Colour of Light #4

  Catalyst

  Jacky Gray

  To All my Wonderful Beta Readers – for making my stories fit for human consumption

  This book is a work of fiction. All characters and events other than those clearly in the public domain are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2020 Jacky Gray

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

  Front cover Copyright © 2020 Icy Sedgwick

  First published in October 2020

  Found out more at:

  http://hengistpeoplehorse.blogspot.co.uk

  https://www.facebook.com/HengistPeopleOfTheHorse

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  Contents

  Part 0 – Catch-up

  Part I – Retribution

  Prologue – Aftermath of a Kidnapping

  1 – It’s all about Timing

  2 – My Brother Geoff

  3 – Making Mandalas

  4 – Eloping to Gretna

  5 – Healing the Stones

  6 – Sealing the Rift

  7 – Finding the Centre of Power

  8 – Final Retribution?

  9 – Dodgy Business

  10 – The End Came Easy

  11 – If Onlys

  Part II – New Monsters

  12 – Friend or Foe?

  13 – Harriet Potter and the Dastardly Flux

  14 – I Never Date Clients

  15 – Should you Choose to Accept

  16 – What Was she Thinking?

  17 – Meeting of Souls and Worlds

  18 – Means to an End

  19 – Digging Every Hole

  20 – ’Ee’s Got No Pecker

  21 – Dealing With the Devil

  22 – Unexpected Ally

  23 – Cracking the Code

  24 – Gathering Intel

  25 – Travis Cooks, Rory Probes

  26 – Palming the Pills

  27 – Who’s Zooming Who?

  28 – Visitors from Another World

  29 – One Move and she’s Toast

  30 – Sealing the Rifts – Again!

  31 – Convincing the Hostiles

  32 – Gaia Intervenes

  Epilogue

  Cast of Thousands

  Acknowledgements

  1 Life on Planet Liv

  Part 0 – Catch-up

  Something a bit different.

  Because this is the last of a saga which began a while ago, here’s some movie-scripts to bring you up to date with what has gone on in the lives of the main players. If you’ve never read any of the preceding twelve books, there’s a who’s who at the end of this book called Cast of Thousands.

  Archer – Warrior. Full of courage, honour & integrity

  Song choice: We Don’t Need Another Hero – Tina Turner

  Montage of scenes:

  1. Shooting an apple off Fletch’s head on orders of a vicious Renegate band led by Hereward;

  2. Jousting with best friend Finn in Beltane challenge to become May King;

  3. Playing pool with Stiff – ex-gang leader, who tells him Geoff was ridiculously powerful as a nine-year-old.

  SCENE - EXT: PETE’S AUNT’S FARM – DAY

  Pete and Archer are exercising his aunt’s horses and Archer explains about jousting.

  ARCHER

  We start off training on a quintain–

  PETE

  What’s that?

  ARCHER

  A post with a big wooden arm on it. One end has a shield which you hit with the lance. A bag filled with sand on the other end swings round and tries to knock you off. You need to be quick enough to duck or strong enough to resist it.

  PETE

  Sounds like fun.

  ARCHER

  It is. Except when you do get knocked off. Landing on the ground in armour is not my idea of fun and you have to beat out all the dents.

  PETE

  Which you have to do all the time.

  ARCHER

  Only once, when I …

  (realises Pete’s winding him up. Smiles)

  I’m sure you would be falling off every time if you tried.

  PETE

  Rubbish. I’m a proper horseman, me. Watch.

  Pete races across fields with Archer following more slowly, trying to get used to the unfamiliar mount.

  PETE

  (grinning triumphantly)

  You wouldn’t stand a chance against me in a race.

  ARCHER

  Not on this mare, but on Apollo, it would be different.

  PETE

  (looking shocked)

  You’ve got your own horse? I thought you lived with foster parents. They must be loaded.

  ARCHER

  Loaded with what?

  PETE

  (rolling eyes)

  Dosh. Spondulicks. Money. They must be rich.

  ARCHER

  Are Dawn and Phil rich?

  PETE

  No, but they own a farm, so they have horses.

  ARCHER

  As do Sed … my foster parents.

  They dismount and lead the horses to a patch of grass where they graze while Pete explains how hard it is to be a modern teen. Montage of scenes showing him being bullied at school, shouted at by his dad and teachers, and the endless pressure of homework, exams and sporting competitions.

  PETE

  (looks at his watch and jumps up)

  Oh my God, look at the time, we’ve only got ten minutes to get back.

  They gallop back with Pete in the lead. At the last field, Archer glimpses a flash of pink. It’s Pete’s toddler cousin, Geena, playing with her rabbit.

  ARCHER

  (shouting)

  Watch out, Pete.

  PETE

  (glancing back with a grin)

  Loser!

  Archer speeds up, but Pete spurs his horse on. As Archer inches closer, Pete glares in anger, then spots Geena, who holds up her rabbit to protect her.

  PETE

  (screaming in panic)

  Geena!

  Archer grabs the saddle head and leans over in a dangerous side-hang manoeuvre to scoop the girl out of harm’s way. They both pull up, and Pete looks ready to throw up.

  PETE

  (rolling eyes)

  Is she ok? Geena, how are you?

  GEENA

  (eyes sparkling)

  That was fun. Do it again?

  ARCHER

  I don’t think it would be a good idea. The horses are tired, they need to rest. Come on, you can ride with me back to the stable.

  GEENA

  But I want Petey to pick me up like you did. I loved it.

  (squirming and looking mutinous)

  ARCHER

  Ok. I’ll put you down and Pete can pick you up.

  (glances to check Pete is ok with this)

  PETE

  (nodding)

  Sure. Come on munchkin.

  They ride back toward the farm.

  Slowly.

  Rory – Misfit. Caught between two worlds & two men

  Song choice: Woman in Chains – Tears for Fears

  Montage of scenes:

  1. Collapsing as the stage lights cause her aura-reading gift to overload her senses during a school production;

  2. Training with Archer to handle her gift and develop protection and control;

  3. Helpless in the camper van as Geoff has her hand-cuffed and strapped into a sleeping bag.

  SCENE – INT: GEOFF’S CAMPER VAN – EVENING

  Geoff has been placing crystals in Rory’s hand to see if she can tap into the energies stored within them.

  RORY

  Were any of my guesses right?

  GEOFF

  (deadpanning)

  Yes. But I won’t reveal exact locations until you’ve tried a few. I don’t want to influence your answers – someone as smart as you would quickly pick up the pattern.

  RORY

  Flattery gets you precisely nowhere.

  GEOFF

  (frowning)

  Sorry, flattery? No idea how to do that.

  RORY

  Whatever. Next one, please.

  He places the next crystal in her hand and, as her fingers explore it, she flickers her eyes as though to open them.

  GEOFF

  Keep them closed until you’ve tuned in.

  RORY

  (concentrating)

  I’m getting lots of people, but it’s different this time. If anything, they’re the exact opposite of excited.

  GEOFF

  You mean bored?

  RORY

  Not exactly. More sort of …

  (searches for word)

  … Tranquil. Serene. Like a church. Or cathedral.

  GEOFF

  (grunts)

  Is that it?

  RORY

  (nods, then pauses)

  It’s not York Cathedral by any chance?

  GEOFF

  What the fff–<
br />
  (quashes expletive)

  How on earth could you know?

  RORY

  (feigning innocence)

  Isn’t that the point of this exercise, to measure the extent of my powers?

  GEOFF

  I–um …

  He clamps his lips, fumbling and nearly dropping the crystal.

  Will you try one more? If you’re up to it.

  RORY

  Why wouldn’t I be?

  GEOFF

  I know how much these things take out of you. I wouldn’t want to tire you out.

  RORY

  I’m stronger than you think.

  GEOFF

  You’d be surprised. I can think of few people with more strength of will than you.

  (shakes head as he gives another crystal)

  A war siren reverberates, drowning muted sounds of people engaged in fire-fighting activities. An ominous whistling sound causes warning shouts. A bomb drops and the world explodes with lightning flashes and flames. Rory chokes as thick smoke scorches her nose hairs.

  GEOFF

  (panicking)

  Rory. Wake up. Come back to me.

  RORY

  (surfacing slowly from the nightmare)

  What the hell? I was actually there, in Coventry, when they bombed the cathedral. So much carnage. How did you do it?

  GEOFF

  (relieved)

  I’m so sorry, Rory. Believe me; I never expected anything so intense.

  RORY

  Don’t know your own strength, huh?

  GEOFF

  (scoffs, but sorrow tinges his tone)

  Trust you to find some humour.

  RORY

  It’s either that or weep at the senseless horror. I will never unhear those screams when the fire caught a man’s hair.

  (shudders)

  High-pitched, like a girl or a baby.

  GEOFF

  (groaning)

  Sorry, sorry, sorry. How about if I put some music on? Some Queen, maybe?

  RORY

  (glaring)

  Won’t help the images in my head. Grisly scenes I can’t unsee.

  GEOFF

  (closes eyes – voice of frightened little boy)

  Tell me what I can do to make it right. Please.

  (sobs, stretching out arms in supplication)

  Rory hesitates, her natural instinct to comfort this poor child with a hug. Part of her brain (suppressed for a while), hisses a warning that the man before her isn’t who he appears.

  RORY

  (inner voice)

  Careful. He’s dark and dangerous and wants to hurt you.

  Geoff – Bad boy made good, driven by destiny & deities

  Song choice: Rough boy – ZZ Top

  Montage of scenes:

  1. Stefan’s death – faking the horrific beating;

  2. Celebrating Yule on the beach with Rory at sunrise;

  3. Imagining marrying Rory at Gretna Green.

  SCENE – INT: OPEN ARMS TAVERN – DAY

  Celtic Sound (Archer’s favourite band) is playing on stage with Rory and Geoff in audience. A drumroll snares everyone’s attention.

  DOUG

  You are always the first to hear my new songs, and today is no different.

  (pause; people cheer)

  This one is unfinished while I gather information about these heroes. I hope to have sufficient verses so each one can have their own song. So if anyone here knows these lads, please talk to me after the show.

  Geoff tenses as Doug launches into Tamas’s tale and Rory spots a dour-faced man directing a venomous glare at Geoff.

  RORY

  (re-filling his beaker with water)

  Who is that man?

  GEOFF

  (drinks, then whispers)

  Goran. Tamas’s father, who was in the camp when I took over.

  As Doug tells how Tamas stood up to Hengest, claiming to be Hereward’s nephew, she sees what must be done to stop the crowd from lynching Geoff. At her suggestion, he slips off to the side where an arrow points to the “privvies.”

  DOUG

  (swigs from beaker; audience applaud)

  Nae, it’s not over, yet.

  (begins story of Fletch’s Top Arrow)

  Rory spots the empty space where Goran was. She sneaks to the exit, searching for Geoff, and bumps into Goran.

  GORAN

  (grabbing her arm)

  You’re with the stranger. Where is he?

  RORY

  I don’t know. I came out to find him because he took poorly and needed fresh air.

  GORAN

  Where is he from?

  RORY

  Scotland. We came down to visit his cousin, Archer, who suggested we visit this place.

  GORAN

  (frowning)

  I thought he looked familiar. So you’ll know his mother, Savannah.

  RORY

  I’m hoping to meet her and Rattrick later.

  GORAN

  Ha. I thought so. You lie.

  RORY

  I didn’t. I’ve met Archer’s mother, Ganieda, several times. I don’t know why you’re trying to trick me, but I guarantee we know Archer’s family well.

  GORAN

  I’m sorry. I thought him to be someone else.

  RORY

  You mean Hengest? He has been mistaken for him before, although I cannot think why. I understand the monster wore a mask most of the time.

  GORAN

  (tightening lips)

  So he did. Sorry to trouble you.

  RORY

  Be assured, it was no trouble.

  He stalks into the building and she gulps in oxygen to calm herself. A hiss has her approaching the shadows.

  GEOFF

  Thank you my love, you handled it well.

  RORY

  We should make like a tree and leave.

  GEOFF

  You pick now to use Archer’s clichés against me? Not fair.

  RORY

  But no more than you deserve. I hated lying for you.

  They jog to the trees and pass through a portal back to the modern world.

  And here’s the final scene from Captive:

  Rory has a vision of Archer in trouble at Stonehenge, so Geoff takes her there and they pass through to Archer’s word.

  “Rory!” Archer dashed toward them, stopping with an angry exclamation at the outer ring of sarsens and Rory figured magic had prevented him from attacking his brother.

  Geoff shrugged. “Patience, bro. All will be revealed. Will you let us enter?”

  “As if I could stop you.” He gestured at the invisible force field. “What have you done?”

  “Not me, them.” Geoff pointed to the centre, where the bluestone horseshoe filled with brilliant light. While Archer stared, Geoff pulled her through a gap in the outer ring.

  Rory’s skin heated when he positioned her over the sunrise line and took her left hand. Archer’s fingers gripped her right one as the glow resolved into three figures.

  The woman spoke first. “Welcome Archer, Aurora and Geoff. We have watched your progress for many years and I’m glad to finally meet you.”

  The two men flanking her bowed, and Rory sank into a curtsy, recognising their importance – the ghostly figures resonated with the energy of gods. She arose to see her similarly awestruck companions unbend from deep bows.

  “I am Senna and this” – she gestured to the man on her left – “is Jarl. Archer, you are a direct descendent from this great warrior and possess many of his qualities such as courage, honour and integrity.”

  Rory saw a clear likeness as the two warriors nodded at each other.

  Senna stepped forward, drawing her gaze. “Aurora, you are the exact image of my daughter, Lyrelie, and you resonate with her caring warmth and cheeky humour. You have the same connection to nature and are set to become a great healer as both she and her father were.” She turned to the man on her right. “My husband twice over, Lyran led a troubled life, losing his mother at an early age.”

  Rory felt the tension in Geoff’s hand and squeezed it, hoping to reassure as Senna addressed him directly.

  “You, too, possess the same brilliant mind and inner strength.” Senna dipped her head.

  Geoff bowed to Lyran and chuckled. “I sense a ‘but.’”

  She nodded. “However, his wisdom and underlying compassion escaped you for the majority of your life. This wasn’t your fault; you needed to suffer extreme torments to atone for the many ills you have committed in previous lives. Be assured these are all now absolved. The results of your actions have bonded the Hengist people much more tightly than the efforts of Archer, Reagan, and Slater combined.”