Chapter Nine; Betrayal and capture.
I'm baack!!! Miss me? Anyway a happy new year to you all. Here we go….
WARNING!!! This is not going to be a nice fluffy chapter. This, and probably the next few will be quite dark and involve some violence. However as I don't particularly like violence it will not go above a PG-13…
Jane instinctively shrank back away from the milgwyn then muffled a shriek as another snapped at her from behind. Will was chanting fast, trying to hold back the storm of darkness. Bran held his dagger up to the last beams of sunlight remaining. His voice was hard and proud.
"Turn back, creatures of the Grey King. Unless you want the bite of a blade from Avalon, given to me by my High Father, King Arthur." Some of the masses fell back, but most prowled around the circle.
Barney looked around, Simon had picked up a stone in each hand and was looking around for a target.
"Will. Can they get in at us?" He shook his head, continuing to chant. "Can we get out?" A sharp nod was their only answer. Simon nodded at Barney and the two boys, closely followed by Jane began assaulting the ring of grey foxes with stones and twigs; whatever they could get their hands on. Bran leant over, where the others couldn't hear him, and spoke in a soft voice to Will.
"We cannot stay here. When dark comes they will overwhelm us. You must freeze them and then we must run." Will nodded again; his strength was already failing from the malice pouring in at him and the effort of keeping the circle of protection up. He rose unsteadily to his feet and shouted a word of command, fingers outstretched to direct the spell. The milgwyn froze and the circle fell.
"Run!" No one knew who shouted the command and they did start to run. Legs pumping, gasping for breath, they passed through the foxes.
They were clear of the circle and halfway up the next hill, over which lay the farm and safety when Barney fell. Jane ran back to help him, even as Will turned to shout a warning, he had seen, with his gift, what others could not. Barney stood with Jane's help then as she turned to continue running he grabbed her arm. She half turned once more; before she could fully see him Barney was holding a knife to her throat.
"Stay back Old One unless you want her blood decorating the ground." Will took a step back, he had feared this and cursed himself for not seeing it coming.
"White Rider." He hissed through his teeth. Bran cursed, for he had grown up under the care of the White Rider, in the form of Blodwen Rowlands, wife of John. They had discovered her treachery last year and the betrayal was still a bitter taste in his mouth.
Barney shimmered and fell, pushed away as the White Rider took her own form. He stood and gasped in horror as he saw Jane's face, a trickle of blood began to seep in to the cotton of her shirt as the knife nicked her skin.
Bran clutched Simon's arm, he was tense as a bow.
"Don't anger her." Then he spoke to the White Rider. "What do you want with Jane?" He received no answer, only a chilling laugh as the rider, still clutching Jane, eyes wide with fright and mouth trembling, turned and disappeared.
"Jane!" The horrible cry was torn from Barney and Simon's throats as one. Will and Bran too were horrified.
"We cannot stay here," said Bran, tugging at the boys' arms. "We must run. The Milgwyn are coming."
Reluctantly the boys turned and ran.
They entered John's home at a run. Luckily the shepard was still tending the sheep and would not be home within the hour. Simon's face was white with protective fury. He had looked after Jane ever since she had been born, protecting her from bullies and boys who expressed an interest in her in the last few tears, whether she wanted his protection or not.
"What happened there?" He demanded.
Will answered wearily,
"The White Rider took over Barney's body. They have found a way to break the circle and the belt of signs; the blood of an ancient and wise Old One and that of one of the Six, who is somehow linked to the Old One. They can use the spell of Helm with those ingredients, but they are taking a big risk. It has never been tried before."
Bran turned, face grim.
"They think they have two in one. Jane is the Lady's messenger and far more vulnerable than the Lady herself or say Merriman. My guess is they have somehow detained him."
Barney sat on the floor, head in his hands.
"It is not your fault Barney." Will said gently, "She could have taken any of us. But you were closest."
Barney raised his head, tears streaked down his face,
"Where is Jane then?"
"I don't know." Will stood to look out the window, the Milgwyn were out of sight, "But we'll find her soon."
Jane herself lay in a dark room, her shirt was dirtied and torn and she had a long cut on her cheek. She was scared, but she tried not to show it as the White Rider approached her again.
Sorry, I know I'm horrible, but you'll have the next chapter as soon as I get some good reviews….