“He would have to find a bridge to cross downriver. Or a busy ford. He’ll want to keep out of sight. I’ll risk it. You with me?” Godwin nodded. We returned to the horses and cantered back down the slope to the boy’s mother and a small crowd, steadily growing as the searchers returned. I dismounted and spoke to the eldorman and the child’s mother.
“The boy has been taken, but not long ago. We believe we know which way the outlaw is heading and we’ll pursue him.” Angry villagers wanted to join the hunt but they were refused. The father of the child was most insistent but we turned him down, as well. “We’ll be faster on horseback. We know what we’re doing and, with the greatest respect, you will just get in the way. We want him back as soon as possible.” I spoke quietly to Elfric’s mother. “You will have your son back by nightfall. Depend on it.” She reached and grabbed my robe as I mounted my horse. I held it for a moment as she looked tearfully into my face. Her cry was silent, but deeply distressed. I looked deeply into her eyes and said, calmingly, “He will be back before nightfall. Depend on it.” Then I let her go and the three of us rode off out of the village to the north.
We cantered along the track for half an hour, heedless of the mist, until I called a halt. I jumped down off my horse and took a deep breath. Godwin and Ethelred, the men of action, were impatient to be moving.
“What are you doing?” Godwin demanded. “We must catch him as fast as we can. We can’t afford delay.”
“We’ll catch him quicker if we know where he is. I’ll find out now,” I replied as I sat against a tree and closed my eyes. I would risk direct contact: no point in trying to be circumspect any more.
In the warm velvet darkness all sparks pointed me to one place, a place I knew. The wall was huge and impenetrable. There was no way round, no way over, no way under. I looked for the door and found it as fast as thought. It was huge, thick, oak, locked, bossed, bound with iron and barred. I touched it and it fell to dust at my feet. Ieuan was inside the room, sitting, waiting, the child on his knee. All around were the bodies of bloody children.
I don’t think we need the distractions he said, and cupboards closed shut on the heaps of bodies. Doors appeared across the shelves. Lids came down over the worktops and more space appeared for the dead children on the floor to be swept into.
You may cover them but they are still there I said, you will carry them with you everywhere. They will never leave you. Nonetheless I left the doors closed. Ieuan looked at the child on his knee.
And there is this one.
Let the child go.
But if I do that my Power fades. It needs to be fed.
We will catch up with you before dark. He is no use to you. Let the child go.
He is everything to me. He is my Power. The heart of the child pulsed red within his chest.
You have nothing. You have been led astray. You have been enslaved by this Power, there is no Gift. Look at the price you have paid, and I opened the doors, raised the lids, opened the cupboards and brought all the dead children into view. You have betrayed God and yourself.
Ieuan shut the doors, lids and cupboards and put the children away. It is the price that must be paid.
You have been led astray. You have been deceived. You have nothing.
I have seen the future. I have seen what will come to pass. More and more invaders. Only by blood can our victory be bought. We need the strength to repel them. This child will give me the strength.
You have seen the picture you were shown and you gave up all hope. I have seen otherwise. The people will come together and be one and be stronger for their differences. There is real hope. I showed him many peoples, melding together, gaining strength from each and making more of what was there.
Hope of what? A pretty picture? You believe your dead God, who is so bloodthirsty he wouldn’t even spare his own Son? Even his Son he was prepared to see die.
The one sacrifice - willingly given - so that we could throw off the chains of the old demons. You would enslave us again.
Ieuan licked his lips hungrily as he considered the child. Cromm Cruaich - the earth boomed at the name - will like this one. He will give me the Power to defeat you and all who challenge me.
Your demon will not have him. We will be on you before darkness falls. Let the child go. It will be better for you.
Ieuan smiled a hopeless smile and looked at the dead children, then he closed the doors, cupboards and lids again. It could not be any worse.
It will be worse. One more will make it worse. Even now, so late, so late, turn away. You can hope for better. Give the child up to us.
What will you give me? What is this child worth to you?
He is worth everything.
He is nothing. No more than a plaything, a tool, a step to strength and Power. He is nothing, but he can give me so much. He looked at me with eyes lidded with skin thinner than paper. You will let me go if I let you have one worthless child?
No. I will pursue you to the ends of the earth, and I will always find you. I know where you are.
And I know where you are.
I don’t need a dead child and a demon’s deceit to find you. There will be no more dead children. You have sown the seeds of Strathclyde’s end, you will destroy no more.
Ieuan looked up sharply and his eyes flashed black and red. Strathclyde flourishes because of me.
Strathclyde withers as we speak. I showed him my Vision of the blood, pouring out of Strathclyde, which shrivelled and shrunk to nothing, less than a memory.
No! Strathclyde will be strong! We will send the invaders back into the sea!
It is already destroyed. It will wither. It will take time but it is finished. You have destroyed it. You have been deceived. The truth of the image I showed you is indisputable. You had ignored it, you know it is true.
Ieuan considered the child. What will you give me for this child?
Nothing.
Nothing? When he is worth so much to you?
We will find you before you can kill him.
What if I sacrifice him now?
I will still give you nothing. Spite is all you have left and I don’t want that.
Nothing. Not even six hours?
I considered. Half an hour.
Four hours.
I am not here to bargain.
Two hours. Give me two hours.
Give the child up. Turn away from this path, even now, so late.
Will your God forgive me?
I don’t speak for God.
You don’t forgive?
I don’t have the power.
You don’t bind on Earth as in Heaven?
The power is not mine, I don’t seek it.
Is there hope of forgiveness by your God, even for me?
I do not speak for God. Nor will I force you to do anything. The choice is yours. You must make it, freely.
There was silence for eternity.
You can have the child.
You can have your two hours, though they will gain you little. Two hours, then I will come for you.
I will leave him here.
Send him to us. I will guide him. We will come to meet him.
As you wish. He is on his way now.
I will see you soon.
I will destroy you.
As God wishes.
I checked that the boy was on his way and then took a draught of my medicine.
“He has released the boy. He’s coming down the valley now.” Godwin stood and looked out for the child. “We can go and pick him up. We’ll meet him in less than half an hour.”