The Night Mage

CHAPTER ONE

I’d always been taught to fear the wood, for the wood was a place of magic, and beyond the wood lay mountains that were too wild for someone like me. You needed brains and muscle to adventure into such wilderness, and as it turned out, I had neither.

Jeannie Goldings could brave the wood and the mountains beyond: she was fit and fast. Or Ben Tarthe; he had the quickest mind in the whole land, according to his mother.

But not me. I was just Aideen, and Just Aideen belonged in the village shop, selling oats and potatoes. I was not destined for wicked woods and wild mountains.

I’d worked in the shop since I’d been old enough to reach the till. Working there had been tolerable until my best friend, Winnie, had been swept off her feet by a travelling bard and married shortly after. He’d given her a silver band worth more than all I’d ever owned, and now they lived in a town called Anywhere But Here. She promised in her rare letters to whisk me away too, but thus far I’d never been whisked, and remained, as always, in the village shop. A suitable place for Just Aideen.

On my twenty-first birthday, a short letter arrived from Winnie, wishing me many happy returns. At noon, Mother came to the shop and offered to relieve me of my duties.

Father’s cooking a special stew for tonight, she said. And a cake.

Don’t spoil the surprise, Mother. The cake would be modest, for we could not afford fancy food.

What are you going to do with your afternoon?

That was a good question. What was there to do around here? Nothing – except stay away from the wood.

I’ll go for a walk, I suppose.

Be careful now, said Mother. Don’t go near the wood.

The cloak of winter was fast falling upon the village. Our little collection of stone and thatch was surrounded by uninteresting hills. I climbed my favourite. At the summit, the wind whipped my hair, tugging it backwards. To the east, the wood stretched to the horizon.

Before I was born, a band of sprites escaped the wood and wreaked havoc on the village, and a mage had to come and sort it all out. My elderly neighbours still recalled the terrible damage done to all the vegetables. There had been no magic in the village ever since.

Winnie’s letter wriggled in my grasp. According to the letter, she’d been taken to the theatre on her twenty-first birthday. I looked down at her hurried handwriting. Then I opened my hand, and watched the letter fly away.

It flew towards the wood. A moment later, my feet followed in the same direction.

A road ran through the village and between the hills, to the edge of the trees. The road curved away from the wood, encouraging travellers to keep a safe distance. But there was one house that stood alone by the side of the road. The last known occupant died there, six years ago, and it had remained empty ever since. I’d been warned to avoid the house almost as much as the wood itself, on account of the voice that could be heard from within.

‘The wood has claimed that house,’ my father said. ‘We should send for a mage.’

Mages kept us safe from the magic that spilled into our world. But unlike the incident with the sprites, no mage had come to help us, and so we all avoided the house – and whatever lived inside. Winnie and I used to dare each other to tap on the window, but we were always too afraid.

Well, on my birthday, I was going to have courage for once.

The house was built over two levels. The door was painted black and there was no name on the front. The windows were shuttered. I crept towards the house. When I was almost there, I froze. This was where Winnie and I always chickened out.

I’m not afraid, I told myself, and reached out and pressed my finger to the glass. Would Winnie be impressed if she knew?

The house did not stir, so I whispered, Hello? Is anyone there?

A pair of blue eyes peered out between the shutters. Who’s that? a voice rasped.

I jumped back. I’m Aideen! Just—

The eyes darted back and forth. I couldn’t see the face they belonged to.

What are you doing? the voice asked. You shouldn’t be here.

I was passing by; I didn’t mean any harm. I took another step away from the house.

Wait! Don’t go. Can you let me out?

I eyed the black door and retreated slowly.

Come closer! Come here; can you let me out?

I don’t have a key, I said.

You don’t need a key; open the door and let me out. Please!

Enough was enough. I wanted adventure on my birthday, but I didn’t want to be the one who set this thing loose.

No thank you! I’m a bit too busy today! I backed away until I could no longer see the pair of eyes, then I turned and bolted for the wood.

No wonder my parents had warned me to stay away from these parts. But still, I had survived my encounter with the abandoned house. If I could survive that, then I could surely brave the wood. Besides, if I returned home, I would only be trapped by Father and coerced into cooking my special birthday dinner.

The dark line of the wood beckoned me into its arms. Were the sprites hiding in there, or something worse?

Well, Aideen, I whispered, there’s only one way to find out.

I took my first step into the wood. The trees blocked out most of the light. Their roots snaked in front of me, hiding any clear path.

The wood was oddly quiet. As I walked, I could hear nothing beyond by own breath. "Hello?" I whispered, but there was no reply. I’ll find you, I thought. Whoever’s hiding in here.

But after an hour of walking, I’d found nothing. The trees were ordinary, and there were no monsters nor mages nor demons.

All in all, it was very disappointing.

I sighed.

Hello? Is there anyone here?

I waited for a response that never arrived.

I thought not.

I flopped down onto the dirt and had a little cry. Why couldn’t anything exciting ever happen to me? I dabbed my eyes dry and blew my nose.

And then I heard the tinkling of bells.

Hello? At once the bells were in front of me, then behind me, then all around. No trees make the sound of bells, I said loudly. So I know you’re out there, whatever you are. It’s my birthday today, so you must show yourself. It’s only fair.

Yet nothing appeared.

I picked up my skirt and chased the sound of bells. I looked up to the trees and down to the dirt, but nothing moved except me.

Stop hiding, I said. You’re being very cruel, teasing me like this. It’s my birthday! Something would happen if pretty Winnie were here. Or Jeannie Goldings or Ben Tarthe. But not me. Never me. I’m going to cry again, I warned the wood. And it won’t be pleasant for either of us!

The bells tinkled like laughter, which made me angry enough to keep the tears at bay.

Shame on you for being so cruel! Were you not taught better manners?

I sat down again, and stuck my fingers in the dirt until my nails were black. Mother would not be pleased, and Father would insist I bathe before dinner. I guessed I should be heading back. I had come to the wood, and the wood had shown me no interest.

I’ll leave then, I said loudly. And be out of your hair.

A copper leaf fell from a branch and landed on top of my head.

Oh very funny. I pulled the leaf from my hair and crushed it in my hand. If this was a gift, I don’t want it. I’m never coming back here. I mean it!

I brushed the dirt off my skirt and shook out my hair. I’d leave the wood with my dignity, at least.

A bright light flashed before my eyes. The light dimmed in the centre, revealing the shadow of a man. He spun around to face me, whipping his hair and his long cloak. His eyes were brilliant gems of green, shining bright as stars.

And then he was gone, and the wood was still once more.

CHAPTER TWO

I gathered my breath back into my lungs. The silver bells no longer rang. My feet carried me forward, through the space where the light had shone and the man with green eyes had appeared and disappeared. Soon I was running, the woods whizzing past me. I ran towards something and nothing; I ran away. The woods thinned and the blood-light of dusk crept in around me. And then there was no more wood to run through, and the world opened up to mountains and sky.

I halted. The mountains towered up and up, their impossible peaks dashed with snow. A hill stood in front of the mountains, and on top of the hill was a castle of silver and black. Strips of red glinted on the stone where the dying sun met the silver. The castle was twisted, with few straight lines. Four turrets stood like nocked arrows aimed at the sky.

I had no idea there was a castle so close to home. Why had no one mentioned it? If Mother and Father knew about this castle, they would have warned me about it. This castle was not a place for Just Aideen. Only beautiful heroes with brave hearts and sharp minds should ever venture into a castle so intimidating. Yet I could not look away. My feet were frozen in place. I would have to return through the wood in the dark. I’d arrive home long after dinner-time; the stew would be cold; Mother and Father would fret.

There was a high chance the man with the green eyes was a mage, living in the castle, and my twenty-first birthday would indeed be my most disappointing birthday ever if I did not find the mage with green eyes – even if a lithe, spirited youth was far more suited for the task. In fact, that was probably why he had vanished – he’d probably been scouting the woods for runaway maids with torn dresses and lovely breasts. I had a rip in my skirt and little else.

I glared at the castle now, no longer afraid, and stomped towards the grassy hill. The ground rose beneath my feet, and soon I was gasping for air. I turned around, and saw the blanket of wood, but no sign of my village. Surrounded by mountains, in the shadow of the twisted castle, it was hard to imagine my home was nearby. It were as if I’d travelled to another world.

I’m going to get to the bottom of this, I said to myself. The bottom of what, I was not sure. But I knew the answers lay beyond the doors of the castle.

The cold wind pushed through my shirt and into my chest, but the exertion of climbing the hill kept a fire burning inside. By the time I reached the top, all the stars in the sky were watching my struggle with their cold eyes. I wiped the sweat off my brow and paused at the summit, calming my racing heart. A grand door stood before me: the entrance to the castle of silver and black. A five-point star glittered on the old wood.

A spell, I should think. To protect against intruders. I rapped my knuckles on the door and said, I don’t wish to intrude. You found me, after all. I only thought we could chat, possibly over a warm cup of tea? It’s cold out here. Please let me in.

Light rippled around the edges of the star, and the door swung open with a long creak.

Oh... Well that was easier than expected. Perhaps it was unsafe to enter a strange castle, but nothing interesting happened to those who played it safe.

I glanced back to the wood. Beyond it, my parents would be worried sick. I felt terribly guilty about that, but then again I was a woman grown, and Winnie didn’t need to report to her mother every night. She was free to do as she pleased.

I’m sorry, I said to the village beyond the wood, and stepped inside the castle.

CHAPTER THREE

A dilapidated hallway swept out from my feet. Iron sconces lined the walls, dead of all flame. A long black runner softened my footsteps on the stone floor. Above, the roof was glass, criss-crossed with thick iron bands. Though the glass was in dire need of a clean, I could still make out the faint twinkling of stars.

Hello? I whispered.

The door shut behind me. There was no handle from this side, no way of opening it.

Well, I did ask for adventure, I thought, feeling even less suited to the situation than before.

I walked the length of the hallway. At the end, there was a large mirror, about ten feet tall. It arched at the top, and was banded with a tarnished gold frame. Tiny specks of jewels glittered between the swirls of the frame: blues and greens; purples, reds and silvers. I imagined the mirror had cost a great deal of money – more money than my family had ever seen in its life. I stared at my own reflection.