Wraith(10)

He stayed where he was, the canister outstretched in his small grubby hands. He was obviously too frightened to leave and expected me to do to him what the goblins had done to Quiddle. I got the message and slid to the side, moving past him and away.

When I passed the open doorway to his house I saw another small figure, a young girl who couldn’t have been more than three or four who was sucking on her thumb and staring in my direction. My insides tightened. They probably didn’t have parents. This was what it meant to live in this city these days where babes were forced to look after themselves and a few tiny tomatoes were precious currency.

I sighed and ploughed ahead. To pause would only terrify the boy further. I was a wraith after all; I was the stuff of even the goblins’ nightmares.

I did my best to shove both children out of my mind. Their situation wasn’t unique and right now I couldn’t help them. I had to push ahead and stick with my mission. Maybe once this was over, when I looked like a normal human being instead of a creature of darkness, I could do something to ease their suffering.

I picked up speed and returned to my original course; high up on its steep hill, the castle was still waiting.

Without seeing another living soul, I twisted one way then another through the Stirling streets before scaling the long, tree-covered slope to reach the crag at the foot of the castle walls. I’d traversed these virtually perpendicular woods several times and discovered the odd cave and clump of edible plants But on the few previous occasions I’d visited the castle I’d entered as a shadow through the main gates, which were situated on the only one of the four sides that was accessible to living bodies. I used to slide in behind others who were entering so that my shadow merged with theirs and didn’t get picked up by the flickering flames that illuminated the grand entrance.

This time, however, I had to be more sensible because remaining as unobtrusive as possible was vital. It would take considerable energy to scale both the crag and the outer wall – not to mention what lay beyond. Even shadows could only do so much. Fortunately, I had a good idea where it would be best to aim for.

I flitted in and out of the trees until I got to where I wanted to be then I rubbed my palms together. These outer walls were only just the beginning but like all adventures, both good and bad, I had to start somewhere.

I took my time skimming up the crag until the rocky tree-covered cliff face merged into the man-made wall. I was heading for the point where, generations ago, a particularly foolish house puck had strapped on a pair of makeshift wings and attempted to fly. Legend had it that he was the first person to attempt such a feat, which always seemed unlikely to me; he was probably just the first one daft enough to boast about it. A pile of dung lying at the bottom had broken his fall and he’d escaped with little more than a broken bone or two. His actions spoke of the stupidity of the beings who lived in castles. Large stone buildings weren’t invulnerable despite their impressive stature – and neither were their occupants. If only the goblins, both Gneiss and Filit, would realise that then we’d all be better off.

When I reached the parapet, I slowed even further. Even though this was the far side of the castle, and the old, overgrown Queen Anne gardens in front of me hid my shade form from the more well-lit parade ground to the north, I still needed to take care. All I needed was one curious set of eyes gazing from a window above and my shadow could be spotted. I raised my head carefully, glancing around. A heartbeat later I was forced to duck down again as the crunch of heavy goblin boots on gravel drifted towards me.

My shadow isn’t necessarily two-dimensional or three-dimensional. I exist outside the boundaries of normal understanding. In essence, when I am standing, my wraith shape is three-dimensional; this is necessary for interacting by touch with my environment. If I want to kill someone, as others of my kind are wont to do, or to help small boys hide from goblins as I prefer to do, then that is the form I have to take. When I am against a solid structure like a castle wall, I can be two-dimensional. In theory I can remain flat against the high edge of a wall or a tree or a cliff for as long as I wish. In practice, however, my energy is quickly sapped by the concentration and effort such a feat requires. People often make the error of thinking that wraiths are indefatigable but it’s not true.

The last thing I wanted was to waste precious vitality by hanging around. All the same I waited, counting until a full minute had passed after the sound of the footsteps had dissipated. Only then did I raise my head once more, breaching the gap between the outer wall and the untidy hedgerow beyond.

A corporeal form would have found it tiresome to navigate through the garden but I sprang through, bouncing from tree to bush to indefinable green growth. It had been left untended for so long that trailing bindweed had sprung up everywhere, wrapping itself around everything and crawling up the edge of the wall beyond. As I had to traverse that wall, the bindweed was a blessing; it provided an uneven façade, making it easier for my shadow to slip upwards undetected, even if another guard wandered past.

While back in my flat the muscles of my physical body tightened and my breath quickened, my shadow bounded upwards, springing along the bindweed as if wholly entangled and yet still entirely fluid. Stirling Castle isn’t a single entity but a collection of buildings of all shapes and sizes, so I could dart from dark walls to their even darker corners. There were many windows dotted around, light wastefully shining forth from each one, but they were easy to avoid. With night finally in full swing and the moon half-covered by cloud, my journey became easier as I continued. I might have been sweating back at home but my shadow was making short work of the castle’s defences. At least until I reached the Inner Close and the King’s Old Building loomed in front of me.

I took a moment to compose myself. The hardest part in physical terms was now behind me but the hardest part in real terms was ahead. By pausing, I allowed both of my forms to recoup some strength and energy. If I were eating more healthily and more regularly this would have been less of a problem. I’d have cursed about it if it would have done me any good but even little Becky knew that whining never served anyone. Put up, shut up or be strung up. Simple as.





Chapter Five




When I felt ready, I began my final ascent. By now I was fully enveloped by the night, wrapped in darkness and totally safe. I knew the dangers of over-confidence but, given that my approach so far had been so easy, I was buoyed with optimism. It seemed like luck was actually on my side.

My shadow flitted up to a window on the third floor. Like virtually all the others, dangerous light shone out as if warding me off. I stretched up to the right-hand side of the window frame and peeped in.

The hallway was empty. Of course, that didn’t mean it would remain so and I was cautious enough to wait in order to judge the level of passing foot traffic. After several seconds and with no sign of anyone – Dark Elf, goblin or even house spider – I reshaped my hand and nudged open the window. Then, like smoke, I slid inside.

I wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting – perhaps an alarm or a battalion of goblins with swinging swords to round the corner – but nothing changed. The brightly lit hallway remained silent and the only patch of darkness in it was me. I had to get to somewhere even darker fast.

With more speed than I’d achieved so far, I sped towards the closed door at the far end of the hallway. In one fluid movement, I threw myself down and slid under the gap at the bottom.

Fortunately the room was unoccupied; even better, it was both windowless and dark. There wasn’t so much as a single flickering candle, so I could look around with ease. When in shadow form like this, I can see just as well in darkness as my physical body can see in bright sunlight.

If I’d been hoping to find a handy sheet of paper explaining who the Dark Elf was and why he was here, I was sadly disappointed. There was nothing apart from old boxes and towering bundles of old clothes. Even the abandoned fireplace with its faint dusting of soot seemed to sigh in despair. Perhaps I’d stumbled across the goblins’ dress-up room, which was only used in happier times. I smiled at the thought of some of the stouter and swarthier Filits swinging feather boas and wearing pretty diamond tiaras then I flitted to other door at right-hand side. A chink of light was just visible from underneath it. By the looks of things it was another hallway and, just as before, there didn’t appear to be anyone wandering down it.

I pushed through the tiny gap underneath the door and emerged at the other side. This corridor was as brightly illuminated as the previous one but the stone floor boasted a less shabby rug, indicating that it was used more frequently. There were more doors leading off it, several of which were open. The clatter and murmur of voices could be heard from further down and the risk I was putting myself into increased exponentially.

I edged my way forward more slowly. There were some alcoves where I could hide if needs be; I paused at each one in case someone suddenly appeared. My luck was holding. I could do this.

I was about halfway along when one of the doors ahead of me suddenly swung open and two goblins appeared. Barely registering one male and one female form, I flung myself backwards, darting into the nearest recess and narrowly avoiding knocking over an ugly vase on a pedestal. There were no shouts or gasps so I’d obviously avoided detection. Praying that they’d choose to walk in the other direction, I made my shadow as small as possible, merging into the shadow cast by the pedestal and vase.