Chapter Five - The Intruder

Rebecca was sitting at the window deep in thought when Daenan entered. She was staring into the darkness and did not hear him approach her. It was only when he laid a hand on her shoulder that she realised she was not alone. 1

She started to tell him about her dreams and then stopped. The memory of that dark shape hovered on the edge of memory. If she told him then it would be another thing that should not have been done, just as joining with Mairwen had been wrong. She turned back to the window.2

‘You are alright? You slept well?' He sat beside her at the window and she could sense him staring at her. The scent of roses drifted up from the gardens below the window. She could see flickering torches placed here and there in the grounds, but most of the garden was in deep shadow and she could see nothing clearly. There was not, as on the moors, constant night sounds of owls, foxes and other animals. There were no trees to rustle outside and she could sense the land was not vast openness like the moors. 3

Twin moons hung in the sky, one a slim crescent and the other near to full. Together they cast strange and eerie shadows across the land. She could make out the tips of distant mountains and far away a forest, all bathed in an intense whiteness.4

Although it was night, her body was confused and felt as wide awake as if it were daylight. She knew that this was similar to crossing different time zones in her own world. When she had left Yorkshire, the sun had been just rising and when she had arrived here, it had just begun to set. Daenan had told her that 900 years had passed since she had been taken away. If she were to go back to her own home now, would it still be the same day she had left, or many years later? Would all her neighbours be dead and buried, or would perhaps it be much earlier, might they not have been born at all? Her head ached with the confusion of it all and she realised that Daenan was waiting for her to answer him.5

‘I am fine, thank you. I found the food you left for me. Maeweir was very kind.'6

‘She said you had a nightmare...'7

The question hung between them. It was clear that he was trying to ask her something without actually asking it. She was not sure what to say, feeling uncomfortable and could only think that perhaps it would be best to say nothing at all. ‘It was nothing, I don't even remember it.'8

She continued to stare out of the window, wondering what the time was, wondering if they even had clocks here and unable to ask Daenan all these questions that beat against her skull like a persistent drumbeat. The only sound was the crackle of the fire and they sat together in silence. He waiting for her to tell him the truth and she in turn keeping her silence.9

There was no movement out in the darkness and the silence dragged on. She began to feel that something was out there, watching and waiting. 10

‘Rebecca, tell me about your dream.' 11

The trance was broken and he was staring at her with a completely knowing look on his face. She thought that for a moment he looked almost afraid and that made her feel even more uncomfortable. Up until now, he'd had all the answers and been completely in charge. Now it was different, she could feel something taking over her and abruptly she felt the urge to keep the dream to herself slip away along with the feeling of being watched.12

In calm tones, she told him what she could remember. She told him of the shape in the darkness, of the presence she had felt on coming through the doorway and he listened and did not get angry.13

‘Maeweir was right,' he said at last, looking a little dazed. 14

‘You're not angry then?' She asked carefully. A breeze was coming through the window now and the cool air on her cheeks was comforting, or perhaps it was the smell of roses that came with it.15

‘No, why should I be?' He was confused now and preoccupied. She did not want to ask what Maeweir had said, she could tell it would not be good and at the back of her mind, she already knew. Whatever it was, it wanted her.16

‘You were angry with me earlier.' She closed the window and stood up, facing him.17

‘You are mistaken. I was angry with myself. It was not your fault Rebecca, you had no control and I should have remembered that. Forgive me for being so callous. You took us all by surprise, it is a long time since we have seen someone as strong as you, but that is in our favour. The Council cannot fail to believe us once they hear what happened.'18

She was shocked. ‘I thought they sent you to collect me, why wouldn't they believe you?'19

‘We have seen many girls like you here, many that we thought were the one we had been waiting for. We have always been wrong. You were well hidden from us. You are to appear before the Council tomorrow for them to decide for themselves. They will want to be sure and they may ask you some questions.'20

She was still confused, but not prepared to argue the point. If they found out she was not this Haithra then they would send her home again and all the confusion would end. That did not explain all the people falling to their knees before her though and it didn't explain what had happened with Mairwen. ‘What was Maeweir right about?'21

Daenan hesitated and she saw his eyes go from a triumphant green to brown in a single moment. ‘I cannot tell you. Please, do not argue with me and trust that I will tell you in time. We have much to explain to you, but now is not the occasion. Now, if you are agreeable, I shall leave you here and get some rest. I suggest you try to get a few more hours sleep if you can, it will make it easier for you to adjust to our cycle of days.'22

He left the room and Rebecca stood staring at the fire and wondering what she was going to do. A pile of books was sitting on a low table beside the fire. With nothing else to do, Rebecca picked one up and tried to read.23

———24

The small chamber was full of people. Tallen slipped inside and shut the door behind him, hoping he wouldn't be noticed. Maeweir and Mairwen were talking in low voices and he could see some of his fellow Elders conversing in urgent whispers. To one side of the room was a low bed and on it a young man, pale and ill-looking. 25

‘Ahh Elder Tallen. So good of you to join us.' The chief Elder broke away from the small group of worried looking men and approached him with a tight smile. Tallen could sense that this was not going to be pleasant. ‘I thank you for your promptness,' the stately Elder said, not taking the trouble to hide the fact that he thought Tallen should have been in bed and not wandering the corridors.26

‘I came as soon as I heard,' he replied, keeping his tone mild and purposefully neutral. Talking to Danar could be like dancing on knives. ‘What's happened? I was told we had an intruder.'27

‘And so we have.' Danar indicated the prostrate form on the bed. ‘Mairwen Keldar found him on her way back to the castle, he was quite insensible.'28

‘How did he get here and where did he come from?' Tallen took a step nearer to the bed, eyeing the young lad with interest. 29

‘All pertinent questions Tallen, but we have little in the way of answers. We suspect that he followed Daenan and the girl through one of the doors. Mairwen, however, appears to have other ideas.' He smiled in Mairwen's direction, but Tallen noted that he had an attitude of indulgence about him, as if humouring a small child.30

Mairwen stepped forward, a familiar look of obstinacy on her brown face. ‘Daenan would have closed that door, Elder. He would have done it the moment he arrived and there would have been no time for anyone to follow him through.'31

Danar raised an eyebrow in disbelief. ‘Indeed, and what do you suggest must have occurred instead?'32

‘He either found another door, or opened one himself.'33

Tallen groaned inwardly, this was the very worst thing she could have said. He knew what would come next and sure enough, it did.34

Danar's tone of voice was perfectly civil, but Tallen could sense what lay beneath it. ‘Naturally you wish to believe that Daenan would have not been so careless as to leave an open door where anyone could just stumble through, and I of all people have the utmost faith in his vigilance. However, we should not forget that mistakes can be made. It is unlikely that anyone would have left another door open. Moreover, I think that is highly unlikely that this child could have ‘made' a door himself. He appears to have little power of any kind...'35

Mairwen's sharp brown eyes had narrowed to slits. ‘So what you're telling me is that while none of your ‘followers' would ever be so simple as to leave a door open, Daenan must certainly have been idiotic enough to have done it? He would never do something so careless, and certainly not while the Haithra was in his care.'36

Tallen tried stop her before she made more trouble for herself. ‘I'm sure Elder Danar is just trying to find an answer to this situation. I'm sure he means no offence to Daenan.' He narrowed his eyes and gave her a significant look. Now was not the time for her to lose her temper.37

She relaxed and gave it up. ‘Of course not, I'm sure the real reason will become evident. I'm sure Daenan would not have made a mistake willingly.'38

Danar nodded. ‘Let us hope not.' His tone as always remained polite but his eyes spoke otherwise and Tallen could see the danger signals. The man always had to act rather than think. This boy was a mystery and one he would rather get the chance to solve. He glanced over at the boy on the bed, still inert, blonde hair spread out behind his pale face. Something didn't seem quite right.39

‘Danar, perhaps it would be wise to hold off investigation of this....incident until the boy awakes?'40

‘Very wise Tallen. I was wondering if Daenan had mentioned any incidents of an unusual nature when he was transporting the girl? Perhaps there is a simple explanation.'41

Tallen knew from the look on Danar's face that his earlier conversation with Daenan had been overheard, or at the least, seen. If he knew that, he would probably be aware that Daenan was convinced that the girl was the Haithra. Above all things, Danar must not suspect that they were in any way against him. He kept his face a careful blank, knowing that he betrayed nothing and hoping that what had been overheard was insufficient to excite Danar's fear of rebellion. ‘No, I have not heard of tell of anything. Perhaps you would like me to question him?'42

‘No no, that will not be necessary at this stage. As you said, once the boy wakes we can begin a more thorough investigation. He may yet be able to tell us something.' Danar turned to Mairwen and gave her another one of his too polite smiles. ‘Well my dear I think you may go now. Thank you for bringing the boy to us.'43

Mairwen bowed and turned on her heel and left. Tallen watched her go and then turned to find Maeweir standing beside them. Both men bowed.44

‘Lady, to what do we owe this pleasure?' Danar asked in a polite voice that gave nothing away.45

Mairwen smiled just as politely as Danar had spoken, fully aware of what Danar was really thinking. ‘I wish a few moments with Elder Tallen, if I may.'46

The complicated web of politics and ancient laws meant that Danar could not possibly refuse her without causing offence. He bowed again. ‘Of course, Tallen, I will see you in Council tomorrow morning.' 47

Tallen nodded as cordially as he could manage and turned to follow Maeweir. ‘Very smooth.' He murmured quietly so that only she could hear.48

‘I have my moments Elder.' 49

‘So I've heard. Now what can I do for you?' He detected a slight tone of amusement in the Guardian's voice and knew that anyone looking at her would have no idea that she detested Danar and was putting on an act. Her regal countenance had no cracks and gave nothing away.50

‘I wish to speak to you regarding the boy they found.'51

This was hardly unexpected. ‘By all means, what concerns you?'52

‘Daenan did not leave that door open; he was seen by many of my people. The boy came later, there is only one possibility: he must have opened a door himself.'53

Tallen shifted slightly, hoping he did not look too sceptical. It always unnerved him when the Lady talked of her people. She meant by this the woodland creatures and the trees. Though he had never met any of the tree spirits, he knew that they existed. They watched everything with abstract and unfeeling eyes. Yet, he knew that their accounts must always be true, especially those given to the Guardian of the Woods. They could not lie.54

‘Is that possible?' He asked Maeweir. ‘Could he be capable of such a thing?'55

‘I do not know,' she said shaking her head. ‘I cannot say what powers he may or may not possess, but he appears to be Other Worldly. He does not carry the aura of Fane, though there is something about him that I cannot place. I only know that he was seen coming out of the door and that he then collapsed. Whether he opened it himself, or someone opened it for him is a mystery. Daenan used all the normal protections. That door was sealed.'56

‘Then we must tell Danar, he will have to clear Daenan of any suspicion.'57

Maeweir shook her head. ‘No, we cannot. Can you imagine one of my people before the Council? Danar holds no respect for them, nor for me. My word he may have to take, but that of my people, never. He will view it as chicanery and an aberration.'58

As much as he disliked it, Tallen knew that she was right. Danar was fearful of his position, the Haithra's coming could change everything and he would be looking for traitors at every turn. He did not hold true to the values of the Guardians, did not see or believe in their worth and acknowledged them only because it was law. His fear of The Tormentor was enough that he would have banned all acts of power and purged the Gifts if he could. 59

‘We will have to find another way.' He said softly. ‘My Lady, thank you for the honour you have given us.' He bowed deeply. ‘I will do all that I can with what you have told me.'60

Maeweir drew herself up. ‘I am sure that you will, Elder.'61

He looked at her curiously. ‘Do you believe she is the One?'62

She seemed almost sad when she replied. ‘Yes, Tallen, I am afraid she is. Everything is about to change, the wind is changing, the dawn is coming.'