Episode 10 - Chapter 50

 Fiona stands in front of the ghost-table surrounded by four spectral, hooded figures, listening closely to every word she says. There's a fifth presence, unseen but undoubtedly there, nagging whispers in her ear.

“Tell them about the nightmares,” it says, “Make sure they know what causes these disasters.”

That's the last straw for her. She turns on her invisible companion, facing the direction of his voice. “Just be quiet!” she says loudly, no longer caring how it might look, “Or tell them yourself! But stop pestering me when I'm trying to speak.”

“Young....lady,” one of the hoods, Earth, rumbles, “If that's what you are. Who do you address when you demand this 'quiet'? We are here, awaiting your every word. In fact, we would be grateful if you were to proceed without further hesitation.”

“Unless another...entity has joined our impromptu ensemble,” Water splashes. “Should that be the case, let them show themselves now, lest they make a mockery of this court.”

Episode 10 - Chapter 49

 Do you know, I don't think I'd ever seen my daughter-in-law look so confident or sure of herself. In the middle of all these strange doings, surrounded by these unreal and very sinister characters, she was positively glowing. Don't get me wrong, I liked Mister Raven, and I was sure he was on our side, as much as he could be anyway, but having spent a few hours in his company it was obvious that he wasn't one of us. As for Oak and this Strauss, well, I couldn't help but wish they'd all bugger off and leave us alone.

“It's true,” Fiona said, talking to the whole room as if it was full of people, “That the Weave affects the Warp, that's no surprise to anyone. It is, after all, why the Forest exists, is it not?”

She paused, distracted for a moment. “Just shut up and let me get on with it will you?” she said quietly, to no one in particular, “You're really not helping right now.”

“What Strauss has told you is true,” she continued, louder once more, “A great deal of the damage that man has done to the environment can be blamed on the Weave. What Strauss doesn't say, is how much of that damage can be traced back to his master. The Peacock Angel knows this, and believes now is the time to change it.”

Episode 10 - Chapter 48

 “They have consistently lied to me about their allegiance,” Fiona continued, pointing at Strauss, “I wouldn't be surprised if they were lying to you, right now.”

“We are deeply sorry, M'lady,” that Strauss creature replied, “We are afraid our very nature requires more than a soupçon of subterfuge.”

“Whatever,” Fiona said dismissively, “You've said your piece, relayed your master's orders, now just be quiet.”

“Your concerns have been noted,” Earth rumbled, “Now, what message would your master have you present to this council?”

If I'd thought she was angry before, that was nothing compared to the effect this last question had. Her eyes blazed with an indignation I'd never seen before, her cheeks flushed, mouth almost snarled. Thankfully, she took a deep breath to compose herself before speaking.

“I have no master,” she said at last, “I walk in the Weave, as well as the Warp, according to my nature, but I serve no one: neither man nor dream lord.”

“But you do speak for one of these princes in the Weave, do you not?” Water splashed.

Fiona paused, as if listening to something unheard, before replying. “Yes, yes, I'll get to that,” she said quietly, before addressing the room. “I speak on behalf of the Peacock Angel,” she said, “Who bids you all good day.”

Episode 10 - Chapter 47

 I could tell that final comment from Oak really stumped mum, reducing her to silence once more. A few months earlier she'd been got really involved in the campaign to stop the badger cull: organising petitions, putting up posters, that sort of thing. I remembered she'd got really upset about the whole business so Oak's words, whether he'd intended it or not, really hit home with her.

“How would your master implement such a cull?” the wind whistled at Strauss.

“A disease of some kind,” they replied, not missing a beat, “One specifically targeted at humans alone. It is best, after all, to fight fire with fire.”

I think they would have said more, but the fire crackled “Now we would hear from the dream girl.”

Mum, dad and myself all turned to look at Fiona, full of expectation. Her face was red with anger, staring at Strauss with murder in her eyes, but she said nothing.

“Fi!” I hissed, trying to get her attention, “Fi, it's your turn!”

“What?” she replied, startled, “Yes? Oh, yes.” She straightened her back, squared her shoulders, took a deep breath. “Yes,” she said again, “Thanks. Well, first of all, you have to know,” she pointed at Strauss, “These creatures, whatever they are, are not to be trusted.”

Episode 10 - Chapter 46

 I was so shocked by what I was hearing that I couldn't speak for a moment. My mouth was moving, but such was the tumult of thoughts I was having, no words would come out.

“B-but that's different,” I finally stammered, “When a species gets out of control, when that threatens the eco-system, the well being of other species, you know what I mean, that's when something has to be done. It's done for the good of the environment.”

Strauss said nothing. I looked at Edward to back me up, but he wouldn't meet my gaze. Robert was looking at me, mouthing the word “No” while shaking his head.

“You do understand what you've just said, don't you?” Oak asked with something of a sneer. “When a species threatens to destroy the habitat of others, it has to be managed?”

“Yes,” I said, “But this is different. What you're talking about is killing people, innocent women and children.”

“Do you think the Forest values a human life more than a rabbit or a sparrow?” he asked, that sneer growing. “Maybe we should ask the badgers what they think.”

Episode 10 - Chapter 45

 Once again, a silence descended on the room as that Strauss creature finished speaking. I looked at my wife, she was obviously mortified by what she'd heard, then my son, who was looking very concerned in the direction of his wife. Finally I looked at Fiona, who was just stood there, her head shaking from side to side.

“No, no, no,” she was muttering, “This is all wrong.”

“What would you have us do about this so-called epidemic?” Water asked, breaking the silence with a splash.

“My master proposes a cull,” Strauss replied.

“A what?” Mary demanded, just beating me with my own questions. “What does that mean?”

“My master fears there is no alternative,” Strauss told her, “The only option is a radical reduction in the size of their population.”

“You cant just go killing innocent people,” she said.

“No?” Strauss asked, “Is that any less then they themselves would do?”

Episode 10 - Chapter 44

 “You can't let him speak,” Fiona said loudly, obviously feeling desperate, “His master has no interest in protecting the Warp, only consolidating his power in the Weave!”

“Silence!” the wind roared again, “We will decide who speaks. We will hear all arguments. The Three Who Speak As One will continue their case now.”

“We must confess,” all three of the midgets began together, “What the Lady Fiona says is true. My master does seek to safeguard his position.” As they talked, the three of them were once more reassembling themselves into one, finishing with the hat/cape to hide their bodies. “Nevertheless, that agenda does not detract from his concerns for the future of the Warp.”

“Why don't you tell them....” Fiona began then stopped, looking a little sheepish. “Okay,” she continued, almost to herself, “I get it!”

Strauss' hood turned in her direction for a moment before he continued. “There is no easy way to say this,” he said, “Humanity has become a disease, an epidemic even. If left unchecked, they will destroy the Warp, you can all be certain of it.”

Episode 10 - Chapter 43

 “Silence!” the wind roared, so loud, so certain, it made my ears hurt.

A tense hush descended over the room. From the look on my husband and son's faces, they were both as bewildered by events as I. We were all trying to follow events as they unfolded, but in all honesty none of us had a clue what was going on.

“Bird!” the wind commanded. In response, Raven snapped to attention, but remained silent. “Can you explain this...female creature's outburst?”

“I believe I can,” Raven replied confidently, “It would seem that more than one of the Lords of the Weave are represented here.”

Fiona had returned to her seat by now, where she just sat and stared at the three midgets. “I thought you were on our side,” she said, addressing them directly.

The midgets hung their heads, a mixture of embarrassment and shame evident on those three little faces. I think they were about to reply when the wind roared once more.

“Enough,” it said, “We will listen to all arguments, starting with this three-fold man.”

Episode 10 - Chapter 42

 “What?!?” Fiona exclaimed, suddenly very animated. “No! That's not it at all.”

“My master believes,” Strauss continued, “It is time to deal with this menace once and for all.”

“Mankind you say?” Air queried, a feint rush circulating the room.

“Is there a greater threat to the Warp?” Strauss replied. “You need simple look at the evidence of the past century.”

“No!” Fiona exclaimed once more, leaping to her feet. “The greatest threat is your master!” She charged toward Strauss, shoving him with her whole body, causing the three midgets to tumble to the floor, their cloak disappearing as they fell.

“Just look at Climate Change,” the three of them spoke together as they got to their feet and dusted each other down, “Or the way they deny its very existence. The wholesale destruction of your natural habitats. How many species are facing extinction? How many are already lost?”

“Because your master has guided the hand of men,” Fiona shouted. She looked round the room imploringly, her eyes settling on empty spaces. “Please,” she pleaded, “You cannot listen to them.”

Episode 10 - Chapter 41

 “We can,” Strauss said, bold and clear, in response to the rumbled question.

My wife, who until this moment had looked completely out of it, suddenly looked very startled, a deep frown settling on her forehead. “Oh,” was all she said, the “Oh, okay.” But she kept looking round the room, tense and unsettled.

“Are you okay?” I asked her, reaching out to touch her shoulder.

“What!?!” she replied, startled, “Yes....yes,” she mumbled, “I'm fine.” Confused look again. “It's just not what I was expecting.”

“Speak then, strange creature,” earth ground to Strauss, “What would the Weave say to us?”

“The Forest exists to protect the Warp,” Strauss said, “To maintain the delicate balance. We are correct in that summary?”

“You are,” air wheezed, “It does. What of it?”

“Our master wonders,” Strauss continued, “”Why it is you have always ignored the greatest of threats to the Warp? Why you continually allow that balance to be at risk?”

“What threat?” Fire demanded, “What risk?”

“Isn't it obvious?” Strauss asked, “The threat from mankind itself.”

Episode 10 - Chapter 40

 Air blows, water splashes, fire burns and earth rumbles: for Fiona, it's as if four petulant geriatrics have entered the room to squabble over a cake that's not there. Whereas her husband and his parents see a small mound of earth hollowed out with a well, lit candle and tiny typhoon, Fiona sees something entirely different. Before her is the ghost of a grand table, four throne like chairs arranged along its' edges. In each chair a hooded figure sits, features hidden in dark recesses of cloth, limbs folded with discontent.

“Quiet!” she commands when their bickering becomes more than she can bear. “Why don't you listen to his reasons for calling you?”

Four hoods turn to face her. She can see no faces, no sets of eyes scrutinising her, yet she's never felt more examined in her entire life.

She can feel Raven's anxiety in the face of these four, so she smiles at him and nods encouragingly, helping him start his explanation, before she loses track of his words, her attention lost in the multiple aspects of this same room.

Her attention snaps back, sharp and clear, when earth grinds: “Is there one here who can speak for this 'personality' from the Weave?”

Episode 10 - Chapter 39

 Once again we all fell silent, waiting, expectant, all eyes on Raven. He looked more uncomfortable than ever, his hands twisting together with nervousness.

“Right,” he said eventually, before coughing to clear his throat. “Yes, okay.” He looked round the room, eyes settling on Fiona, who smiled and nodded. “From the earliest of days,” he finally continued, “The Forest has had to deal with imbalances in the Warp caused by the Weave.” He paused, frowned, continued. “Throughout that time, we've treated the Weave as a single entity, a unique chaotic force with the power to affect and alter our reality.”

“All of this we know,” ground the voice of earth, “The Weave causes imbalance, the Forest corrects it. As it has been, so it will be.”

“Yes, that's right,” Raven said, “Except that it isn't.”

“It isn't what?” Fire popped, “Are you talking in riddles?”

“Of course he is,” Oak said, “He's part of it now!”

“No, I'm not,” Raven said with great confidence, “The Weave is not a single force. There are multiple personalities at work, all with their own agendas. What has happened here, in this house, happened because one of those personalities wanted to talk to you!”

Episode 10 - Chapter 38

 Something of a stunned silence followed Fiona's outburst. The atmosphere seemed very tense, as if something was about to happen, something major. Mary, Robert and I looked at each other, not saying a word. I think we'd all have quite liked a little cubbyhole to go and hide in, to be honest.

“Ye-es,” the deep, rumbling voice said after what seemed like an age, “This bird has served us well in the past, let us hear what it has to say now.”

“Agreed,” the wind whistled and fire snapped in unison.

“Then,” the rumble continued, “Perhaps this new creature would like to share its' own perspective?”

“New creature?” Mary asked, “What new creature?”

Robert nudged her sharply with his elbow, adding a harsh “Shhh!” When she looked at him, protest forming on her lips, he brought a finger to his mouth and nodded in Fiona's direction.

“Really...?” she asked, confused. “How is she new?”

“Silence,” water splashed, “We will hear from the bird now.”

Episode 10 - Chapter 37

 We all looked at Oak. He sat quietly on his chair, looking rather uncomfortable, not saying a word.

“The tree believes...” Raven began, then corrected himself, “Oak thinks there is no reason to have called you forth, that the situation can be handled in the usual manner.”

“Has the tree no voice of its' own?” the earth rumbled.

“I....I have,” Oak stammered, for the first time not looking sure of himself at all. “Corvus is correct. The solution to this current situation is a simple, structural adjustment.”

“Corvus?” the wind whistled, “The bird is Corvus?”

“I am,” Raven said, “Or at least I was.”

Those words were greeted by the most terrible cacophony as all four voices clamoured at once, drowning each other out. I couldn't tell what any of them were saying, only that this news was causing them more than a little agitation.

“Quiet!” Fiona's voice cut through the noise, silencing all of them. “Why don't you listen to his reasons for calling you?”

Episode 10 - Chapter 36

 I was sure Raven was about to reply, his mouth open ready to speak, when he stopped, head cocked once more, listening.

A deep, grinding rumble filled the room, barely audible but definitely there. I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. This was the sound I'd heard, or at least felt, earlier, so much clearer now that it wasn't competing to be heard over the other noise. Or voices. Edward says I should call them voices.

“Why did the bird ignore the proper channels?” it asked, “Surely they are there for a reason?”

Silence followed, a long awful expectant pause. My husband and I looked at each other. I was about to speak, to fill that terrible void, but Edward shook his head.

“Well?” the fire crackled, “Does the bird speak?”

“Yes, sorry,” Raven said, the first time I'd seen him look flustered. “I don't believe that events here have been covered by the usual precedents.”

“And the tree?” water crashed, like waves hitting a reef, “What does the tree have to say for itself?”

Episode 10 - Chapter 35

 All that noise just stopped. The howl of the wind, the crash of waves, even the crackle of fire: gone, only to be replaced by a pensive silence.

“Wake up?” Mary asked, “You mean they've been sleeping?”

“Yes,” Raven replied, then “No. Sort of. They are not habitually used to consciousness.”

The three of us fell silent again, trying to understand what that meant. Mary was about to ask something more when Raven said:

“Nevermind. Try not to think about it too much. Just have patience, and all will become clear in the fullness of time.”

The flames roared once more, but this time the sound was different: the fire was speaking, and I could understand what it was saying.

“Tell us again,” it said, “Which of you was the First?”

“I was,” Raven replied. I think he was looking a bit anxious when he spoke.

“And it was you who brought us here?” the fire asked, “Ignoring all protocols?”

“I did,” Raven said, his hands clenched in fists by his side.

“Unusual,” the wind roared, “Let us hope you don't find reason to regret it.”

Episode 10 - Chapter 34

 Raven ignored mum's question, shrugging his shoulders as he addressed his funny bird noises toward the well on the table. He listened, head cocked and eyes staring, the KOWW KOWWed once more. Oak slammed his fist on the table, rustling what seemed to be an objection, which prompted Raven to throw his hands in the air with a final, dismissive KOWW.

Mum obviously wasn't happy at getting no answer, her distaste written all over her face. “Humf,” she sighed, as she folded her arms in front of her. It's a look I knew all too well from childhood, a look that said her patience had expired and “You'd better go to your room right now, young man!”

It was clear dad had seen it too, he was slowly shuffling backwards away from her. I caught his eye then, to which he quickly raised his eyebrows, followed by a wink.

“A-HEM!” she cleared her throat noisily, piercing gaze directed at Raven.

“So sorry, Mary,” he said quickly, before she could add anything else. “Sometimes they take a little while to wake up.” He turned back to the table before speaking loudly. “Maybe we could continue this in the common tongue?”

Episode 10 - Chapter 33

 It really was quite a marvellous thing to see. There it sat, in the middle of the table, a small well made of mud. At its' centre stood the candle, flame dancing, surrounded by water with tiny waves chasing each other in circles. And around the outside, a miniature typhoon twisted its' way round the edge.

The noise, on the other hand....well, that was something else: the roar of the fire, the crash of the waves, the rush of the wind. I could barely hear myself think. And behind it all, a deep rumble, barely audible, but I could certainly feel it.

I looked at Raven, who cocked his head to one side, looking quite comical if I do say so. He must have been listening to something, because he KOWW KOWWed in reply at regular intervals. Oak, on the other hand, merely sat there, an almost serene smile on his face. Once he opened his mouth to speak, the rustle of leaves emerged where I had expected to hear words.

“Well?” I demanded of both of them, “What's happening?”

Episode 10 - Chapter 32

 The noise was ridiculous, savage and harsh, seemingly ripping through the whole house. For a second I thought the place was going to be swept away by one huge gust before I realised that I couldn't feel even the tiniest breeze. That confused me a little, more than it should have done really. I looked to the others, trying to ascertain their reactions, only to find them all staring at the table. Following their eyes I looked too, gasping with surprise at what I saw. There on the table, a tiny whirwind, no more than a few inches tall, danced in circles around Raven's well of earth.

“Well I never,” I said, feeling a bit impish, “That's something you don't see every day.”

“Edward!” Mary protested.

“What?” I asked, feigning innocence, “I was just saying.”

“We think you'll find,” the voice of Strauss came from beneath that hood, “That there are more marvels to be witnessed yet.”

As he finished speaking, Strauss pointed at the table. There, in the well of earth, surrounding the burning candle, tiny waves had begun to ripple through the water.

Episode 10 - Chapter 31

 Everything went dark.

I don't mean that I lost consciousness or passed out or anything dramatic like that, though what happened still seemed pretty dramatic to me. No, the walls went dark, black even, all features disappearing into this strange gloom. Wallpaper: gone. Pictures that hung on the walls: no longer visible. Even the light fightings and furniture around the room disappeared until there was only the seven of us, standing or seated in a bubble of light, the face of the nomad looking down.

That's when we heard the fire. I say 'heard', but for a few moments we couldn't hear anything else. A ferocious noise it was, loud and crackling and angry: the sound of destruction consuming everything in its' path. Mum reacted first, looking round desperately to find the source of the blaze, sheer panic in her eyes.

“Has it started already?” she demanded, “I thought...”

Raven silenced her with a hand on her arm and a finger to his lips. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, what came out was a KOWW KOWW like noise that a crow might make.

That's when we heard the wind.

Episode 10 - Chapter 30

 Surrounded by what she can only describe as all kinds of crazy, Fiona tries to sit quietly and concentrate on her breathing. In...and out. In...and out. The hallucinations, for that most surely must be what her visions are, were distracting at first: stirring horror and panic in equal measure through her troubled mind. Everything she's seen and done, all her adventures in the Weave, she thought they'd be done with once she got home. But no, they followed her here, using her mind to gain purchase in the Warp. If that is, as she assumes, what has happened. She doesn't know, and the questions that come from wondering only lead her mind in circles, leaving her only one choice: close her eyes, ignore it all and focus on herself.

Her attention is seized by events around her when she hears Raven light a match and begin his muttered intonations. She doesn't understand the words, but their sound strikes her like fresh rain on a spring morning. Opening her eyes, she sees him stood over a well made of earth, filled with water, a single candle burning at its' centre. As he enunciates each word, small luminous clouds emerge from his mouth, floating like a child's bubbles toward the ceiling.

Episode 10 - Chapter 29

 Raven frowned suspiciously, his eyes flicking between Oak and the candle he offered.

“Go ahead,” Oak said, offering it again, “Let's get this shambles over with.” His face was so smug and full of knowing that I had to fight the urge to slap him.

Frown still in place, Raven took the candle, placing it in the centre of the well. Robert returned from the kitchen, jug of water clasped in unsteady hands.

“Are you sure you're okay?” I asked, touching his arm.

“I'm fine, really,” he said with a weak smile, “Just a bit gippy.”

Raven took the jug, pouring the water into the well around the candle. Producing a box of matches from his pocket, he set fire to the candle while mumbling under his breath. I couldn't for the life of me make out what he was saying, but it didn't sound good.

Almost immediately the room began to darken, the walls and ceiling becoming black and featureless, all except the face of the Nomad, who looked on with a serene gaze.

Episode 10 - Chapter 28

 While my son was in the kitchen getting that jug of water, Raven began shaping the pile of earth from the plant pot on the table. He swirled it around with his hand to make a well, looked at his dirty fingers for a moment, then tutted to himself and wiped it off on the edge of his overalls. Next, he patted his pockets, looking for something.

Both Mary and I were watching him closely, couldn't help ourselves. There was something about him, especially when he was preoccupied or busy, you just couldn't take your eyes off him.

After a few seconds of searching, he was beginning to look frustrated. “Where is that blasted thing?” he said, mainly to himself I think, “I'm sure I had one with me.”

From the kitchen we heard the sound of Robert being sick: a terrible sound if ever I heard one. My wife and I looked at each other, she was obviously more worried than ever.

“Is everything okay, Robert?” she shouted, to which she got a terse “Fine.”

Raven was still patting his pockets when Oak said “Here, use mine,” reaching forward to offer him the nub of a candle.

Episode 10 - Chapter 27

 “I'll get that,” I said, turning to head for the kitchen.

Once there, I quickly found the jug and began to run the cold tap. As I did, a new explosion of nausea erupted in my stomach, disorientation laying siege to my head. My legs turned to jelly, threatening to give way. I reached out, grabbing the sink to hold on for dear life. I felt like acid was burning in my chest and belly while the room span around me. I leaned forward, feeling a coughing fit rising through my throat, my grip tightening until my knuckles were white. Then it came: painful, acidic retching, the last drops of bile leaving my body.

“Is everything okay, Robert?” I heard mum shout from the other room.

“Fine,” I coughed back, standing up straight. And remarkably, I was. As I released my grip on the sink, I realised that I'd not felt that alive in years, maybe ever. “Hey, ho,” I said to myself, splashing my face with water and rinsing my mouth. Drying my face quickly, I filled the jug and returned to the living room, where Raven was playing with mud.

Episode 10 - Chapter 26

 “And that means destroying the house, doesn't it?” I asked. I already knew the answer, and didn't want to hear it from Raven, but I couldn't stop myself.

“Not just the house,” he replied sadly, “Probably the whole village as well. But it's not by any means a forgone conclusion. There are....many factors for them to consider.”

“Piffle!” Oak snorted, “All you're doing is stalling the inevitable!”

“Be quiet!” Raven snapped at him again, before turning back to me. “May I proceed?”

I looked at Edward, seeking reassurance, but all he could offer was a shrug of his shoulders. “Might as well give it a go, old girl,” he said, taking my hand, “Looks like we've nothing to lose.”

Tentatively I nodded at Raven, giving my consent.

“Thank you,” he said, grabbing a pot plant from the sideboard. In a flash, he'd upended it onto the table, creating a big pile of mud. “Now,” he continued, as he shaped it with his hands, “I'm going to need a jug of water.”