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<title>Spellbinder - Chapter 37</title>
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<h1>37</h1><p>His mind was in turmoil as they trundled along on Score's wagon. He had an answer, or part of an answer.</p>
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<p>She had held his head in her hands and he was suddenly back again in the dark, carried in strong arms.</p>
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<p>They were running, running fast, though trees. Big trunks flashed past. He was held tight. He could see black shapes flitting from tree to tree, keeping to the shadows and huge orange eyes that glared coldly.</p>
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<p>They were being hunted.</p>
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<p>Feral howls split the night, like wolves, but much worse than wolves. </p>
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<p>He began to cry and a hand clamped his face to the shoulder, cutting off the sound.</p>
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<p>"Hush now," a man's voice, breathless and ragged, tried to sooth him, but he was still afraid. </p>
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<p><em>My father!</em> In the middle of the memory, Jack recalled the smell of leather and sweat and the damp forest night.</p>
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<p>Then they came to the stones. The baby Jack just saw the great grey shapes as they passed and then the man turned. Something leapt at them between the stones and a sword swung and lopped its screeching head off its shoulders.</p>
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<p>The space between the stones shimmered and then he saw daylight and trees crowding beyond.</p>
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<p>The man hugged him tight and he felt his father's love..</p>
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<p>He looked up into a strong face, dark hair falling over his brow. Dark eyes searching his own, face lined with concern.</p>
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<p>His father wrapped him tight in a shawl then stood up, tall as a giant from where the infant lay on the soft ground. He raised a curved horn and blew it hard, three times. The sound moaned through the trees.</p>
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<p>"No time," he cried, almost snarled it. "No time at all."</p>
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<p>He knelt down and lifted the baby and hugged him close.</p>
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<p>"You'll be safe here. And I'll be back."</p>
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<p>Then he reached up and raised something on a chain and put it round Jack's tiny neck, tucking it into the blanket. He shrugged a satchel from his shoulder and placed it under the baby's head, like a pillow.</p>
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<p>His father blew three more blasts on the horn, and this time, there was a reply from somewhere beyond the trees.</p>
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<p>"He'll understand," his father said. "He'll take you home until I get back. I promise."</p>
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<p>And then he turned, walked between the stones and vanished.</p>
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<p class='break'>* * *</p>
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<p>But Jonathan Flint had not come back.</p>
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<p>Something had happened, and even the Sky Queen could not tell him.</p>
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<p>"Some things are beyond my knowledge," she said sadly, "because they happen in places beyond my light, in the under-worlds. Where he has gone, I cannot tell you. Your destiny is for you to discover."</p>
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<p>"Your quest here is over, and my heart is ever grateful. You are more special to me than you can imagine, Jack Flint. My <em>Cullian.</em>" Her smile was bitter-sweet. "Now your own quest begins. Harmony returns to Eirinn, but not to your heart, Journeyman. The road will be long and hard and fraught, but you have the heart of a hero, and bear the Heart of Worlds.</p>
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<p>"I can tell you this only. Take the door into summer. Then find the door to night. Perhaps there, you will find what you seek."</p>
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<p>The Sky Queen bent and kissed him lightly on the lips, holding him tight for an instant. Jack's eyes squeezed shut.</p>
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<p>And then he was outside the light and back in Eirinn's springtime. Jack sank to his knees, totally drained.</p>
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<p>Connor was standing as if completely paralysed.</p>
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<p>"I heard Eirinn speak to me. The whole land! It sang in my head and welcomed me home."</p>
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<p>"It is done," Hedda said. "No one will ever abuse the harp again."</p>
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<p>Connor held up the club. Its features were placid now, bony but placid. In fact it seemed to have a self satisfied smile carved on its strange features.</p>
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<p>"Wield it as you wish. And always honourably."</p>
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<p>She turned from them and faced across the flat land where the soldiers who had been trying to murder them only moments before had stopped fighting and were looking about themselves at the fresh grass and blooming flowers around their feet.</p>
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<p>"Harmony returns to Eirinn," Hedda called out. Her voice soared across the battlefield, loud and commanding. She beckoned Connor to stand by her.</p>
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<p>"The rightful High King of all Eirinn has returned to reclaim his seat." </p>
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<p>She raised Connor's hand, which still; bore the great Dagda's club. "Connor son of Conovar and Eleon will rule in peace and honour. The battle is done."</p>
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<p>There was a stunned silence that lasted a long time.</p>
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<p>Kerry whispered in Jack's ear. "You think they're going to wear it?"</p>
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<p>"It's been a big waste of time if they don't."</p>
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<p>"I'm glad we saved him."</p>
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<p>"No co-incidences," Jack said.</p>
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<p>A man, whom Corriwen recognised as the rider who had tried to skewer both herself and Connor with his lance, strode forward and went down on one knee. He held his sword out flat in both hands.</p>
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<p>"For my company of men, I pledge to King Connor." Behind him, men started to come forward, heads bowed.</p>
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<p>Kerry rolled his eyes and pretended to wipe his brow.</p>
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<p>"Phew," he said. "Had me worried for a minute."</p>
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<p class='break'>* * *</p>
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<p>Connor had accompanied them, sitting tall on his horse. It had still not sunk in who and what he was. He had a lot to learn.</p>
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<p>"So I'm really a knight?" Kerry asked, digging him in the ribs.</p>
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<p>"I suppose so. It's all a bit weird."</p>
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<p>"It's always weird when you hang about with Jack. I don't suppose anything's going to change."</p>
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<p>Connor had begged them to stay and help him, but Kerry knew Jack had something else on his mind. He wouldn't rest until he'd found what he was looking for.</p>
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<p>"Maybe we can come back and visit. Like at Christmas and New Year," Kerry suggested. "Or the summer holidays. You and me, we can go poaching. Take a few fish maybe?"</p>
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<p>"That would be…" Connor, began. "How do you say it? Pure dead brilliant!"</p>
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<p>"Fan-freakin'-tastic!"</p>
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<p>It was after Hedda had bid them farewell and gone north with Finn and Fennel that Jack had approached Rune.</p>
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<p>Hedda had taken both of Jack's hands and wished him a safe journey.</p>
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<p>"Where it will end, who knows. But fight the good fight."</p>
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<p>Fennel had embraced Corriwen until her ribs creaked. Finn patted Kerry on the back and sent him flying into a hedge. </p>
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<p>He pulled himself out, picking burrs and thorns from his cape. "Big Finn doesn't know his own strength."</p>
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<p>Jack was torn. He hated farewells. He'd had one friend all his life, apart from the Major, and now there were more. True friends. Yet he was itching to on his way, on the next step.</p>
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<p>He found Rune, sitting with Brand by the fire, each smoking their long pipes and looking as relaxed as any two Cluricauns could be.</p>
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<p>"I don't need to read the book," Jack said. "You know the way, don't you?"</p>
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<p>"Ah, there ye have me Jack boy. I told you the day we met, I travel all the ways. Of course I know where you want to be going."</p>
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<p>"I thought so. You didn't just turn up by accident, did you."</p>
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<p>Rune chuckled. "We work in mysterious ways, us Cluricauns. Let's say we were just well met eh?"</p>
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<p>And now they were approaching the end of the misty way. Ahead of them, through the rolling veils, Jack could see the wide moorland where gold and pink flowers bloomed among the purple, turning it into an exotic carpet of colour.</p>
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<p>On a hill beside a coppice of birch saplings, stood the two standing stones of the Homeward Gate of Eirinn.</p>
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<p>Connor sat on his horse, close to Brand and the raggle-taggle troupe as Rune walked with them towards the ancient stone pillars.</p>
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<p>He turned to leave, paused, then came back to stand in front of Jack.</p>
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<p>"I almost forgot," he said, with a twinkle in his eye. He drew his hand from his jacket and flipped a gold coin into the air. </p>
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<p>It came twinkling down, with a faint metallic ring. This time Jack caught it. He opened his hand and saw the five stars of the corona winking up at him. </p>
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<p>He turned to thank Rune, but the little fellow was gone, and the mist had closed at the edge of the moor.</p>
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<p>He slipped the coin into his pocket, put his arms round his two best friends on this or any world, and together they walked through the gate.</p>
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<p> </p>
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