "They know something's up, but they won't know what's. .h.i.t them when it comes."

"And what is coming?" asked Jack, unsure he really wanted to know.

"I told you: the ghosts of the monks."

"And they're our allies?"

Cosmo nodded. "They'll be here soon. And everyone, stay calm. They can be a bit unsettling. We'll go round to where I found Jack. That's the nearest point to the cave. They'll hit land there."

Cosmo set off briskly, then paused while the others caught up.

"I should've checked: who's got weapons?"

The Claville and Cos-Howe boys brandished sceptres, while Ossian lifted up a large club for inspection. Jack shook his head.

"Maybe you'd better stay out of the way, then," said Cosmo. "You take care of Rana and Lizzie."

"We can look after ourselves," said Rana indignantly. "We were fine until Ossian dragged us away."

"Yes, but the fightin's about to get fierce," said Ossian, "and you don't have any weapons."

"Look, you three stick with me and Ossian. We'll go to the cave," said Cosmo. "Henri can take the others to the hermit's cell and start on Briannan's mob."

There was no further time for discussion. A mighty whistling sound came from the sea end of the dark loch. In the distance, three white sails could be seen, one much nearer than the others. An urgent chanting sound accompanied by a steady drum rhythm carried over the water.

"What's that they're chanting?" asked Jack.

"Oh, it's not them that's chanting. That's the wind. It's Gosol," said Cosmo quietly. "You're going to see a different kind of power tonight. Get ready."

31.

Ships Sail in the Forest

The first boat hit the sh.o.r.e just yards away, but it didn't stop. As it glided over the land, Jack, wide-eyed, could see about a dozen bareheaded figures in long grey robes, facing forward. One carried a large book, a second beat a drum and one figure at the back chimed a large bell. It sounded as if they were chanting in unison, but Jack couldn't see their mouths move.

The second and third boats were still some way from the sh.o.r.e. Instructing the Claville and Cos-Howe boys to wait for them, Cosmo sprinted after the first boat as it skimmed over the ground.

"Come on, then!" shouted Ossian.

Rana and Lizzie took off, and Jack set off after them. Within two minutes they could see the cave, but there was no sign of the prisoners. As the boat came to rest, the chanting and drumming stopped, but the bell continued to chime.

Konan and the Hobshee had gone, but three Brashat stood there defiantly, sceptres in hand.

"Give up!" Cosmo shouted, brandishing his sceptre. "If you surrender, no harm will come to you."

"One of you against us!" one of them snorted, while the others hooted derisively.

At that moment Ossian, Jack, Rana and Lizzie arrived.

"Five of us!" shouted Rana triumphantly.

This proclamation did not have the intended effect. A bolt from one of the Brashat sceptres flew to the top of Rana's shoulder, knocking her to the ground. As she fell, screaming in pain, howls of ridicule came from the Brashat.

One of the figures stepped over the side of the boat. He was, as Jack had thought, clad from head to foot in a grey robe, his bare head so pale that it was almost transparent. He appeared to glide towards the three Brashat, who backed away, but the figure was moving much too fast for them. As he reached the first one, he drew from within his robe a long iron sword. In a flash he had sliced into the first Brashat's midriff. Blood gushed out of the wound, and the Brashat fell. The others howled, falling back in a blind panic.