Monstrous Races Read online

  Lord Lansdown looked around as cold earth clung to his beard, feeling an unbearable disgust at his own weakness. 'How?' he asked slowly, pulling himself up from the churned mud that covered him.

  The old man continuing to shuffle, dealing out his cards with infinite care. 'Ah, my favourite game. Patience,' he said, his green eyes fixed on the cards in front of him. Lord Lansdown slowly got to his feet and climbed up onto his horse with his back to the castle. He heard a thin shout, a celebratory call as the people inside watched him leave. I'll be back here with both my stones, he thought, his mind cold and clear with the knowledge. And I will make them pay for this.

  At Goat Cuisine the next morning Elli heard Billy come into the building, and she grabbed the peach pastry that Rufus was just about to eat and threw it into the bin across the room just as he came through the door. Rufus stood with his mouth open as Billy walked in, and he didn't take his eyes off of the bin for some time.

  'I hear I'm gonna need to change the name of this place soon, thanks to you Elli. Sue-she isn't it? So it's fish that isn't cooked?' Elli nodded. 'In other words, it's raw?' She nodded again. 'Brilliant!' he said, his eyes shining through his hair. 'We save money on fuel as well. That is genius. And Rufus, I'm told that you're a hit with the ladies. Well the elderly ones anyway. I'm also informed that you're eating most of the food, but as you're now paying for it it turns out that you're our best customer,' he added, laughing breezily.

  Rufus crossed his arms and looked down at Billy, raising his eyebrows. 'Here, have one on me,' said Billy, and threw a peach pastry up at Rufus who caught it in one gulp, his arms still crossed.

  Elli worked through the morning peeling, chopping and juicing, arranging the vegetables into delicate and beautiful shapes. At mid-morning she walked from the humidity of the kitchen into the cool breeze of the yard outside carrying a large bag of peelings with her. The walls were high and long shadows swept along the cobbles.

  She was first aware that she'd been hit when her legs buckled beneath her, and a large pale hand was clawing at her necklace. In a stupor she watched from the floor as six men jumped out at her from the yard, their faces covered in scarves. The noise she heard seemed far off, and she lay dazed as the man grabbing at her seemed to be flying away, his legs kicking wildly. Leo held him tightly in his strong arms and she watched as he sent the winded man hurtling through the yard and into the door.

  The next thing she saw hazily was that Gwen was leaping around the space, kicking at the men behind her and jumping unexpectedly so that they misjudged her every move. She seemed to be frenetically dancing, sparring and ducking, twisting and turning. Elli managed a half-smile as she saw a man go to grab Gwen from behind but miss as she pirouetted into the air, kicking him right between his legs so that he crumpled onto the cobbles.

  She saw now that some of the men had knives, mean and sharp, and through the fog she saw Billy throwing vegetables at them, and heard Rufus barking and snarling. She felt him lift her into the air and saw that only two men remained who were still fighting, although Leo had one in a head-lock and Gwen had forced the other man to drop his knife after she'd bitten his hand. The noise of the blade hitting the cobbles took a long time to reach her. She felt Rufus' soft fur against her skin as he nuzzled into her cheek and she heard him whimper quietly, holding her tight.

  As she was about to close her eyes she saw a glint of light, a reflection, as the man nearest them rose up silently from the floor and ran towards Rufus, his knife in his fist ready. Her arm flew up from her side and she aimed straight up at the man, seeing the shock in his eyes as he was pulled upwards into the sky, his hand still holding the knife. Her head fell backwards and her eyes closed, and then there was silence.

  Chapter Eleven

  There’s more than one use for earwax

  The smell woke her, a deep satisfying smell of oranges, and she felt the juice gently dripping into her mouth. 'More,' whispered Elli, the taste an explosion of flavour on her dry tongue. She didn't try to open her eyes quite yet; she could hear birds singing outside, some footsteps walking hastily down the stairs. Max's house she thought, before another sensation introduced itself to her with surprising speed. She groaned and pulled her hand to the back of her head, feeling a large new swelling underneath a bandage.

  'Easy now,' said a voice, old and male. 'There's no rush.' She slowly opened her eyes and saw a figure sitting at her bedside. The old man looked down at her with twinkling green eyes in shining brown skin. His long hair was dreadlocked and flecked with whites and greys. 'Wonderful to see you awake Elli. You've had us all very worried. How are you feeling?'

  'My head,' she managed, her voice quiet and distant. 'It hurts.'

  'Well now you're awake let me give you something for it. You'll have to sit up first.' He reached into a leather bag as ancient and gnarled as he was, and pulled out a small terracotta pot. 'I always have this with me, you never know when you'll need it,' he said, smearing a little paste onto his fingers. She flinched as he placed the mixture just underneath her nose; it smelt faintly of roses and felt cool against her upper lip, and her throbbing headache rapidly ebbed away.

  'How long was I sleeping for?' she asked, sitting up carefully.

  'Since yesterday,' he answered, feeling her forehead and placing his thumb at her wrist. 'Do you remember what happened?'

  'Yes, I think so. Is everyone alright?'

  'All fine but worried about you.' He saw that her hand shot up to her necklace, and that she clung onto it and exhaled slowly, the stone hanging glittering and vibrant against her chest. 'I hear that they wanted to steal it,' he added, watching her carefully. Her eyes flashed as she glanced over at the door. 'A word of advice,' he said, lowering his voice and leaning over to her. 'Sometimes the smallest of creatures can be the greatest heroes of all. Do not underestimate anything, from the weasel to the housefly, for each has their part to play.'

  He stood carefully and walked over to the door carrying his bag. 'I have to leave now. You take good care of yourself, there's a good girl,' he said, his smile full of creases and lines. He left the room and she lay back and shut her eyes, resting until the pungent smell of frying bacon wafted into her room.

  Elli walked downstairs quietly, her feet shuffling on the thick carpet. She appeared in the kitchen like a spectre and muttered, 'hey there,' to Rufus, who had his back to her and was wearing an apron. He span around holding the frying pan, visibly shaken, but had his wits enough about him to spin around and put the pan back on the heat. Then he grabbed Elli and lifted her into the air.

  'What are you doing out of bed? We've been so worried. How are you feeling?' He put her down to the ground and she gently pushed him away.

  'I'm alright,' she said, holding onto a chair for support. 'Just a bit light-headed. Are the others alright?'

  'More than alright,' he answered, cutting some bread into thick slices. 'Turns out Gwen is an expert in something called Marital Arts, you might have noticed the leaping and chopping motions. Not only that but she's a nuli, which apparently adds a whole new dimension to it as you can't work out where she'll land. And Leo is skilled at head-knocking, even by ogre standards. He said afterwards that he doesn't like to act in a 'pre-civilised' ogre way at all, and he hits them harder to take out his frustration. It worked anyway. We've got three of them but two escaped and one is unaccounted for, last seen flying up into the air at a considerable height.'

  'Oh yes, that,' she said, rubbing her head gingerly around the bump and sitting down. 'What did they hit me with?' He paused and stopped slicing, looking down at her.

  'Something that should have killed you,' he answered quietly. 'It would have done if you didn't have that stone on. We think it protected you somehow, it was firing out light like mad after you were hit.' He picked up the bacon and made her a sandwich, cutting it into four equal squares carefully and pouring her some water. He must be worried, she thought, he's not eating at least half before it reaches me.

  'Where are Max
and Alpha Sawyre?' she asked as he brought it over to her. 'I take it the men are with the gendarme.' Rufus paused and rolled his eyes. He walked over to the fire and put more bacon into the pan.

  'Oh, don't worry about them. They won't be back and we'll find the others. Max put the word out. And the ones we caught are in for questioning.'

  'In where?'

  'Just in,' he said lightly. 'You can guess who they work for. He's got others on his payroll too, not just men but dog-heads, gorgadons, you name it. Dad says we can't trust anybody, he's been very specific. Sadly, I think we should give up Goat Cuisine as it's too dangerous now they know where we work. Tragic I know, but it's a price I'm willing to pay.'

  'I'm not,' she said firmly but quietly. 'I won't be hiding in here waiting for them to come and find me. I've got a job and I'm good at it, I'm going back.' She sat at the table, a small, determined figure and Rufus' shoulders visibly sagged.

  'We only got the job because Dad had already had a word with Billy. He didn't tell me, did he? I sat through Elvis the Hairy Pelvis for no good reason. He didn't bother to mention that we were working alongside two of the best personal-guards in the business, now retired. Well you can take it up with Max if you feel that strongly, but we need to start being a lot more careful. They know who you are, what you've got and how to get to you.'

  'Is there any point in running away, out of Brayston?' she asked, moving crumbs around her plate and reaching for the water jug.

  'Not really, considering they not only know who to look for but also have a handy beacon that alerts them to your movements. At least here we've got protection and can sort of blend in. Plus Lord Lansdown is gathering quite a reputation I hear, using that power like a playground bully. Word travels fast, especially amongst blemmyaes. They won't let him through the gates.'

  They heard voices at the front door and Elli instinctively sat upright in her chair as Alpha Sawyre and Max came into the room together, both grinning widely at the sight of Elli.

  'Well you're a sight for sore eyes,' said Alpha Sawyre, kissing her gently on the cheek.

  'How are you feeling?' asked Max. 'The Doctor said you'd wake up soon. How many Rufus' can you see?' He knelt down and looked into her eyes.

  'Just the one, and that's more than enough,' she answered, aware that the bump on her head was throbbing slightly now. 'Any news about those men who attacked us?'

  'Yes, some,' replied Max, rubbing his muzzle thoughtfully. 'We need to find the two that escaped, I'll see to that.'

  Alpha Sawyre knelt down and took Elli's hands in hers. 'They were all human this time, but we have to be aware that anybody could know about your stone now. Are you still sure that you don't want to give it to me? I want it as far away from you as possible at this time, but it's not my decision to make,' she said, a note of pleading creeping into her soft voice. Elli sighed, tired now.

  'I am sure,' she replied, looking up at Alpha Sawyre. 'It was left to me, and I really don't want them getting it. People who want power that much are the last people who should have it.' She sighed, looking at them each in turn. 'Besides, I think I've got a connection with it now, I can't really explain it. To be parted from it feels unbearable.'

  Rufus brought his sandwich over to the table and began eating as Max looked on, his eyebrows raised.

  'Does nothing stop you from thinking of your stomach, boy?' he asked, watching as Rufus ate half a stacked sandwich in one very full mouthful. Rufus shook his head, chewing thoughtfully and gesturing towards his mouth as he was temporarily unable to speak. Finally, after much noising chewing and lots of water to wash it down he cleared his throat and looked across at Max.

  'Firstly, eating helps me to think. Secondly, how safe are we? How did those men know where to look in the first place? Is there anything else you haven't mentioned, like the two personal-guards we have assigned to us? And we need a plan.'

  Max stood up to his full height and wiped some invisible dust from his lapel. 'Their strategy is to take the stone by whatever means necessary, regardless of whose neck the stone is attached to. And I'm also worried about what he would do with it should he ever manage to take it.’

  ‘Elli,' he said turning to her. 'As you are no doubt aware you could run but then the problem continues, namely that he will chase after you until he has the stone. I've a contact in the Brayston Library and Hall of Records who says that there's only one reference to throwing the stone into a mass of water like the sea. It simply says don't. Again, all she could find were vague references to bringing two of these stones together and giving 'great power' to the wearer. So it would seem that we need to separate these stones, or else make sure that you are the one who brings them together.'

  'But I don't want power,' she said shaking her head, 'and I don’t think the stone does either. I don't want anybody to be afraid of me.'

  'And that's exactly why you would be the better person to have it,' said Alpha Sawyre simply. 'Now then Rufus, those sandwiches smell very tempting. I think both Max and I could do with one, if you don't mind.' Rufus looked dejectedly from one to the other and then skulked back over to the pan.

  'So what have the gendarme and blemmyaes said about it all? I presume they'll want to speak with me,' said Elli, her voice trailing off as she noticed a look pass between Alpha Sawyre and Max. He stood up slowly, pulling up a chair so that he was facing her.

  'That's a very good question, one I'd expect from you. We haven't strictly told them Elli, and we don't intend to while we've got any choice in it.' She looked back at Alpha Sawyre who shrugged and smiled gently.

  'Max has explained his reasons to me Elli, and I believe them to be sound. None of the men have been harmed, we've just been to check on them. And you must consider that they would have been very happy to harm you,' she added, a glint of steel creeping into her soft voice.

  'We thought involving the gendarme and Blemmyae Council may...compromise your position, even put you at greater risk. They could decide to protect you, or to put you outside the city walls. They might even see the fyrestones as a weapon for Brayston, who knows? If we don't give them those options we can protect you ourselves. We know he's on his way here, we need to draw him into Brayston and into our territory, which we know and he doesn't.' Elli nodded silently and saw Rufus throw some cake into the air and gulp it down greedily behind Max.

  'Rufus!' called out Max, his eyes still on Elli. 'Stop eating and get cooking. You can walk into town after you've finished and burn off some calories, I need you to call into Dion and Jones and collect something. You can go too Elli if you feel up to it. And you might want to take some trousers with you son,' he added, glancing at Rufus behind him. 'Some of them are looking a little...snug, might be an idea to cut back and stay fit. If you are in a fight it would be better that your trousers didn't split at the crucial moment.' Elli sniggered and Rufus shot her a warning look.

  'I think I'll be alright to go,' said Elli, stretching out her arms. 'Fresh air will probably do me good.'

  'It would, but this air isn't fresh by any stretch of the imagination,' replied Rufus, cutting more bread. 'It's a long walk as well. I take it we'll have protection? Thought I'd better mention it as you neglected to before.'

  'You'll be watched and followed, don't worry about that. You won't even see them most of the time, I'm hoping to draw a few more out and take them by surprise. And you'll keep working at Goat Cuisine, I've spoken to Billy and he's all for it. The closer you are to Gwen and Leo the better. Billy was thrilled when I said you'd be back when you were well enough Elli.'

  'Does that mean I don't need to go back?' asked Rufus, his voice hopeful.

  'Of course you do son,' answered Max. 'Billy just wasn't quite so thrilled about it.'

  Alpha Sawyre looked across at Rufus and began pouring out steaming tea. 'It's more important than ever that you're close to Elli at all times now.' Rufus nodded slowly and sighed. 'This way you can carry on paying tax to the Blemmyae Council and you won't draw any additional attention to
yourselves. It's my understanding that a representative visits you at work to check that you are still there and paying the correct amount. There was a letter this morning,' she said, addressing Elli.

  'From Norman,' Rufus announced, handing around sandwiches and settling into the large comfy chair. 'You remember, the misunderstood blemmyae. He enclosed this.' He lazily passed her a flyer with a large circular tea-stain on it. 'Elvis and the Bushbabies, and who do you think their support act are, which is a phrase I never thought I'd be saying. Captain McSniff, headed by our very own sensitive employment clerk. Who'd have thought it?' She looked at the flyer which featured a side profile of Elvis but was poorly printed so that he came out as a vague smudge with eyes. 'They've even enclosed a one word review, look, it says 'rocking' by the Brayston Beagle. Must be a misprint of shocking.'

  'That may be,' said Alpha Sawyre, handing around bowls of tea. 'But this event takes place the night before Norman is due to visit you at Goat Cuisine and report back. It wouldn't hurt to attend and give him your warmest congratulations the next day, now would it? And Billy would be delighted to see you both supporting his son. Really, how bad can it be?' Rufus shook his head sadly.

  'Oh, bad Alpha Sawyre, very very bad. If you'd had to sit through a song called I'm a Love Monkey whilst he jumped around beating his chest and poking his rear at the audience then you'd understand. And his voice? Like a squeaky foghorn in a wind tunnel. I don't know if I can take it again,' he announced, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes.

  'Dishes,' muttered Max. Rufus opened one eye and looked at him, then groaned loudly and got to his feet. 'You should enjoy it Rufus,' Max went on as he sidled into the empty chair. 'You've a lot in common with surly teenagers. Apart from the fact you're no longer a teenager.'