Jack of Ravens(192)

Nearly time now,’ he whispered.

Confused, Church followed Veitch’s gaze towards the tunnel leading to the biome. Ruth had just emerged in the entrance

Before Church could divine what Veitch was planning, Veitch flipped his sword fluidly. Church caught it instinctively just as Veitch threw himself forward. The blade burst through his chest and out of his back. Stifling his agony, Veitch turned himself on the weapon. A gout of blood burst from his mouth and splashed down his chin.

‘Like I said,’ he croaked, ‘you’re fucking scum.’ His smile became cruel, then victorious.

Veitch slumped down, sliding off the blade as his life flickered out. In that instant a bolt of black lightning crackled from the sword. It leaped into Veitch, then Church and finally into Ruth, uniting the three of them in a blaze of darkness. Church’s mind blacked out for a moment, and when his thoughts returned, Veitch lay dead at his feet.

Ruth staggered over. What just happened?’

‘I don’t know.’ Although his teeth were ringing and his stomach turned queasily, it appeared that the black fire had had no lasting effect.

Ruth knelt beside Veitch, examining his face, still bearing the cast of the pain he had suffered in his final moment. ‘Why did he do that?’

‘Probably realised he couldn’t win.’ Church knew he was wrong, but there was no way to guess what had gone through Veitch’s mind at the end. Veitch’s motivations had always been complex and unpredictable; a man who was prepared to remove all hope from the world while simultaneously risking himself to save innocents. Who knew what really drove him?

‘At least he’s gone,’ Ruth said, but her tone was flat, and Church felt the same way. It was difficult for him to accept, but despite all the death Veitch had wrought over the centuries, Church still felt as though he had lost a brother.

‘Come on,’ Church said. ‘We’re done here.’



17



Church carried Veitch’s body out of the biome and laid it on the ground under the stars. He backed away as Etain and Tannis came forward, their staring eyes accusing. They reclaimed the body and laid it with surprising gentleness over the saddle of his horse. Without a backward glance, the four Brothers and Sisters of Spiders led their friend and leader on a final ride up the winding path and away into the night.

The king and queen came over. The rest of the Seelie Court were in an unprecedented state of excitement, their strange cries and jubilant calls ringing off the walls of the pit like the sounds of a jungle at sunset.

The queen pointed towards the sky where the Fabulous Beast rolled and turned, its fiery breath mirroring the lights of the Eden Project far below it.

‘This day you have struck a great blow for Existence, Brother of Dragons,’ the king said. ‘Magic has returned to the land. Wonder and mystery live here once more, and darkness cannot stand in the face of the light it brings.’

We have something for you, Brother of Dragons, to celebrate this new age.’ The queen was smiling strangely.

Behind her, the ranks of the Seelie Court parted to admit two attendants bearing items lost behind a blinding white light. The glow faded as the queen took the first and handed it to Church. ‘Do you recognise this?’

‘The sword Caledfwlch.’ Blue flames danced along the blade and Church felt them calling to him. He took the sword in his hand and felt its power surge through him as exuberantly as it had done the last time he had held it, more than 2,000 years ago.

‘Dark times lie ahead.’ The queen had grown sombre and Church felt an ominous but indefinable weight behind her words. ‘ This is a weapon of the gods, and too great for most Fragile Creatures, but you will need it for what is to come.’

‘Thank you. I aim to repay your trust in me.’

Church thought he noticed a hint of sadness flicker across the queen’s face, but she quickly turned to take the second item. Now the glow had gone, Church could see it was a spear, the wood carved with mysterious runes.

‘To the tribes this was known as the Spear of Lugh,’ the queen said. ‘Another weapon of power.’ She held it out.

It took a second before Ruth realised the queen was offering the spear to her. I don’t deserve this,’ she stuttered. I wouldn’t know how to use it.’

‘Nevertheless, Sister of Dragons, it is yours. Your awakening has already begun. Great things lie ahead for you.’

Ruth took the spear hesitantly. Church could see from her face that she was experiencing the same sensation that had coursed through him when he took the sword.

‘Can you feel it?’ the king said suddenly. ‘Can you feel it?’