Jack of Ravens

8

The journey across the Far Lands took longer than they anticipated, but as they passed through its mysteries and wonders it began to feel as though they were awakening from a long, dreamless sleep. Earth and its grey streets were a distant shadow. The Land of Always Summer was more real, and life there was lived fully.

They encountered many strange beings, were guided with a paternal curiosity by some of the Tuatha De Danann, overcame untold dangers and magics and eventually arrived at the dark heart of the Forest of the Night.

The casket stood lonely and unmourned, gleaming in a solitary shaft of sunlight that broke through the dense canopy.

‘Veitch said Church is being held prisoner in that,’ Laura said in hushed tones. ‘I hope they’ve been feeding him.’

‘I think he meant Church was being held magically,’ Shavi said.

‘How are we supposed to break the spell, then?’ Laura asked.

‘I think that’s down to me.’ Ruth gathered herself as her owl settled in the branches of a tree.

‘Why you?’ Laura eyed Ruth suspiciously.

‘I don’t know … instinct. I think we all have particular roles to play-’

‘Archetypal roles,’ Shavi interjected. ‘Seer, warrior, king …’ He looked to Ruth. ‘Are you ready?’

She flung open the casket lid. The spiders roiled in the depths.

Laura screwed up her face. ‘That is disgusting.’

Ruth was oblivious to the spiders. All she could see was Church’s face; it pulled her in and refused to let her go, speaking to some deeply buried part of her. It was distressing, for on the surface she did not know the man at all, yet in the well of her unconscious he was all she knew. The bonds that had been forged were unbreakable, tying them together for all time, however many miles or years lay between them. Now she knew why her recent life had been swathed in sorrow, why she felt as if she had been frozen in a living death, like Church.

Her heart swelled until it felt as if it was pressing against the prison of her skin. The sadness and the loneliness were part of the past. Now she could return to life.

Without thinking, she leaned in and kissed Church on the lips. There was a discharge of blue light and the spiders rushed from the casket. She heard their torrent hit the ground and the loud rustling as they fled into the undergrowth.

And still she kissed. His lips were cold at first, but gradually warmth came back to them, and they moved in union with hers. She broke away as his eyes flickered open.

He sat up and looked around. ‘How long have I been asleep?’

‘A while, but you’re awake now,’ she said softly.

‘I had the strangest dreams.’

His eyes locked on hers, and gradually realisation dawned in them. His smile was like the sun coming up. They embraced again, passionately this time, and for that moment no darkness could touch them.