The Shadow Chapter 10.

Chapter Ten.

 

Recognition.

 

Aidan pushed his way through the thick air of the spell. The cave was hidden behind a rock a little way down the path. He had walked right past it earlier without seeing it. He picked up some dry grass from the path. Inside, he took out his flint and used it to set fire to the grass. It did not burn for long, but he was able to see bundles of cloth all over the floor.

Quickly, he scooped up as many as he could and took them to Wopnik. Together they went back. Wopnik threw cloaks out onto the path, and Aidan wrapped them up in bundles.

"Dawn come," said Wopnik. "Must hurry."

Aidan could see that the Wraith was correct.

"You take as much as you can carry. I will bring the rest. Go," ordered Aidan.

In the distance a wolf howled. Aidan shuddered.

Wopnik turned back.

"Wolves our friends," he said. "Nothing to fear."

"One of them followed me through the mountain," said Aidan. "It sniffed all round me, then it went away."

"Cloth make you smell like us. Wolf think you not dangerous, let you live," said Wopnik.

By first light all the cloaks from the cave had been transferred into the valley. Aidan, Prince Rogan, and Princess Aidel pushed the bundles into the caves for the shadow people.

As it grew light enough to see each other, Aidan turned from putting in the last one to look at Prince Rogan.

He nearly fell back into the cave.

It was like looking into a mirror. Yes, the Prince’s face was older than his, but that was all.

Princess Aidel came up from the campfire where she had been making breakfast. She looked at Aidan and then at Prince Rogan.

"Oh," she said in a peculiar voice.

Rogan rushed across to her.

"What is it, my love?"

"Look at him," she said. "Look at his face."

With a puzzled expression, Prince Rogan turned to look at Aidan properly for the first time in the light.

"What the, " he began, but got no further.

"Quick," interrupted Princess Aidel. "What is your name and who are your parents?"

"Aidan, ma’am!" Aidan replied. "And I have no parents. I was brought up by my Nan."

The Princess sat down with a bump.

"Our son was to be called Aidan. The first part is from my name and the last from Rogan, as is traditional."

"How old are you, young man?" Prince Rogan demanded.

Aidan stammered.

"Just over eighteen… not really sure. Nan never told me when my birthday was."

"Can you remember your Nan’s name?" asked Rogan.

Aidan cast his mind back. The only time he had ever heard her name was when they found her body.

"Lilbet, I think," he said. Then, more confidently,

"Lilbet Treeman."

Princess Aidel began to cry.

Aidan was confused.

"Is that wrong? I only heard it when she died."

Prince Rogan shook his head.

"No, it is not wrong. It is very definitely not wrong. The nursemaid who was with us when Magalan took us was called Elizabeth Treeman."

Princess Aidel lifted her tear‑stained face.

"Don’t you see? You must be our son, Aidan."

She turned and opened a bag, taking out a small painting.

"This is our son, Aidan," she said, showing the painting to him.

Aidan stepped back.

"I have a painting like that back in Barford. I found it in Nan’s belongings after she died. I always wondered if it was a picture of me."

"I wonder why Nan Treeman did not tell you about us," said Prince Rogan.

"She said she could not remember and got very upset when I asked, so I had to stop trying to find out," said Aidan. "This is an awful lot to take in."

He walked away, back to the campfire. He stared at the few flames.

"Calizone said I had to go into the deepest, darkest place to find out who I really am, but I did not know what she meant. Emma is going to be amazed at this," he said to no one in particular.

The thought of Emma brought him to his senses. He went back to the royal couple.

"I don’t know if it is true or not, but I have just realised that we have only a few days to get down to where Boydel is waiting for me. Otherwise he is going to go back to Baron Astel and report that I am dead. I think that would be the end of him."

Prince Rogan nodded.

"We can sort this all out later. If we have to leave, then we had better get going. Is there anything here you want?"

"Calizone wanted me to find a roll of this cloth, if it is possible," replied Aidan.

"I wonder why a witch would want this cloth if it stops magic," said Princess Aidel. "If she was wearing clothes made from it, she might not be able to cast spells."

"She did not say why she wanted the cloth, only that I was to find it and bring it to her," said Aidan. "Perhaps she wants it to protect herself from someone who might try to cast a spell on her. I don't know, and I really do not want to ask her either."

Prince Rogan went into the cave. He came out a moment later.

"Wopnik says that there should be a roll of it in the cave outside. For your help, you are most welcome to take it."

"Tell him thank you," said Aidan. Then a thought struck him.

"You said that the Wraiths are peaceful people and that they thought they were defending themselves?"

Prince Rogan nodded.

"Then I can tell them how to stay safe from attack. The spell on the valley means that only those wearing Citspal can enter, so as long as the Wraiths wear their cloaks, they have a safe place to hide. Well… at least for nearly a thousand years," said Aidan.

Prince Rogan laughed.

"I will tell Wopnik."

He thought for a minute.

"When we get out, we must send food back to the Wraiths. They shared what they had with us even though they were starving themselves. Our people have not treated them well over the years."