《WELSH MAGIC》 EPISODE 1 The Crymych School of Druidic Sorcery for secondary age girls and boys was one of the most prestigious institutions for learning Celtic magick in the entire United Kingdom, and perhaps even the world. Yes, most definitely the world. Rhian Peregrine focused her vision onto a number two pencil slathered with green paste. ¡°F?¡ª?rodro!¡± The yellow writing instrument remained stationary on top her desk. Rhian tried harder, squinting her eyes tight. ¡°Fr?¡ª?rod?¡ª?ro.¡± Nothing. ¡°Frodo?¡± ¡°Dammit. Explode!¡± She punched her desk. The pencil rolled off, leaving behind a trail of green goop. Braith Evans chuckled and leant over to pick up Rhian¡¯s test subject. She placed it back on her desk and brushed a blonde curl from her shoulder. The freckled girl cleared her throat. ¡°It¡¯s like this.¡± Braith locked her eyes on the number 2. ¡°Ffrwydro.¡± Shards of yellow wood splintered up from the desk. Rhian shielded her eyes. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not sure why you¡¯re having such trouble.¡± Braith shot her a lopsided smile before turning back to her own assignment. Rhian grumbled to herself, mimicking Braith¡¯s exasperated tone. She reached and pulled another pencil from a small cardboard box. The school may be prestigious, but Rhian was far from it. Her grandfather had been a miner back before the ¡®Witch of Westminster¡¯ had cursed the mountains. Desperate for work, he settled in the English village of Bosbury. That¡¯s where Dad met Mum, and where Rhian was born and raised. She¡¯d been happy there. Bored?¡ª?but happy. Rhian pressed her finger into a bowl of gelatinous plant matter and spread it along the sides of the pencil. She¡¯d been about thirteen when she discovered she could burn things with her touch. Her family still argued over who deserved the credit. Mum claimed it was due to her familial links to the Knight Templar. But Dad said poppycock and insisted the ability came from his rich Welsh bloodline, which no doubt had a druid or two somewhere in it. Perhaps even Merlin, who, as Dad enjoyed reminding everyone, was also Welsh. Whoever was to blame, her parents were enthusiastic for her to learn more about her power, bestowing onto them the privilege and prestige they now believed was lost somewhere between the ages. Her parents had even gone as far as to sell their semi-detached home to pay for the school¡¯s entry and admission fees. They now lived at a caravan park in Cenarth as to be close by in case she needed them. Rhian wiped her fingers onto her blazer pocket and glared at the pencil. It was great that her parents were so keen, and that the exclusive admissions board of the Crymych School of Druidic Sorcery agreed with her father about her having a rich Welsh blood line. There was only one problem. ¡°Freedoh!¡± The pencil remained perfectly in one piece, mocking her. Rhian was a failure at Welsh. She dropped her head into her hands. For all her father¡¯s recent discovery of Welsh nationalism, he didn¡¯t speak a lick of Welsh, and being raised in England, neither did she. ¡°Alright, class, that¡¯s enough for now,¡± Mrs. Mackerel stood up from her desk. She was a stout woman with curly grey hair?¡ª?American. Rumour was she came from a branch of witches that escaped the Salem trials back in the colonial days. She seemed nice enough. Clearly the whole witches are mean thing was the result of poor brand management.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°Your assignment for this evening is to study the composition of two common items and create a vanquishing potion for each.¡± Rhian winced. As long as she didn¡¯t have to actually ignite the potion she should be okay. She closed up the box of pencils and slipped it into her book bag. ¡°And remember,¡± Mrs Mackerel raised her voice several octaves, ¡°the composition exam is Tuesday. All students are required to achieve at least a 40% mark to continue attending at this institution. Those who score below 60% risk having their entry status re-evaluated at the discretion of the admissions board.¡± A soft murmur swept around the room. Katie Phan cleared her throat. ¡°Excuse me, Mrs Mackerel, but what about the students who¡¯ve been absent, or miss the exam?¡± The shuffling of students preparing to leave ceased. Attention turned to the empty chairs spotting the classroom. The number of absent students had been growing by the week. Katie tugged on her blazer¡¯s sleeve. Her friend, Julia Silva, was one of the students who¡¯d disappeared. Rhian¡¯s house matron had assured her it was common for students to drop out around exam time. ¡°The pressure of attending a school such as this it sometimes too much for some,¡± she¡¯d said. Rhian shifted her gaze to the tall arched windows, the grey overcast threatening rain. It wasn¡¯t as if she hadn¡¯t considered leaving herself. This was her first experience boarding at a school, and the first few weeks she had been desperately homesick. But knowing how much her parents had invested in this, in her?¡ª?she just couldn¡¯t. No matter how lonely she was, the thought of letting them down was ten times worse. Plus, it wasn¡¯t as though she had a home to return to. ¡°The matter of retakes will be determined on a case by case basis.¡± Mrs Mackerel frowned. Rhian felt a bit sorry for her. It must be difficult for a teacher to have nearly half their class withdraw. Well, for the ones that cared at least, which she was sure Mrs. Mackerel did. The period bell rang. Its high vibrations bounced off the stone walls. ¡°Don¡¯t forget,¡± Mrs Mackerel called to the students making their way out the door. ¡°I want two potions on your desk tomorrow. We¡¯ll be spending the hour practicing ignition again, so be sure the items you choose are portable!¡± ¡°Bollocks,¡± Rhian swore under her breath. She pulled her bag off the tiled floor and headed for the hall. Gretchen waited outside the door with a red squirrel she¡¯d crafted sat inquisitively on her shoulder. ¡°Uh oh, that face. Still having trouble with your Welsh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a stupid language.¡± Rhian muttered, careful not to be overheard by the other Welsher students. ¡°Not nearly enough vowels. What kind of word is ¡°Froydra¡± anyways?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s pronounced Ffrwydro.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± Rhian shrugged her bag onto her shoulder. ¡°You headed to lunch?¡± Gretchen nodded. The pair cut their way through the flow of uniformed students toward the cafeteria. ¡°You know, I can help you if you like, with the pronunciations.¡± Rhian¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Yeah? That¡¯d be ace. Cheers, Grez you¡¯re a star.¡± A weight lifted from Rhian¡¯s chest. Although Gretchen wasn¡¯t a native Welsh speaker, her family being from York and all, she¡¯d picked up the language quite fast. Gretchen smiled. ¡°Are you still going for the scholarship?¡± Rhian¡¯s shoulders slumped. The weight returned. The Owain scholarship was awarded to the most worthy pupils. There¡¯d be a ceremony, photo taking and most importantly a free year of tuition. ¡°I have to try. Though my chances are slim to none.¡± ¡°Yes, me too.¡± ¡°Better than mine, surely.¡± Rhian walked with Gretchen into the cafeteria. Bars of light from tall windows striped the crowded mess. It was more crammed than usual, without a spot spare on any of the tables. ¡°Want to eat outside?¡± Rhian crinkled her forehead. As unappealing as possibly getting rained on was, soggy sandwiches beat squeezing in-between people and bumping elbows. ¡°Sorry girls,¡± a voice cut from behind. They turned to see the prim Ms. Landeg, the power controlling instructor for gifted students. ¡°I¡¯m afraid the grounds are off-limits for the afternoon.¡± ¡°How come?¡± asked Gretchen. Katie brushed past Rhian from the cafeteria. ¡°Miss. Phan, slow down.¡± Katie turned around red faced. Tears pooled in the corner of her eyes. ¡°You were supposed to protect us, to ¡ª¡±. A sob escaped. ¡°I assure you Miss. Phan the matter is well under control. There is nothing to be concerned about.¡± ¡°Oh? Is that so? Tell that to Julia¡¯s parents when they come to collect what¡¯s left of her body,¡± Katie spat. She glared at Ms. Landeg and muttered a curse before turning around and storming off. EPISODE 2 "They said it was a giant spider." Emmanuel Naidoo stretched his arms out. "As big as a car." Rhian bit her lip. Emmanuel came from South Africa and his accent was lush. His ability to communicate with and control plants had impressed even the Druidic council and thus he was the envy of the school. Apparently one of his ancestors was a tree or something. "Bigger than that mate, I heard, more like a van." Lewis Davies leaned back in his chair. A Welsh lad through and through, his family hailed from Fishguard. His power was less impressive than Emmanuel''s, but still cooler than hers. The great-great grandson of a siren, he could manipulate sound waves to either attract or repel his targets. Free period was the highlight of her day, sitting in the great library with Gretchen and some other year tens. They were a diverse group, and so they often referred to themselves as the mini-UN. They''d usually spend the hour sat in a circle chatting, gossiping and the like. Sometimes Katie joined them. But not today. "It''s mad," said Afia Phillips from London, she was a psychometric, could touch an object and tell you its whole history. "I ain''t ever heard of spiders that big, not in this country." Funnily enough, her family supposedly came from a Ghanaian spider deity. "It''s not natural, spiders eating humans." piped Sabina Begum staring down at her Mary Janes. She was from Cardiff, but her parents both came from a line of Bangladeshi song-weavers. She could supposedly control creatures with her songs. Not that anyone had ever witnessed it. Sabina lacked the confidence to sing in public. "I''ll tell you what''s not natural yeah?" Lewis narrowed his eyes. "Locking us up in this place. Cancelling visiting day, an all that." "It is for our protection." Emmanuel crossed his arms. Rhian and the others exchanged glances. Lewis shook his head. "Don''t be fooled mate, it''s to protect their arse, and that''s it." The ancient yew door creaked open, and in walked Alaric Strumbottom, with his thick wavy hair and killer smile. He was well fit, easily the best looking bloke in year nine and a telepath?¡ª?so he knew it. Pretty much all of the girls in her year, and a small portion of the boys, were gaga for him?¡ª?Especially Gretchen. "Look who it is." Rhian elbowed her friend. "Shush." Gretchen glared back. Another boy was with him. One she''d never seen before. The door banged closed. "Who''s that?" Rhian whispered to Gretchen as Alaric pointed to a shelf of books. The new kid was tall with styled black hair. He turned and saw her staring at him. He tilted his head and smiled.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Rhian''s pulse quickened. There was something about him. She couldn''t look away. She smiled back. "Careful." Gretchen squeezed her arm. Rhian pulled her attention back to her friend. "He''s a new student," Gretchen whispered. "His brother''s a popular star in Korea or something. They both have a magnetism ability, heard he used it to hypnotise the Headmistress to make her grant him super-late admittance." Gretchen frowned. "I wonder what Alaric is doing with him...anyway, apparently his Nan was a gumiho." "A goomi what?" Rhian laughed picturing those mushrooms from Mario. "Don''t you pay attention at all in mystical history? It''s a shape shifting fox that bewitches men and eats their livers." Rhian wrinkled up her nose. "Gross." "Seriously Rhian, you need to start paying more attention or Welsh will be the least of your problems." Rhian saluted Gretchen two fingers and narrowed her eyes. "Alaric, Joo-won" Afia waved to the boys. "Come here, pull up a seat." The pair looked to each other and then back to the group. "Pleasure, Afia." Alaric smiled. Rhian swallowed as they made their way over. Gretchen sat up straighter, there was a space next her, where they''d surely sit. The library door creaked opened again and clapped shut. "Oh well isn''t this just bloody perfect." Gareth Harris sneered. He was the resident Welsh nationalist and strongman. Imbued with a supernatural strength, he claimed to be related to the ancient kings of Dyfed recorded in the great Mabinogion. Alaric pulled a seat next to Gretchen but didn''t sit. "What''s that then, Gareth?" "All you foreigners." he dragged out the last word. "You what, mate?" Lewis raised his voice. Gareth snorted, and pulled a flyer from his rucksack. They were hardly all foreigners, just Emmanuel really. The rest of them were British, but that didn''t matter to Gareth. He only considered Lewis to be native. He didn''t even view Rhian as Welsh. A ''turncoat father with an English trollop mum'', was how he''d described her rich Welsh heritage. Rhian''s hands grew warm. She gripped her chair. "We''re just trying to have a good time and relax," said Afia. "Maybe you should try it sometime?" Alaric and the new kid, Joo-won sat down. Joo-won looked to Rhian with an eyebrow raised and flicked his gaze toward her lap. She looked down to see sliver of smoke rising from her seat. Rhian let go of it and shook her hands blowing on then. "Sitting around plotting more like." Gareth turned and pinned up his paper onto the library event''s board. "What are you on about?" asked Lewis. He looked to Emmanuel and rolled his eyes. "You expect me to believe you don''t know?" Gareth nearly shouted. He glared at Alaric. "Yes, I know where I am, and no I won''t calm, stay out of my head you poof." "Alright now, that''s enough then," said Lewis. "Air your grievances or get out." "We got a spider slag right here" he pointed to Afia, who jolted up from her seat. Emmanuel rested his hand on her arm and whispered something to her, she sat back down. "Yes that''s right, sit down." Gareth glared. "You think it''s a coincidence that it just so happens a giant spider is making his tea with our classmates?" He shook his head. "Why am I even bothering, you''re probably luring them out to her." "You think a student is behind the disappearances?" asked Gretchen. "Think?" Gareth crinkled his forehead. "Try know, Luv. Someone is clearly taking out the competition and it''s most likely one of you lot." "Competition for what?" asked Emmanuel. "The Owain scholarship, of course." Gareth turned toward the door. "And just so you know, enjoy it while it lasts, me and mine are in talks with the council to make sure something like this doesn''t happen again." He exited. Rhian stood up and stomped over to his flyer. Naturally it was in Welsh. Her nails dug into her palm. Gretchen followed. "What does it say?" Rhian tore it off the board and handed it to her. "Welsh schools for the Welsh. A plea to make The Crymych School of Druidic Sorcery a Welsh medium school, with all courses taught in the official language of the Druids, Welsh. This change applies to all teaching tools, texts, and applications. Preferences for scholarships and aid to be given to those with deep familial ties to Wales and a mastery of the language. Show your support at the next school board meeting...What bullocks." Gretchen handed it back. Rhian crumbled it up and focused her rage into her palm. The paper burst into flames. "Tosser." Still, what if what he said was true. Rhian''s body went slack. She glanced over at her mates and frowned. Could one of them really be a murderer? EPISODE 3 ¡°You realise you¡¯re expected to pass the exams to qualify,¡± Braith flicked a blonde curl off her neck. Rhian narrowed her eyes. ¡°I know that.¡± It was Monday morning and the deadline to apply for the scholarship loomed. Of all the people who could be waiting in the financial services office, why did it have to be Braith? Braith snorted. ¡°You¡¯re type are all alike. You think just because you have an ability, you can skate by.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°No?¡± Braith lifted her brow. ¡°Beth ydy e fel? Ydych chi¡¯n gallu deall mi?¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± Rhian sat in one of the dozen plush green chairs. Braith never missed an opportunity to show off. Not only was she fluent, but she was among the top of the class. Rhian slumped. What chance did she really have to be selected for the scholarship, her grades were far from stellar and unless she could master pronouncing her ignition words by tomorrow she was certain to flunk her composition exam. Emmanuel entered the office, wide eyed and slack jawed. ¡°Rhian¡­¡± She stood. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It?¡ª?¡° He looked at his hands shaking his head, ¡°Its Afia, she¡¯s gone.¡± Fear tickled down Rhian¡¯s neck. ¡°What do you mean gone?¡± He shook his head. It couldn¡¯t be. Rhian shoved the scholarship form into her bag. ¡°How do you know? Did you tell the office?¡± ¡°Katie told me, she¡¯s in the nurse¡¯s office, she is an absolute wreck. Ms. Landeg is contacting her parents for her. She¡¯s going home.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t blame her.¡± Rhian muttered. First Katie¡¯s best-friend and now her roommate, Rhian made a mental note to have Gretchen make wards for their room. ¡°But Katie¡¯s been off since Julia, maybe she¡¯s jumping to conclusions, Afia may have stayed out in town.¡± The possibility sounded weaker aloud than it did in her head. ¡°I hope so.¡± Emmanuel stared down at his empty hands. ¡°No one¡¯s seen Afia since Sunday morning.¡± ¡°Malu cachu,¡± Braith muttered. ¡°I saw Afia last night.¡± ¡°You did?¡± Emmanuel¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°She was having a row with Gareth outside the gym.¡± Gareth, doesn¡¯t that figure. Rhian¡¯s palms grew hot, she clenched them in a fist. ¡°If he hurt Afia?¡ª?¡° ¡°Hurt?¡± Braith shot Rhian the same look she gave when Rhian¡¯d butchered her ignition words in composition class. ¡°I doubt that, aren¡¯t they dating or whatever? Sounded like a lovers spat is all.¡± ¡°Lovers? You¡¯re mental.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only saying.¡± Braith swatted her hair. ¡°They¡¯re your mates, you¡¯d know better than me.¡± ¡°Gareth is not my mate.¡± Rhain simmered as she felt Emmanuel¡¯s hand rest on her shoulders. ¡°Can you tell us where Afia went after?¡± Emmanuel¡¯s calmness made Rhian feel remiss for letting Braith rile her.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°She went off with that Yorkshire girl.¡± ¡°Gretchen?¡± ¡°Is that her name then? I¡¯m talking about your roommate, don¡¯t you two talk to each other?¡± Rhian wrinkled her forehead. Gretchen hadn¡¯t said anything last night about Afia and Gareth fighting. Emmanual¡¯s posture slumped. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grez and I have crafting next, I¡¯ll ask her about Afia.¡± Emmanuel wet his lips and nodded, but his eyes were dull and without hope. ¡°Afia¡¯s ability¡­¡± He leaned his head in. ¡°What if she touched something belonging to the killer?¡± The word killer ran ice down Rhian¡¯s spine. ¡°I thought a spider was responsible.¡± Emmanuel shook his head. ¡°Gareth was right about one thing, if there really is a monster out there, someone put it there, and I think it¡¯s likely someone is controlling it. If anyone could figure out who¡¯s doing this, it¡¯d be Afia. And now she¡¯s gone.¡±
Gretchen wasn¡¯t in crafting class. Nor was she waiting outside composition when it ended. Rhian had alerted her form teacher, but was told to go about her business. As if that was possible. Rhian glanced at the empty bed across from hers. A giant spider preying on students?¡ª?it was madness. They were in Wales not bloody Australia. She shuddered and hugged her pillow. Gretchen had become her closest friend since she began school here, if anything happened to her?¡ª?or Afia. This must have been how Katie felt. Students have been disappearing for weeks, why wasn¡¯t the school doing anything. Rhian flung an orange ball of fire at the wall. Blue light rippled from where it hit. It extinguished. The administration had been thoughtful enough to put up a fire protection ward, but not competent enough to stop students from leaving the building. Lights out was in less than an hour. She couldn¡¯t sit and do nothing. What happened to her friends was her business. Rhian kicked out of bed, and plopped down at her desk. She opened the heavy text on composition and began leafing through the index for spider. If Gretchen came back before she¡¯d finished then it¡¯d be time well spent studying for tomorrow¡¯s exam. And if Gretchen didn¡¯t?¡ª?Rhian found the page and ran her finger down to the ingredients list, an egg, sugar, fly meat, dew drops¡­she¡¯d have everything she needed for a spider hunt. Friesfro?¡ª?bugger it. She got to work. The egg and sugar proved to be the most difficult to get. She¡¯d found a dead fly on a window sill in the dormitory halls and dew drops were common for spells, Gretchen had some stored in their mini-fridge. Eggs and sugar however, were mainly reserved for darker magic?¡ª?and, cake but students were forbidden from baking outside of the culinary science elective so any delicious reasons she might have concocted were futile. If she had Braith¡¯s skills, Rhian could have probably crafted a chicken to lay her egg, but she didn¡¯t and she wasn¡¯t about to ask Braith for help so instead she lurked outside the cafeteria. The doors were of course locked. Rhian paced. She had no sense of time outside of her room. Mobile phones were forbidden and the halls lacked clocks. Lights out could be any moment. She gave the handles another twist and pull. No luck. If she could find a way in she¡¯d not only gain access to the kitchens but also outside. Soft spoken Sabina had heard the spider dwelt in the sacred forest over the river?¡ª?though faculty had turned up nothing. Rhian placed both hands over the metal handle and focused on her anger. She remembered what Emmanuel had said about Afia being able to figure out who controlled the spider, and Braith placing Gretchen with Afia. If Afia had found out and told Gretchen, then that could be why they were taken. And she had a good idea of who took them. The metal remained solid. Rhian shivered as her body temperature dropped. She placed her hand on a wall and siphoned more heat from the building¡¯s electrics. The lights flickered. It wasn¡¯t working. She stopped. ??¡°What are you doing, Rhian?¡± Alaric Strumbottom¡¯s voice played in her head. She looked around. Don¡¯t think anything weird, don¡¯t think anything weird¡­ Alaric walked out from a corner chuckling. ¡°Saying bod yn mynd, be gone, is enough to kick a telepath out¡­but your way works as well.¡± Rhian backed away from the door. ¡°What are you doing outside the dorms? It¡¯s almost lights out?¡± ¡°I could ask the same to you.¡± ¡°I need an egg.¡± Alaric studied her with sparkling blue eyes and rubbed his chin. He could chisel stone with that jaw. It was no wonder Gretchen fancied him. Bod yn mynd, bod yn mynd¡­ He smiled and shook his head. ¡°Will pickled do?¡±
EPISODE 4 Rhian pushed down on the pestle, grinding the ingredients together by candle light. The fly was the grossest part though Alaric¡¯s vinegary egg came a close second. He¡¯d been good about not asking questions, though perhaps he already knew what she was up to and was waiting for her to verbally share. And why didn¡¯t she, they¡¯re all friends. Ugh. Rhian squished the egg chunks into the sugar. She was being foolish. It was Gareth behind this if it was anyone. Still?¡ª?with Gretchen and Afia out there somewhere, best not to take any risks. Bronze figurettes clicked around a Victorian bed-side clock?¡ª?an hour until midnight. Rhian scraped the paste into a mini cauldron with a pink comb that she swore to herself she¡¯d wash later. A little heat and a quick stir later and the vanquishing potion was complete. She filled four glass vials, stuck in their stoppers and put two in each pocket of her Crymych School of Druidic Sorcery issued pyjamas, grabbed her non-issued puffy coat, slipped on her wellys and practiced pronouncing ¡®ffrwydro¡¯ under her breath as she crept down the dormitory hall. The twisting stairwell was dim. She ran her palm along the bumpy stone. The top of her plastic wellington boots pressed against her shin with each careful step. The foyer waited through the Norman archway cast in an orange light. Rhian hesitated on the last step. Muddy boot prints led from the where she stood to the grand doors where a scrap of parchment stuck above one of the handles. Rhian swallowed and followed. She leant forward to read the paper careful not to dislodge it. The word ¡®Natgloi¡¯ was written in a messy hand under a drawing of a key. Rhian reached to try to door and found it unlocked. The culprit may be out there, but it may mean her friends were still alive?¡ª?for now. Fear and hope swelled inside her. She stormed down the slab steps and ran down the lit cobbled path. Past well-kept gardens of fruit trees and knotted stones, Rhian jogged over devil¡¯s bridge. The rush of the river blending with her huffs for breath. On each side of the single lane road were trees older than King Arthur, probably even older than the Celts. Their canopies blotted out the stars and moonlight. Rhian braced herself against her legs and panted for breath. A blue flame blinked into existence a few feet into the darkness. Rhian conjured her own flame in her hand, casting a warm halo around her. A stout creature little more than three-feet high held a long stick attached to a lantern. The lantern¡¯s blue flame swung as it waited. This she remembered from Mystical History. P¨²cas were known to lead travellers to either fortune or trouble, depending on how they felt about the one following them. Gretchen would be proud?¡ª?will be proud, when she told her. ¡°Could you bring me to my friends, please?¡± Rhian called out gently. ¡°I¡¯d really appreciate it. I¡¯m told there¡¯s a spider?¡± The p¨²ca¡¯s flame jostled as he moved out from her fire¡¯s aura. Rhian followed through a passageway of trees. Sticks snapped under her weight. The p¨²ca kept an even distance from her, waiting when needed. ¡°Have you seen anyone else passing through tonight?¡± It didn¡¯t answer. She so hoped he was bringing her to where she wanted and not walking her off a cliff. After some time the p¨²ca stopped and its flame extinguished. Leaves rustled above. Rhian held her hand up brightening the trees. A massive cobweb stretched across four of them. Body shaped cocoons hung along its centre. Rhian gasped and stepped backward tripping over a root and falling on her bottom. Her fire puffed out. More rustling in the canopies and a clicking sound. Her heart pounded. She tried to heat her hand but the chill of fear prevented any flame from forming. Her eyes began to adjust, but the darkness was too thick to make anything out. Get mad, she commanded herself, arms shaking. She pictured her parents sat in a camper having sacrificed everything?¡ª?for what? For her to get eaten by an overgrown house pest? That slime Gareth led Afia and Gretchen out here to die just because they were born in an area different than him?¡ª?and for what? Some stupid scholarship? To fit some nationalistic vision?¡ª?a region looking and sounding like he pictured it did a thousand years ago? Bugger him and bugger his vision! Rhian pushed herself up. A tower of flames rose from her palm. Fire reflected in eight round eyes. She gritted her teeth and pushed the fear down. A hairy spider crawled down the top of the web. Its fangs as long as her forearm. ¡°Gretchen? Afia?¡± Rhian called out. The spider clicked as it scurried over to the people-shaped snacks it had wrapped up. Rhian skin crawled begging her to blast the disgusting creature, but she held herself back. The cocoon fell from the web. The body landed on its back, it had been wrapped like a mummy, with each limb separate. The spider moved to another, dropping its strange fruit until three silk-spun forms lay at the root of the tree. It stared at her waiting with its shiny black eyes. Rhian reached into her pocket and pulled out vial. She crept forward.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Ffrwydro!¡± She flung it at the eight-legged beast.The spider reeled and lifted its front legs. But it didn¡¯t explode. ¡°Ffrwydra?¡± The spider emitted a shriek. The first of the cocoons pushed itself up. Rhian backed away. ¡°Hello? Are you okay?¡± It staggered toward her, arms out, each finger delicately bound. The second rose, then the third. Her firelight shone on silken strings connecting each body back to the creature. The spider clicked and dropped itself down to the earth. Eight feet high and double that long, it skittered forward using it¡¯s puppets as a shield. Rhian¡¯s fire began to sputter. The spider¡¯s doll reached for her neck. Her ability failed. She shoved the sticky cocoon back and ran. Stumbling through the dark, she groped trees as she passed. Clicking followed behind. She wasn¡¯t sure which way to go. ¡°P¨²ca! P¨²ca, please¡­¡± She gasped for breath. ¡°Help me out of here!¡± Rhian did the breaststroke through the dark, eyes straining for a source of light. Her foot caught under a root. She fell flat to the forest floor, sticks and stones dug into her ribs. Her doom loomed near skittering through foliage with cricket-like chirps. She tugged her leg to try and free it. Sticky silk splatted across her bare neck. She pulled her foot from her boot, flipped herself over and scrambled back. She pulled out another vial and hummed it into the dark. ¡°Fryrow! Fforado! Ffugetit.¡± Dolls lumbered between the tree trunks. Rhian pushed herself up and hobbled as quick as she could manage in only one boot. She felt each twig and stone through her sock. Blue flashed in the distance. Rhian thanked whatever gods might be listening and ploughed toward it with uneven strides. The ground ceased to be beneath her. She fell through the icy water with a plunk. The river¡¯s current pulled Rhian down toward the bridge. Finding her footing she waded across and dug her fingers into the earthy bank. The river pulled away her remaining welly as she pulled herself out of the water and onto the school¡¯s neatly manicured grass. She shivered in her wet pyjamas and hugged her puffy coat. The chittering of the spider returned. Cocooned dolls ambled over the bridge, leading the spider via silken reigns. The massive arachnid crawled along the railings, a set of hairy bamboo-like legs on each side. Rhian ran across the lawn and up the stone steps with a thundering heart. Cold hands gripped the handle. With relief she found the door still unlocked. Her wet feet splatted across the stone tiles, through the archway and up the stairs to the teachers¡¯ dorms. She banged on the door to their hall. Chirping wafted up from downstairs. The sound of a latch being unbolted echoed through the stairwell. The door pulled back and a groggy Mrs Mackerel rubbed her eyes. ¡°Rhian? What is it?¡± Rhian wanted nothing more than to pull the door open further and barrel past her composition teacher to hide. ¡°The spider. It¡¯s followed me in.¡± Mrs Mackerel¡¯s brows scrunched down in confusion. ¡°Spider? What are you talking about?¡± ¡°It took Gretchen and Afia. I heard it was in the woods so I tried to find it to vanquish it.¡± Rhian reached into her pocket for her remaining vial. She stuck it out to her teacher. ¡°I tried, but it didn¡¯t work, I think I¡¯m saying it wrong, and it¡¯s down there right now¡­ and it has the others with them?¡ª?it has my friends.¡± Mrs Mackerel took the potion and glanced over her shoulder into the dormitory. ¡°You sure you mixed this right?¡± Rhian nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Mrs Mackerel slid past her down the stairway. ¡°Golau.¡± The lights brightened. Rhian followed behind her. ¡°By the goddess,¡± Mrs Mackerel muttered. She flung the vial toward the creature, ¡°Ffrwydro!¡± Her voice bounced off the walls. Silken threads wrapped around Rhian¡¯s legs pulling them out from under her. The spider spat more web and dragged Rhian across the stone. It¡¯s dolls swarmed Mrs Mackerel. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt them,¡± Rhian cried as she was pulled. ¡°I think they¡¯re the missing stud?¡ª?¡± The spider clicked. Rhian turned to see its fangs above her and eight black eyes. What a fool she¡¯d been going out on her own, what an idiot she was?¡ª?Rhian¡¯s palm grew hot, she blasted it with torrent of fire. The spider shrieked and reared up. It didn¡¯t even singe. ¡°Identify it.¡± Mrs Mackerel knocked the puppets back with a blast of air. ¡°Nodi, touch it and say Nodi.¡± Easier said than done. Rhian rolled just as the spider stabbed it¡¯s leg down at her. She heated her hand and melted the web that bound her. Scrambling up she dashed to the spider¡¯s side and lunged up at its hairy torso. Bristly under her palms, she called out ¡°Nodi¡±?¡ª?her eyes rolled back in her head, her vision blanked to white. Soil and spit.She landed on her back. Sight returned. No wonder her vanquish attempts failed. It wasn¡¯t a real spider, but a golem, crafted like Gretchen¡¯s squirrel. The spider-golem skittered toward Rhian for another attack. A blast of air blew over her. She pulled of her sock, spat on it and flung it onto its beady eyes. ¡°Ffrwydro!¡± The creation exploded into a shower of mud. Rhian shielded her face. ¡°Rhian, come here!¡± Mrs Mackerel leaned by one of the silk-spun bodies lay motionless on the stone. Rhian stumbled over and knelt down beside her teacher just as Mrs Mackerel tore open the silk. ¡°Gretchen¡­¡± Rhian brought a hand to her mouth. Feet stamped down the staircase. The teacher reached a finger to Gretchen¡¯s neck and waited. ¡°She¡¯s alive.¡± EPISODE 5
Eight adults crammed around Rhian in the Head Mistress¡¯ office.
¡°Tell us again how you got outside.¡± Mr. Jones, the crafting instructor, squinted his rabbit-like eyes. Rhian sighed. She¡¯d been questioned so long her pyjamas had begun to dry. ¡°There was a paper stuck to the door, it had a word on it.¡± ¡°What did it say?¡± Mr. Jones continued. ¡°I don¡¯t know, like I¡¯ve explained, it was in Welsh.¡± Ms. Rhys, the Welsh language teacher, clicked her tongue. ¡°But you knew enough Welsh to identify the creature as a golem?¡± ¡°I told Rhian what to say.¡± Mrs Mackerel moved from her standing spot by the door and rested her hand on the back of Rhian¡¯s chair. ¡°Now I think we¡¯ve gone through this enough. Let the poor girl wash up and get some rest.¡± Whispers passed between several members of staff. The headmistress waited for silence to return before passing her verdict. ¡°Very well, Apprentice. We¡¯ll send for you if there is more to discuss.¡± Rhian was followed by Mrs Mackerel out of the stuffy room. The stone floor was cool under one foot and crunchy under another. ¡°About tomorrow¡¯s¡­ well today¡¯s exam.¡± Mrs Mackerel covered a yawn. ¡°There¡¯s no need to attend. I¡¯m awarding you a score of eighty.¡± ¡°An eighty, Mrs?¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome to take the exam if you think you can do better on no sleep.¡± ¡°No, no eighty is fine. More than fine. Thank you.¡± The pair walked in step up the staircase. ¡°You know having an innate ability is more reason to study hard, not less. Don¡¯t waste your talent.¡± Rhian dug her hands into her coat. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. sorry, Mrs Mackerel.¡± They finished up the rest of the steps in quiet until they reached the door to the student dorms. ¡°Mrs Mackerel, about the students we found¡­ are they okay.¡± Rhian squeezed her hands into fists. She¡¯d not had an opportunity to check Gretchen over before being whisked away to the office. Mrs Mackerel however, had joined the interrogation late. Her composition teacher shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Rhian. Gretchen Wells should recover soon enough, but Afia Phillips remains in critical condition and the third, we were unable to identify.¡± ¡°I see,¡± said Rhian because she felt she should say something. The spider hadn¡¯t been real, so it wasn¡¯t eating them, golems don¡¯t eat. ¡°What was it doing to them?¡± Mrs Mackerel looked side to side. Her hesitation to answer made Rhian fear something unimaginable. ¡°Do not repeat this.¡± Mrs Mackerel leaned over beside Rhian¡¯s ear. ¡°The golem was siphoning their awen, stealing away their abilities. Be careful Miss Peregrine and get some rest.¡± Rhian nodded and entered the dorms in a daze. Dawn¡¯s light brightened the hall. She entered her room and threw her coat on the floor. Perhaps Katie Phan had the right of it. No education is worth all this, even a magical one. She pulled out a towel from her dresser. A hot shower and some sleep, then she¡¯d go check on her friends in the infirmary. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a spot of pride. It was touch and go, and incredibly foolish, but she¡¯d saved them. Rhian spotted a piece of folded parchment laid on her pillow. No one should have been in here. She picked it up and read. ¡°This is only the beginning. Now¡­ cysgu.¡± Rhian¡¯s eyes rolled back into her head. She felt herself fall. She was out before she landed.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
¡°Take this.¡± Gretchen shoved a wicker doll into Rhian¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s a protective talisman.¡± ¡°Thanks, Grez.¡± Rhian ran a finger over the smooth twigs twisted into straight limbs and a squarish head. The flow of students in the halls dried up to a small trickle. Gretchen gave a weak smile, and then flinched, hugging herself as an inconsiderate year eleven brushed by her. It¡¯d been three days since Gretchen was released from infirmary, but she still looked pale, her eyes less vibrant. She couldn¡¯t remember how she came to be in the cocoon, but the event had left her changed. Rhian figured it was a good thing she hadn¡¯t told her about the letter she¡¯d found. Gretchen already seemed stressed enough. Rhian walked her to the exam room and stopped outside the door. Gretchen pushed a stray strand behind her ear. ¡°Are you going to the memorial?¡± ¡°Yeah, of course. When your exam ends, I¡¯ll meet you out here, we¡¯ll go together.¡± Gretchen shook her head dislodging the hair she¡¯d just pushed back. ¡°I¡¯ve another make up after this. And there are some things I need to do first.¡± Library probably. Rhian¡¯s roommate had taken to spending every spare minute there, and after lights out Gretchen stayed up all night reading by torch. If she got anymore bookish, Rhian was going to have to start calling her Braith. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you, I¡¯m done for the day.¡± ¡°No.¡± Gretchen looked into the exam room and back. ¡°You should be there at the Memorial, for Afia. I¡¯ll meet you there as soon as I can.¡± Gretchen stepped into the classroom and stopped. ¡°Just¡­ be sure to take the talisman with you, wherever you go.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll even bring it in the loo, no worries Grez. Good luck on your test.¡± Rhian watched her roomy join the rest of the exam takers inside before resuming an aimless wander around the halls. She really had nothing to do, except maybe study but there was only so much of that a normal person could bear. No mobile phones, no internet, no TV. It was beginning to dawn on Rhian that prestigious might be code for boring?¡ª?it certainly wasn¡¯t for safe. ¡°Miss Peregrine.¡± The prim Ms.Landeg pointed her chin at her. ¡°Don¡¯t you have somewhere to be?¡± Rhian shrugged. ¡°Not really.¡± She looked around to see that she¡¯d wandered her way over toward the teachers¡¯offices?¡ª?a bureaucratic row of identical doors. Ms. Landeg studied her for a moment. ¡°Would you mind doing a task for me then? It¡¯s about Afia Phillips.¡± Rhian¡¯s heart sunk. ¡°Yes, of course.¡± ¡°Miss Phillips parents have expressed wishes to not return to Crymych, which leaves the matter of the girl¡¯s room. I¡¯d have asked her roommate?¡ª?¡± ¡°But Katie Phan¡¯s left.¡± Rhian muttered. ¡°Precisely. Running into you here, I thought perhaps¡­¡± ¡°Yes, yeah, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Rhian stared down at her black shoes whilst the Ms. Landeg instructed her on where to get boxes and where to put them when she¡¯d finished. Rhian nodded along until the teacher was satisfied she understood her task and moved on. Rhian headed dazedly to carry it out. It was eerie being in Afia¡¯s room. The air still smelt like her, all peppermint gum and sweet perfume. Her bedspread ruffled up as though she¡¯d just climbed out and would be returning to resume her sleep. Opposite, Katie Phan¡¯s bed lay stripped of linen, Katie¡¯s entire half of the room removed of all personal effects?¡ª?not that Afia¡¯d had many of her own. The school didn¡¯t allow much of that. Rhian started at Afia¡¯s desk, placing several notebooks in a box to be sent to her home. There was a pile of tomes in the corner?¡ª?library books mainly. Rhian placed them in another box to be returned to Ms. Landeg. Afterwards, feeling like an invader, she set upon the chestnut dresser. Each deep drawer shallowly lined with Afia¡¯s clothes. Rhian picked up the school issued pyjama¡¯s first and hesitated on which box to place them. The idea of someone else wearing her friend¡¯s clothes was disturbing?¡ª?into the box to her parents it went, followed by Afia¡¯s casual wear, spare uniform, socks, bras and knickers. The task felt like a violation of privacy and Rhian had difficulty shaking the uncomfortable mix of guilt and anger swelling inside her, even more so when she spotted the notebook that had been hidden beneath the clothing. Pink and blue stripped, Rhian ran her fingers down the smooth front. She shouldn¡¯t¡­ she wouldn¡¯t. Let Afia have at least this be private¡­ though if her parent¡¯s read it and something troubling is in it, perhaps Afia would have wanted her to screen for content?¡ª?Rhian shook her head and tossed it into the box. That sort of thing no longer mattered. A folded piece of parchment slipped from the notebook pages and fluttered onto the floor. Parchment like she¡¯d seen on the unlocked door, like she¡¯d seen on her pillow. Rhian snatched it up and unfolded it with warm fingers. Messy handwriting scrawled down the letter in uneven blocks. It was addressed to Afia, and the only parts of it written in English were swears, slurs and the word die. The paper trembled in Rhian¡¯s grip. It was signed, Gareth.
EPISODE 6
Out in the garden, stood within a halo of stone, Sabina Begum sang. The orange embers of the dying dusk cast the song weaver in a warm light as birds of every size and colour perched atop the henge in quiet regard. The whole school was there, stood silently encircling the sacred space. Rhian would have been impressed and proud of her friend finding the courage to sing publically if she wasn¡¯t so blooming angry. She scanned the crowd for Gareth, with two hundred and fifty students all dressed in matching blazers it wasn¡¯t an easy task. Between a pair of stone slabs Emmanuel and Lewis chatted with Gretchen. Grez must have finished up earlier than she¡¯d expected, that or Rhian had spent longer packing up Afia¡¯s things than she¡¯d thought. Rhian headed over, Gareth¡¯s letter bulging in her pocket. Wicker men hung from the boys¡¯ belt loops. Grez must have made a talisman for all of them. She¡¯s scared, and why wouldn¡¯t she be with Gareth still on the loose. Sabina hit a twittering high note and a chorus of birds joined in. The cord struck in Rhian¡¯s mind a truth she¡¯d been skirting around. She stopped and took in the scene, the mourning student body, worried staff, shy Sabina¡¯s elegy. Afia was dead, along with Julia Silva and who knows how many other students. Gone, never coming back, drained of their life energy by a mad man, until dead. It was almost Gretchen. It could have been her. It still could be with Gareth free. Rhian spied him not far from her group of friends, scowling. ¡°You did this!¡± Rhian stormed up. ¡°You¡¯re a murderer!¡± She shoved her hand into her pocket and snatched the letter. ¡°A monster. Don¡¯t even try to deny it.¡± Gareth looked around with red eyes before settling on her. ¡°Piss off.¡± Rhian held the paper up. ¡°I found this in Afia¡¯s room.¡± ¡°Did you read it?¡± ¡°I read enough to know you wanted her dead.¡± ¡°Merch twp,¡± Gareth muttered. ¡°You don¡¯t belong here.¡± There it was. Eight people dead because of Gareth Harris¡¯ bigotry. A tower of flame shot up from Rhian¡¯s palm. ¡°What gives you the right to decide that?¡± The singing stopped and birds took flight. Flame and fear flashed in Gareth¡¯s eyes, but a credit to either his braveness or stupidity, he stood his ground. He squared his shoulders and glared. ¡°You not being able to read decided that.¡± He put out his hand. ¡°Give it to me.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Rhian, stop. You¡¯re wrong about Gareth,¡± Alaric Strumbottom invaded her mind. Rhian¡¯s tower shrank as she looked around. Teachers pushed through students. He killed her. ¡°He didn¡¯t. He loved her.¡± Gareth¡¯s shoulder collided into Rhian¡¯s chest. Air shot from her lungs and her flame sputtered out. He snatched the letter from her hand. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Mr Jones, the crating instructor, was the first teacher to arrive, smelling of clay and looking like an overgrown rabbit. ¡°She attacked me.¡± Gareth shoved Afia¡¯s letter into his trouser pocket. ¡°Aye, no need to be dramatic, Mr Harris. If Ms Peregrine did more than peacock, it¡¯d be evident. Unless you have a fire resistance?¡± ¡°No, sir.¡± ¡°There we are then. Now give to me what you took from her.¡± Mr Jones put out his hand. ¡°And Ms Peregrine stay where you stand. Your behaviour here has been most unacceptable.¡± Rhian rubbed her chest. As if she¡¯d go anywhere. ¡°I found that letter in Afia¡¯s room, the hands the same as the charm on the door that night. He threatens her in it and?¡ª?¡± Mr Jones put up a palm. ¡°What were you doing in Ms Phillips room? Nevermind, we¡¯ll get to you in a moment.¡± The crafting instructor scanned the parchment. Across from her Gareth¡¯s shoulders slumped, and his face flushed. They got him. She got him. Relief lightened her chest. Afia would have justice and this nightmare would be over. Mr Jones coughed and refolded the paper. He handed it back to Gareth. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Rhian¡¯s mouth dropped.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Mr Harris, you may go.¡± Gareth squeezed the letter in his hand and slunk off. A wicker man hung from his belt loop. Rhian stared at it as he disappeared behind a group of spectators. Gretchen knew she suspected Gareth why give him a protection talisman too? Rhian looked for her by the henge but she was no longer there. ¡°You¡¯re ignorance of our language is astounding Ms Peregrine. I had my suspicions before, but your inability to read is most evident now.¡± ¡°I read English well enough. Why are you just letting him go?¡± ¡°English without context. Please leave the investigating to us. For now it¡¯d be best for you to return to your room, you¡¯ve caused enough disruption. People deserve to mourn in peace.¡± ¡°And the dead deserve justice. Afia was my friend.¡± ¡°So you say.¡± Mr Jone¡¯s eyes were unreadable. ¡°Return and await the Headmistress¡¯ summons.¡±
Abang woke Rhian up. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and turned to Gretchen¡¯s bed to find it empty but freshly made. Gretchen hadn¡¯t returned until after Rhian was asleep and now she left before Rhian woke. Rhian frowned. Could Gretchen be avoiding her? Another bang came from the hall. She stuffed her feet into some slippers and scuffed over to the door. Her eyes weren¡¯t the only pair peeking out from wooden frames. ¡°Everyone back to your rooms,¡± The house matron mimed shutting a door. A useless gesture as no one budged. Rhian¡¯s breath left her. Two paramedics in green jumpsuits carried a stretcher to the stairwell. A white sheet covered the body and face. It was supposed to be over. The note she¡¯d received flashed into her mind. She stepped into the hall. ¡°It was her!¡± Braith jabbed a finger. Her eyes rimmed with red. The house matron turned to Rhian as did all other eyes. ¡°She killed Sabina.¡± Rhian staggered back. ¡°Sabina?¡± ¡°I saw her in my room, wearing that stupid puffy coat of hers.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not true!¡± Rhian looked to see the other students staring at her. ¡°It isn¡¯t. She¡¯s lying.¡± There was a low murmur throughout the hall. ¡°¡­ just happened to know where to find them.¡± ¡°¡­ poor grades. Probably jealousy.¡± Rhian¡¯s skin began to warm. ¡°Who said that? Huh? Sabina, Gretchen, and Afia are my friends?¡ª?¡°Her voice dropped as she corrected herself. ¡°?¡ª?were my friends¡± She exhaled a shuddering breath and squeezed her ribs. The heavy boots of the paramedics disappeared down the stairwell. The house matron rested her hand on Rhain¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I think you should go back in your room.¡± She then raised her voice and turned to the girls. ¡°That goes for all of you.¡± Braith glared. Her nostrils flared. Rhian expected her to shout something else but instead her oh so perfect classmate slammed shut her door. A gesture Rhian quickly copied. She made a fist and punched the thick aged wood. How could Braith accuse her like that? Sure, she may not be the best student, but did Braith think so poorly of her as to believe she¡¯d kill her own friends? Rhian neck grew hot. Her ability became difficult to control when she was upset. She tried taking several deep breaths to chill herself out, but she was too angry. A rage burned inside her and it needed to come out. A murderer had taken Afia, tried to take Grez, and now Sabina. Sweet gentle Sabina was the first student to talk to her after she enrolled?¡ª?besides Gretchen, but as Rhian¡¯s roommate Grez had little choice in the matter. And thanks to Braith everyone will think she killed her. Sabina¡¯s parents will think she murdered their daughter. Rhian clutched the door frame and howled as bursts of flames poured out of her palms. The fire splashed against the door and flowed over the wall like a flooding river. It was probably Braith taking out the competition. She only accused her to take the heat of herself. Or Gareth. Why was everyone so certain of his innocence? He loved Afia?¡ª?what nonsense was that? He was awful to her. All the students targeted that she knew of were non-Welsh, and Gareth¡¯s disdain towards non-Welsh students was well known. She sighed. Her flames sputtered out into smoke. The walls undamaged. Maybe Gareth was right, and she didn¡¯t belong here. She was rubbish at spell casting. Her grades were appalling. All she had was an innate ability and compared to the other special students it was nothing grand. She could make fire?¡ª?so what, so can lighters, ovens, matches. It couldn¡¯t prevent her friends getting hurt. Or help her figure out who was responsible. The arms of her Victorian bed-side clock pointed to eight and three. Rhian kicked off her slippers and walked over to her wardrobe to get out her standard issue leisure wear. As she reached for the hanging grey sweatpants her eye drifted toward a vacant space?¡ª?a space where her puffy coat should be. She looked to the bottom of the wooden wardrobe then to her bed. There was a knock on her door. Rhian glanced back at her dresser as she made her way over. The door opened before she reached it. ¡°Hello,¡± said a female police officer with a blonde ponytail tucked under a round black bowler hat. ¡°Rhian Peregrine? We¡¯re with the Heddlu. We have a few questions. I¡¯m going to need you to come with us.¡±
Did you enjoy this week chapter? Let me know. Diolch! (That¡¯s Welsh for thanks.??)
EPISODE 7 Please take a seat.¡± The female officer gestured toward the all too familiar waiting room of the Headmistress¡¯s office before following her male partner back out into the hall. Their walkie talkies crackled. Someone in the village had lost a sheep. The green cushion slowly deflated as Rhian sat down. This was her third visit this week. Soon she¡¯d be on a first name basis with the secretary; a kind old woman who was currently asking another student, across the room, if he¡¯d care for a tea or coffee. ¡°That¡¯d be lovely,¡± the student answered ¡°Tea, please. Milk no sugar.¡± It was Alaric. What was Alaric doing being questioned by the police, was he a suspect? Was she? Rhian requested a tea as well when asked, though she wasn¡¯t in the mood for one. Her head was already jumbled with anxious thoughts. She knew she wasn¡¯t behind the attacks and there was no way Alaric was involved. He was too good a guy. ¡°Thanks.¡± Rhian shot a look to Alaric. He half-grinned back. ¡°I never suspected you either,¡± he said inside of her head. Why are you here? ¡°My roommate.¡± Rhian raised a brow. Alaric didn¡¯t have a roommate. His telepathy made the others students weary about bunking with him. Nervous he¡¯d see their pervy dreams or something. Alaric smirked and Rhian realised he was still reading her thoughts. ¡°Joo-won. The new student from South Korea. Late entry. I believe you met him.¡± The Gumiho? Rhian took a sharp breath. Is he¡­ ¡°Missing.¡± Rhian brought her hand to her mouth. Two students targeted in one day. ¡°No,¡± said Alaric. ¡°Not like the other students. All of his stuff is missing too. He¡¯s left.¡± No way. Rhian tried to think back to their meeting in the library. There didn¡¯t seem to be anything suspicious about him, other than being very attractive?¡ª?which Gretchen warned was part of his ability. Could he be the one killing her classmates? Gretchen did say Gumihos ate gizzards or something and could shape shift. Maybe he shape shifted into her when he went after Sabina and that was why Braith claimed to have seen her. ¡°Livers,¡± corrected Alaric, eavesdropping again. ¡°and come now, Rhian. Just because Joo-won is descended from a Gumiho doesn¡¯t mean he eats livers. You don¡¯t hoard treasure and steal beautiful maidens, do you?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Rhian said aloud, earning her an odd look from the secretary who was returning with their teas. ¡°You know, because you¡¯re descended from a dragon? It¡¯s a stereotype about dragons, I apologise if I¡¯ve offended you.¡± Alaric¡¯s eyes slowly widened. He turned away and looked at his lap. ¡°Ah¡­ you didn¡¯t know. I presumed you did. The administration does. It¡¯s where your fire ability comes from. But back to the matter at hand, no. Joo-won can¡¯t shape shift into other people and he was still in Korea when the disappearances started.¡± Then why did he run? ¡°Spooked I guess.¡± The Heddlu returned with another student whom they requested sit and took Alaric into the office. The new arrival stared down at his knees. He tucked his mousy brown hair behind an ear, revealing a light dusting of freckles across his face. Rhian didn¡¯t recognise him which meant he didn¡¯t have a special ability?¡ª?else she would have seen him in Ms Landeg power controlling class. Would that make him safer? Mrs Mackerel had said the spider golem was syphoning awen and stealing abilities. Or did it make him a suspect? The other student noticed her staring and raised an eyebrow. Rhian snapped her eyes back to her own lap. ¡°They found him,¡± Alaric updated her through the walls. ¡°At a Bed and Breakfast in Carmarthen.¡± Rhian nodded. It was strange having someone speak inside her mind. While she appreciated the information, she really needed to think privately about things?¡ª?like, was she really descended from a dragon? Why didn¡¯t anyone tell her? Did her Dad know? What was the word Alaric had told her to banish a telepath? Would it be rude to use it now? Did he hear this? ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± said Alaric. ¡°its bod yn mynd. I don¡¯t normally invade people¡¯s heads. I¡¯m just¡­ it¡¯s a strange situation. I¡¯m sorry, Rhian.¡± Yep. He heard it. And she¡¯d made him sad. Grez would never forgive her. ¡°One more thing though, and then I want you to think bod yn mynd and banish me. Sabina is alive.¡±If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Rhian sat up straight. Are you sure? I saw her being carried out. She was covered by a sheet. ¡°They wanted to hide her face. There was a¡­ significant injury. She¡¯s in serious condition, but she¡¯s alive. And you know what that means?¡± It meant her friend was still alive. There was still hope. Relief washed over her. ¡°It means,¡± Alaric said, answering his own question, ¡°she might be able to tell us who attacked her.¡± Of course! And not just her; whoever attacked Sabina was most likely behind all the attacks. How do you know this? ¡°Your thoughts aren¡¯t the only ones leaking out. Now say the words, please.¡± Bod yn mynd. Rhian¡¯s mind went quiet. She mouthed the words thank you to Alaric as the male officer led him out of the office and into the hall. He tipped his head as to say you¡¯re welcome. The heddlu brought her in next. The female officer in the bowler cap smiled from behind the headmistress¡¯ polished oak desk. The headmistress loomed in the corner of the room wearing a black frock and a stern expression. Rhian took a seat in an uncomfortable wooden chair. It was Braith¡¯s fault she¡¯d been brought in. The police took turns asking questions about Sabina. How long had they known each other? Did the two of them ever have any disagreements or fights? Was there anyone who might want to hurt Miss Begum? It seemed they knew nothing about the other students and were only aware of Sabina due to the ambulance being called. The headmistress butted in on occasion to stir the conversation away from the supernatural and spiders. The entire meeting was a farce. Seemingly satisfied they were getting nowhere, the officers excused themselves leaving Rhian alone with the school head. Where most people might smooth down their unmanageable hair, the headmistress flicked her silver mane out. She tsked and lowered herself into her rightful seat. ¡°There¡¯s another matter we need to discuss before I can allow you back to your quarters, Miss Peregrine.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Rhian¡¯s jaw tightened to keep her from saying something she might regret, because there was a multitude of things she¡¯d like to discuss as well, starting with what is the school doing to catch the psycho attacking students and why were they failing so hard. ¡°I¡¯m afraid, in the best interest of the school, that I must exclude you from attending classes for the time being.¡± The warmth inside Rhian chilled. ¡°You what?¡± ¡°Other students have raised concerns. They feel uncomfortable with your presence, given your connection with the on-going situation.¡± Rhian was gobsmacked. ¡°Braith was lying. Or mistaken. I wasn¡¯t in her room. I¡¯ve never been in her room.¡± The headmistress raised a palm to shush her. Each finger of her hand wore a ring. ¡°Miss Evan¡¯s outburst this morning aside, an incident between you and Mr Harris during the memorial was also reported?¡ª?¡± ¡°He wrote Afia a threatening letter before she was murdered.¡± ¡°Please allow me to finish. You also broke curfew and left the building without permission.¡± ¡°And found the spider. I saved Gretchen¡¯s life! If I hadn¡¯t gone searching for her, she¡¯d have died because it¡¯s quite clear that you are doing nothing to keep us safe!¡± ¡°Miss Peregrine, please calm yourself. That chair was a gift to this institution from Henry IIV.¡± Rhian looked down to see steam rising off her. ¡°Sorry.¡± She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ¡°This is ridiculous. There is a killer out there, hunting us down one by one?¡ª?¡± The headmistress raised her palm again. ¡°I assure you, we are doing everything we can to ensure the perpetrator is caught. Until then, it is in everyone¡¯s best interest, including your own, that you refrain from attending classes. You may still attend meals at the cafeteria and access the gym, library, and school grounds. You will be expected to maintain curfew. Do I have your understanding?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Rhian gritted her teeth. ¡°Despite your circumstances, you¡¯ll of course be expected to maintain an acceptable grade point average to continue attending here at Crymych. I suggest you use the time away from class for independent study and not consider it free time.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious. How am I supposed to teach myself?¡± Rhian struggled enough keeping up with the other year tens with the help of fully- fledged druids and bards to instruct her. It¡¯d be impossible to progress on her own. If she wasn¡¯t getting taught, why was she even there? ¡°Some students find they learn better when left to their own devices,¡± said the headmistress. ¡°You may find you¡¯re one of them.¡± ¡°And if I¡¯m not? Who knows how long it¡¯ll take you to find the one responsible. What if I?¡ª?¡ª will my parents be able to get a refund?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not.¡± ¡°What if I left now, could they be refunded for the rest of the year at least?¡± ¡°Miss Peregrine, it is not our policy to issue reimbursements for student places that have already been accepted and paid for. Frankly, it saddens me you¡¯d so easily give up a rare opportunity such as attending this school over something as trivial as private study time.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Rhian glared. ¡°Why should I let something as trivial as my friends being murdered and potential expulsion upset me? I should be cool about it?¡ª?reptilian. After all, I have the blood of dragons. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± The headmistress raised an eyebrow. She wasn¡¯t expecting that. Rhian gave a hard smirk. ¡°That¡¯s right. You may go now, Miss Peregrine. I¡¯ll let you know when circumstances change.¡± Rhian stormed out. It was completely unfair. Concerns? Uncomfortable? She made a flame in her palm and extinguished it with a clenched fist. When she found out who was responsible, she¡¯d?¡ª?she¡¯d do nothing. What could she do that wouldn¡¯t get her in worse trouble? Her parents had sacrificed everything to get her into Crymych. If she was kicked out before even finishing her first year, what would they have to show for it? Two girls stood outside Braith and Sabina¡¯s room. They whispered when they saw her then scurried away. They¡¯d left a pair of snowdrop flowers, with drooping white petals and soft green stalks, taped to the door. There were other items stuck around it, handmade cards, drawings, and handwritten letters. Sabina would be moved. Rhian entered into her dorm. Gretchen still wasn¡¯t there. Had she come back at all? Rhian walked over to Gretchen¡¯s side of the room. It almost felt as if Grez was avoiding her. Which was strange, all things considered, and unfortunate, because Rhian could really do with talking to her. Her bed was neatly made. Two stacks of library tomes sat on her desk. And Rhian¡¯s missing puffy coat lay on the floor beside her dresser. The coat Braith had said she saw Rhian wearing in her room before Sabina was attacked.
EPISODE #8 [Season Finale]
The late afternoon sun beamed through the library¡¯s windows, highlighting the dusty air. Rhian marched through it, leaving a trail of fiery footprints behind her. ¡°Rhian, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Emmanuel looked up from the book he¡¯d been studying. ¡°H-how are you doing that?¡± Lewis lifted his head up from the table he¡¯d been snoozing on. ¡°Neat.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Grez?¡± Rhian opened her palm. Her fiery prints lifted from the floor and disappeared into her hand. ¡°Just missed her,¡± said Lewis. ¡°You two having a row?¡± ¡°She left about fifteen minutes ago,¡± Emmanuel closed his book. ¡°She was camped out in the awen section. Didn¡¯t want to be disturbed.¡± ¡°Is she avoiding me? Do you know? She¡¯s hardly ever in our room.¡± ¡°I think she¡¯s avoiding everyone,¡± said Lewis. ¡°Everyone deals with things in their own way, you know?¡± He pulled out a chair. ¡°Come on, Rhi, take a seat.¡± Rhian plopped down. ¡°What are you two working on?¡± ¡°A list,¡± said Emmanuel. ¡°A list of what?¡± Lewis smiled. ¡°Suspects.¡± Emmanuel slid a folded over newspaper over to Rhian. The page ranked the top fifty students in each year. ¡°I didn¡¯t know we had a school newspaper.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I said.¡± Lewis laughed. The top three names were crossed out; each had a symbol drawn beside them. The top name, Dafydd Thomas, had a question mark. The next, Katie Phan, had a triangle. And the third, Julia Silva, had a cross. The fourth name, untouched, was Gareth Harris. ¡°Gareth is at the top of our class?¡± ¡°I know,¡± said Lewis, ¡°brawn and brains. Who would have guessed.¡± ¡°If our theory is correct,¡± said Emmanuel. ¡°He¡¯s at the top of our killer¡¯s list as well.¡± ¡°Or he is the killer.¡± Rhian glared at his name before reading on. ¡°Who is number five? Edward Lethe?¡± Both boys shook their heads. ¡°Alaric is number six,¡± said Emmanuel. ¡°And I¡¯m eighth. But I suspect we¡¯ll both be safe.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s Gareth and he¡¯s ranked ahead of you?¡± Rhian looked to each of them. ¡°Because neither of us have applied for the Owain scholarship.¡± ¡°Gretchen is number nine.¡± Lewis tapped his finger on her name. Rhian scanned the rest of the list. Braith the boffin was only ranked eleventh. That was surprising. Afia was twenty-sixth, Sabina thirty-eight, and Lewis was forty-seven. Her own name wasn¡¯t there. ¡°How recent is this paper?¡± ¡°Came out last term.¡± Emmanuel pulled the paper back to him and pointed to the other crossed out names. ¡°These are the other missing students. Delia Roberts number seven, Tristan Hughes number ten, and Kaito Sasaki number fifteen. The rest have been accounted for.¡± ¡°How do you know people are being picked because of the scholarship? Afia and Sabina are both in the bottom half of the ranking.¡± Rhian frowned. ¡°Please be careful.¡± ¡°Yeah, but Afia was roommates with Katie Phan wasn¡¯t she?¡± Lewis pointed to the number two spot. ¡°Could have been an accident.¡± ¡°Or Afia may have seen something with her ability,¡± added Emmanuel. Rhian stared at the list of names. Her parents had to sell their house to ensure she¡¯d have enough to complete her schooling at Crymych. Was someone on this list really killing their classmates so that they could afford attendance? And if so, the Owain scholarship only paid for one year of tuition, what was the killer¡¯s plan for the next year? ¡°This is mental,¡± Rhian shook her head. ¡°Who do you think it is?¡± Emmanuel and Lewis exchanged glances. ¡°We¡¯re not sure,¡± said Emmanuel. ¡°I think its number 16, Alexis Tuttle,¡± Lewis shot Emmanuel a look. Emmanuel glared. ¡°I told you already, it¡¯s not Alexis. She wouldn¡¯t hurt anybody.¡± ¡°Just because you fancy her, Mate, doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s not a killer.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not why.¡± ¡°So you admit that you fancy her?¡± ¡°Boys.¡± Rhian cleared her throat. ¡°Focus.¡± She summoned a small ball of fire and passed it from one hand to another. ¡°What If we set a trap? Spread a rumour that I¡¯m going to be selected for the Owain scholarship.¡± Lewis frowned. ¡°Rhi¡­¡± ¡°I know my grades aren¡¯t good, but ranking isn¡¯t the only factor into getting selected, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Emmanuel raised an eyebrow. ¡°Sure. Community work and notable achievements are also considered.¡± ¡°I took down the spider golem. I¡¯d say that¡¯s pretty notable. And I won¡¯t be attending classes for a while, so there will be plenty of opportunity to gossip about me.¡± Rhian gave a short laugh before explaining what the Headmistress had told her. She extinguished her fireball. Lewis shook his head. ¡°That sucks.¡± Emmanuel frowned. ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as you think. The Welsh class and power controlling class are more heavily weighted than electives. As non-fluent Welsh speakers with abilities, we have more opportunity to earn a higher grade point average. That¡¯s part of why Gareth and other native speakers are annoyed.¡± ¡°More of an opportunity to fail harder, more like.¡± Rhian shook her head. ¡°But I can¡¯t worry about that right now, and if we manage to catch the monster who killed Afia and the others, I won¡¯t need to. So, does it sound like a plan?¡± The boys looked at each other. ¡°If you¡¯re?¡ª?¡° A loud bang came from the window, followed by another. Rhian and the others jumped up from their seats. Black feathers and blood smeared down the library¡¯s tall glass windows. More birds followed. ¡°What in the world¡­¡± Emmanuel staggered back. ¡°It could be Sabina.¡± Rhian¡¯s gaze skipped window to window as magpies and speckled sparrows pelted themselves against the glass. ¡°She may be trying to tell us something from the hospital, like who the killer is.¡± Lewis turned away from the assault. ¡°Or maybe it¡¯s a warning.¡±
The boy from the Headmistress¡¯ office tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. ¡°You need to remember this time.¡± He leaned forward pressing his face close to hers. ¡°You will remember won¡¯t you?¡± Rhian shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. I?¡ª?¡± Her throat began to tighten. ¡°I can¡¯t breathe. He-help¡± Her voice grew weak. She struggled for air. Edward Lethe shook his head and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± He faded to smoke and disappeared. Rhian¡¯s eyes flicked open to see a giant wicker man hunched over her with its twisted wickerwork arms pressed against her neck. She sent a burst of fire at the creature. The flare momentarily brightened up the darkened room but little else. The room¡¯s fire wards protected everything in it. She¡¯d have sworn, if she had the breath to waste. Rhian tugged and pulled on its limbs, but it was too strong. Her chest grew tight from lack of air. A shriek came from the door way. ¡°Ffrwydro!¡± The wicker man exploded into a thousand splinters. Rhian sat up gasping for breath. Stood by the door, in her dressing gown, was Braith Evans.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°Are you alright?¡± asked Braith. Rhian rubbed her neck; relieved to have air flowing back through it. ¡°Yeah, I think so.¡± She coughed. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°The same type of crafted monster that attacked Sabina.¡± Braith gripped a vial of presumably vanquishing potion. ¡°She had a wicker talisman someone gave to her. It was supposed to be for protection, but while we slept, it?¡ª?¡° Braith shook her head. ¡°Where did you get it?¡± Rhian rubbed the sleep from her eyes and gazed across the room to the still empty bed. ¡°Gretchen.¡± ¡°Jiw.¡± Braith cursed. ¡°Did she give any to anyone else?¡± ¡°Emmanuel, Lewis¡­ I saw Gareth with one.¡± Rhian rose from bed. ¡°Braith what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I think your roommate is killing our classmates, or rather, crafting creatures to do it for her.¡± ¡°Gretchen wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Where is she then?¡± Rhian shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. Come on now, for all we know the rest of your friends are being smothered as we speak.¡± Rhian slipped on her slippers and chased Braith down the hall. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°To the boy¡¯s dorm. She may be headed there to activate the other talismans?¡ª?if she hasn¡¯t already.¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t make any sense. The killer kidnapped Gretchen. She was in a cocoon. It can¡¯t be her.¡± ¡°Who else could it be?¡± asked Braith. ¡°I thought it was you after I spotted you leaving my room. But this makes more sense. Maybe she was using the cocoon to absorb the stolen awen? Your roommate is very good at crafting isn¡¯t she?¡± They jogged down the stairs into the main lobby. Braith had seen Rhian in her room, but it wasn¡¯t her and her coat was on Gretchen¡¯s side of the room. Had Gretchen tried to frame her? No, Grez wouldn¡¯t. Although, she was acting suspiciously lately and she was the last to be seen with Afia. ¡°Braith, don¡¯t you think we should tell the teachers? If the boys are in trouble, I could run and grab Ms Mackerel or Ms Landeg.¡± ¡°And leave me alone? I¡¯m not like you and your roommate. I don¡¯t have some natural ability that I can just conjure up in an instant. It takes time, expertise, and awen to conduct proper spell work. You¡¯d be leaving me completely defenceless. And after I saved you.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go togeth?¡ª?¡± Braith shushed her. ¡°There she is.¡± Stood at the bottom of the stairwell to the boys¡¯ dorm, clutching a small wicker talisman and paper, was Gretchen. ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­¡± Rhian whispered to herself. ¡°Quick blast her.¡± Braith reached into her dressing gown pockets. ¡°I-I¡¯m not going to do that!¡± Gretchen spotted them. ¡°Rhian?¡± ¡°Only to distract her long enough for me to trap her,¡± said Braith. ¡°Then we¡¯ll go fetch the teachers.¡± She pulled out a piece of chalk and began chanting over it in Welsh. ¡°Amddiffyn,¡± commanded Gretchen. She dropped the wicker figure on to the stone floor where it increased in size until it was the height and girth of a full grown man. The wicker man lumbered toward them. Braith broke from her spell casting, ¡°Now!¡± Rhian shot a torrent of fire at the creature. Flames covered its surface and licked at the air. It staggered forward. ¡°Grez, why are you doing this?¡± Rhian sent out another burst. Lights flickered. The wicker man collapsed into fire and ash. ¡°I think you know why,¡± said Grez. Icicles rained down in front of Rhian creating a fence of ice. Gretchen ran. ¡°Not so fast.¡± Rhian conjured a ring of fire, trapping them all in the lobby. ¡°I have a lot of questions for you.¡± She melted the ice. ¡°Well done!¡± said Braith from the floor. ¡°Just a little bit longer.¡± She resumed muttering in Welsh as she drew in chalk around the ring. Gretchen summoned a wall of ice blocking Braith¡¯s path, but the sheet was thin. Braith shattered it with a kick and carried on. ¡°Why are you doing this, Rhian?¡± Gretchen looked drained. Her shoulders slumped. ¡°I thought we were friends.¡± ¡°What about Afia and Sabina? Weren¡¯t they our friends too? And the boys?¡± Rhian marched toward her. This wasn¡¯t right. Gretchen had shown way more power than this in their power controlling class. She didn¡¯t seem to be holding back. Had she not recovered from the spider attack? ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Gretchen cried. ¡°I just want my awen back.¡± She waved the paper she was holding. ¡°You said if I met you here, you¡¯d return it.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t write that. It has my name on it?¡± ¡°Well, no.¡± Gretchen looked at the note. ¡°but here you are.¡± ¡°Done.¡± Braith stood and wiped the chalk from her hands. A realisation struck Rhian. She let down her fire wall. ¡°Braith, how did you know that the spider was stealing awen?¡± Braith pulled a small twig from her dressing gown pocket and dropped it on the chalk. ¡°Baglu.¡± She smiled. The stalk spread along the chalk line at incredible speed. Vines branched off from every direction and slid toward Rhian and Gretchen. Rhian sliced them with a blade of fire but they continued unheeded. Braith laughed. ¡°It took me a little longer, but I added an elemental protection. Thanks for your help with that, Rhian.¡± Several offshoots descended upon Rhian at once. The vines tied up her feet and legs then wrapped their way up her body. Gretchen fared no better. ¡°It¡¯s an entanglement spell. We need to dispel it and break the circle.¡± Rhian wiggled and tried to push out her arms. She tried once again to burn the plant away but her fire did nothing. ¡°This can¡¯t be happening, not twice in one night.¡± ¡°Twpsyn,¡± Braith spat. Her eyes burned with disgust. ¡°Idiot. The fates really are cruel aren¡¯t they? Gifting a ffwl like you with such undeserved power. At least the Yorkshire girl bothered to learn the language. I was casting your undoing right beside you and you hadn¡¯t the faintest.¡± ¡°Braith, you don¡¯t have to do this,¡± Gretchen said weakly. ¡°You¡¯re already so strong. Let us go.¡± The vines tightened, causing Rhian to gasp. ¡°I¡¯m not strong,¡± said Braith. ¡°You¡¯ve just grown weaker.¡± She tossed seeds of clay out of her pocket onto the floor by their feet. Eight pairs of legs popped out of their sides. ¡°Of course, after I finish draining Rhian of her awen and avenging her death by killing you, I think my strength and chances at the scholarship will be much improved.¡± Two dozen tiny clay spiders crawled up Rhian¡¯s legs. ¡°Braith, stop this!¡± She looked to Gretchen, whose feet were already covered in a single silken boot. Braith cast her a cool look. ¡°Tell me where to find Edward Lethe.¡± ¡°I-I have no idea,¡± cried Rhian. ¡°I don¡¯t know who that is.¡± ¡°Pity.¡± Braith tossed out another handful of baby spiders. The light caught on the strings of web connecting them to Braith as they scurried up the stairs to the boys¡¯ dorm and slipped under the door. ¡°Hopefully, my act of heroism tonight will be enough to put me in my rightful place at the top.¡± The door to the boys¡¯ dorm opened and closed. ¡°Hel?¡ª?¡± cried Rhian and Gretchen in unison before a vine wrapped itself around their mouths to gag them. ¡°Enough of that,¡± Braith said. Tiny spiders climbed atop the vine just under Rhian¡¯s nose. She let out a muffled scream. Footsteps thundered down the stairs. Hope for rescue fluttered in Rhian¡¯s chest then sunk when she saw Gareth Harris stood at the bottom of the stairs. Braith greeted him in Welsh. He replied. And then the two began conversing. Rhian tried shifting her head to Gretchen to ask what they were saying but all that came out was muffled speech that sounded like how Welsh words were spelt. Alaric, can you hear me? Alaric? Help! Rhian repeated her inner-thoughts frantically, in hopes of grabbing the telepath¡¯s attention. But she received no reply. Gareth looked to Rhian. ¡°Well, that¡¯s very interesting, Braith. But you see, the wicker man you gave me tried to kill me in my sleep not even five minutes ago. This twpsyn,¡± he pointed to Rhian, ¡°is so awful at Welsh, she can barely spell cast¡± and this one,¡± he gestured to Gretchen, ¡°well, look at her. She¡¯s clearly still anaemic from the last time you tried to kill her. You¡¯re malu cachu. And you¡¯re going to regret what you did. I¡¯ll make sure of it.¡± ¡°Oh, he is capable of thought.¡± Braith brushed a curl from her shoulder. ¡°I guess your ranking isn¡¯t completely due to your ability. Which, by the way, is a bit brutish.¡± Gareth approached the circle. Braith stepped back. ¡°What are you going to do, hit me? I¡¯ll have the vines strangle these two before you land the blow. And then blame you for their deaths.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t hit a girl.¡± Gareth raised a knee and stomped down on the boundary stalk. He twisted it under his foot. ¡°Diddim.¡± The vines disintegrated to chalk dust. ¡°But I would¡± Gretchen shot a bolt of ice at Braith encasing her foot before collapsing. Rhian wiped the spiders off of her and charged. Colliding into her would-be murderer, she took Braith down to the stone floor with a sickening crack. Braith cried out. ¡°This is for Afia,¡± Rhian shouted as she pummelled her. ¡°And Julia, and Sabina¡­¡± A hand rested on her shoulder and tugged her off. ¡°Enough,¡± said Gareth. Braith scurried back on her hands then gaped in horror at her missing foot still encased in ice. ¡°You can try crawling away,¡± He said to Braith, ¡°but I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll make it very far.¡± Braith swore at him and spat. Rhian glared at them both before running to check on Gretchen. ¡°Is she alright?¡± Gareth asked, guarding a seething Braith. ¡°She¡¯s breathing. I¡¯ll go fetch the teachers.¡± ¡°Good idea.¡± ¡°Hey, Rhian,¡± he called as she was about to disappear down the hall. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Diolch. The word you¡¯re looking for is diolch.¡± ¡°Gareth,¡± Rhian took a deep breath,¡°pisho bant.¡±
End of Season 1: Rhian Peregrine, Apprentice Druid