Jack Shian and the King's Chalice Part 24

"Put them to the iron!" shouted Henri. "It is the punishment for all Unseelie who cause mayhem."

Jack recalled how Grulsh's friends had been melted into the war memorial in Claville. Some of the Brashat had obviously heard of this punishment too, for they started twitching nervously.

"We will not be putting them to the iron," said Cosmo firmly.

"And have them return to kill us in our beds?" shouted Tomte.

"They will be punished, but a just punishment, to be decided here by the whole commonwealth. Three years suspended is fair."

"Five years!" shouted a voice from the a.s.sembly.

Jack stood up. "My father's suspended ten years, and I don't even know where he is!"

There was a moment of silence. Grandpa put his hand gently on Jack's shoulder. Jack didn't know what he felt. While delighted that they had retrieved the Chalice, still his anger cried out for the Brashat to be punished.

A sneering look came over Briannan's face.

"Konan escaped, but your fool of a father didn't. He'll be there forever."

"I hope you rot there forever!" shouted Jack angrily, tears in his eyes. "And if Konan's so smart, how come he's dead?"

"Jack," said his grandfather softly, "Konan's not dead. And Briannan will be punished. Being suspended is like feeling you'll never get away. It empties you." Then he saw Jack's sad eyes reproaching him.

"I'm sorry. That makes it no easier for you. But we have to remember that tonight Briannan has been defeated. We must not be bitter in our victory."

Cosmo came up. "He's right, Jack. It's difficult, but the power of Gosol demands that we are not vengeful."

"If Gosol's so powerful, how come it can't bring my parents back to me?" shouted Jack, fighting back the tears.

"I ... I don't know." Cosmo tried to smile rea.s.suringly, but Jack's pain wouldn't go away.

Cosmo then turned and indicated to Comgall and the Cos-Howe crew. The Brashat and Hobshee were made to stand together, Briannan and Rowan at the front.

"For your part in the theft of this Chalice, which belongs to all, and for your collective attempts to kill several children, you will be put in suspension for a period of three years," said Atholmor sternly. "You will be kept in the Cave of the Skulls. Your own children will be spared; their part can be excused."

Without further word, Atholmor pointed his sceptre at the group, and a bolt shot from it. The Brashat and Hobshee began to glow, then rose from the ground as one. Then, over just a few seconds, they faded from view.

Jack saw Morrigan hug Fenrig, under the watchful eyes of Oobit and Tom. For a few moments, there was silence around the forum. Comgall pointed Briannan's sceptre upwards once more, and slowly the night sky began to darken. Even with the moonlight, it took Jack's eyes some time to readjust.

"The Fool of the Forth has terrorised a weak and divided Shian for centuries. But he is no match for those who truly believe in the power of goodness, and who have the Chalice," announced Matthew. "You must work now to discover the Sphere, to complete the trinity of treasures. Go well. Go in peace."

"Time to go," said Doonya simply, ushering the youngsters together. "We'll use the low road, that's quickest. It's the hermit's cell. Ossian can fly the horses back to Keldy."

"You mean we could've used a low road to get here?" asked Rana.

"It's just as well we didn't know about it, though," replied Jack. "If we had, we wouldn't have asked Ossian to help, then we wouldn't have had Cosmo and the others."

"Who was that up on the castle roof, Dad?" asked Petros.

"That was Amadan the Fool of the Forth. His demons were pulling him back they must have sensed the power we had with the Chalice. He doesn't often beat a retreat, but we got the better of him somehow."

"You mean, Jack took on Amadan?" said Petros breathlessly. "Wicked!"

"Jack weakened him, and Cosmo helped to finish him off," continued Doonya. "That was brave of you, Jack, but you know you're not supposed to use a sceptre."

Jack felt drained. Praised and scolded in the one sentence. Wordlessly, he handed the sceptre over to his uncle. There was so much he didn't understand, but he could take no more in just now. Lizzie yawned, and it was infectious.

"Time to get you lot home," said Doonya gently. "Armina will take Grandpa back."

"What'll happen to Fenrig?" asked Jack. "Will he go back to his mother?"

"It's a long story, Jack, but Fenrig's mother's not around. I think Atholmor would rather have him and his sister where he can keep an eye on them. That's why Atholmor allowed Fenrig under the castle in the first place. He knows Fenrig's not the brightest candle in the box; he hoped that he'd give away more than he found out."

"You mean, they won't be punished at all?" said Petros.

"They're young, and they were led by their father. They can't be blamed for what he did. But you lot will have to keep an eye on them for us."

"Fenrig's not that stupid," said Jack, a thousand thoughts whirling around in his mind. "He worked out how to make himself invisible; he stole the ma.n.u.scripts, and found out about us going for the Cup."

"You're right. We underestimated him. We won't make that mistake again."

Once all were inside what was left of the hermit's cell, Doonya put his cloak around the four youngsters.

"Wind-flock castle!" he called, and Jack felt the by now familiar spinning sensation.

It was the longest low road journey Jack had made, although it still only took a few minutes. Jack's head buzzed with thoughts, but he was too tired to make sense of these now. He just wanted to fall into bed.

34.

The Reluctant Hero

Jack slept like a log, but when he finally awoke, he still felt drained. The Chalice was safe, and the Brashat beaten, but somehow he felt hollow. He found Rana and Lizzie in the kitchen, whispering together, and giggling. Why do girls do that? he wondered.

Aunt Katie came in, and beamed a sad smile at him. "You've no idea what you put me through, disappearing like that."

"We were fine, Mum," said Lizzie as she cradled a restless Nuxie. "We can look after ourselves."

"Aye, well, I'm just glad to get you all back in one piece."

"Have I missed work today?"

"It doesn't matter. Grandpa's explained things to Gilmore. He says you can have tomorrow morning off as well, but you'll have your lesson with Daid after lunch."

"Is Grandpa OK?" asked Jack.

"Armina's checked him over she says he's grand," said Aunt Katie happily. "And did she look at that burn on your face?"

"It's fine; she put some cold charm stones on it. She says there won't be a scar."

"There'll be a big party in the square on Friday evening."

"We're celebrating getting the Cup," announced Rana.

"The Chalice, you mean," said Katie. "We'll have to learn to call it that. The Congress are arranging for it to be placed in the castle. The humans will be delighted they love all that historical stuff."

"So we really do have to give it to them, then?"

"Share it it will move between the human s.p.a.ce up above and here. We have common concerns. It's just taken some Shian longer to realise that, that's all. Our family well, you know our history."

"Realise what?" asked Petros, entering the room and yawning expansively.

"That things are changing," said his mother. "Now, what would you all like to eat?"

After lunch the next day, Jack made his way to Daid's house. He could see the other apprentices whispering amongst themselves as he approached.

"Hi, Jack," called out Purdy. "We heard you had some fun yesterday. Are you going to tell us about it?"

"Was your granddad really dead? And you charmed him back?" Kaol's eyes were wide with admiration.

"No, I-"

"Did you really meet ghost warriors?" gasped Sean. "What happened when the Brashat got suspended?"

"And you even attacked Amadan?" Boyce gave Jack a look that might almost have been respect. "The baddest Unseelie of the lot? I heard he can kill just by looking at you."

The questions bewildered Jack there was still so much to piece together in his own mind. Relief flooded through him as Daid opened the front door and ushered the cla.s.s in.

When they were all seated, Daid began.

"I'm sure we'd all like to hear Jack's stories about Dunvik, but we need to give him some s.p.a.ce, so I propose to tell you a little of the Cup's background."

There was an audible sigh of disappointment around the room, but the apprentices settled down to listen.

"The tales are in Purdy's book. Around a hundred and fifty years ago, a rather eccentric woman went travelling around the more remote parts of the country. She later published her journal of stories. One was the legend of a chalice, plundered by Vikings and returned centuries later by a young prince, come to fight for the throne. He was a very human human, if you know what I mean, having a fondness for gambling and strong drink."

Sean and Boyce exchanged knowing smirks.

"Well, he gambled away the Cup, and it got pa.s.sed to a chieftain's son, who loved a beautiful young woman. But she was betrothed to a poor fisherman, and when the two men quarrelled, the chieftain's son was killed. The fisherman panicked and hid in a cave. Sadly for him, the cave was a 'thin place', an entrance to the Shian world, and the creatures under the cave lured him away from the Cup and killed him. But the fisherman must have charmed the Cup, because the Shian couldn't move it. Once a year, the Cup would glow on Hallows' Eve."

"I heard Briannan got the Cup," interjected Boyce.

"But he couldn't keep it, could he?" replied Daid. "And he could only take it because he found it on Hallows' Eve. The charm must not work then. Now, I'm afraid that I have stolen some of young Purdy's storyline. Purdy, is there anything you'd like to add?"

Relieved not to be the focus of attention, Jack settled back while Purdy spoke about the rest of the book. His thoughts drifted off to what Briannan had said.

Your fool of a father.

Why hadn't his father been able to escape, like Konan had? There were so many things he didn't understand.

Jack left quickly at the end of the lesson, but when he went home his aunt informed him that the Congress was making arrangements for the Chalice to be deposited in the castle. Jack would have to wait until that evening to speak to his grandfather.

Evening came and went with no sign of Grandpa. When Jack asked his uncle, he got a non-committal reply. His uncle seemed distant, his mind on other things. Aunt Katie explained that Doonya had been concerned about Rana and Lizzie.

Aunt Katie doesn't change much, thought Jack. Always trying to smooth things over, but always anxious. And the girls, to judge by their actions since returning, had been most concerned about Nuxie.

Work the next day felt strange. Freya was keen to get his news, but Gilmore kept them hard at it, insisting that they complete their tasks before the weekend. Jack wondered if all teachers were as irritating as this. Doxer, as quiet as ever, worked away patiently and silently. Fenrig, Freya explained (having heard this from her father), was being kept away until things settled down.

Over lunch, Freya quizzed Jack about Dunvik. Did the shifter work properly? How had Petros felt about the beetler? Was it safe to shrink down to that size out in the open? Jack tried to answer Freya's questions, but inside there was a whirling mix of his own. Relieved when the working day was over, he made his way wearily back to the house.

"You'll never guess who's playing at the party!" announced Rana breathlessly as he entered the house.

"It's the Sceptres!" gasped Lizzie, before Rana could draw out the suspense. "And Glownie's coming too."

"The Sceptres are the best musicians in the country," Petros explained to Jack, who was looking nonplussed. "They're from the islands; they don't visit the cities much."

"Uncle Hart's coming too. He might play along with Glownie," said Rana. "I can't wait."

"The Cos-Howe lot will definitely come when they hear who's playing," said Lizzie excitedly.

Jack was still trying to make sense of Dunvik, but his younger cousins had just accepted things.

Maybe it's easier that way. Maybe I'm thinking too much about it all.

Predictably, when the adults started to arrive, everyone was too busy talking to talk to him. Grandpa Sandy (fully recovered, it seemed) and Atholmor were deep in conversation with Festus and Murkle, and Jack didn't feel like interrupting them. He certainly didn't feel up to tackling Murkle. Jack listened while Lizzie recounted to Freya how the invisible bonnets had been great fun, and could they have a spare set, please? They were so fine and light that she could see a time when they would need to be repaired.

The crowd and the noise grew. Jack had never seen the square so full, and indeed there had not been that many Shian there for many years. People were happy; there was a tangible sense of relief. But Jack didn't feel like joining in, and this irritated him. It wasn't just tiredness, or the adrenaline come-down the others had got over all that. This was something else.

As the musicians got ready on the stage, Jack found himself wandering to the side wall. Almost absent-mindedly, he placed his left hand on the rock wall and whispered, "Effatha!"

35.