were somehow less threatening, the grass softer and more natural.
The three armies that had come together under the symbol of the blue star were only just realizing that the battle was over and the Old Ones had gone. They were still stunned, unable to take in what had happened. A hole in the universe had opened. The Old Ones had been sucked into it. The people were finally on their own, undefeated, and the world was theirs once again. Slowly they began to pick themselves up. Survivors found each other and embraced. Some people stood where they were and wept. Some threw down their weapons and laughed out loud. And many – the dead and the dying – lay where they were, scattered across the four corners of the field.
“Is it really over?” Scar asked. “Is this the end?”
“We’ve won the battle,” Matt said. “And tonight we’ll celebrate. But right now, there’s a lot we have to do.”
“There are many injured.” Inti spoke for the first time. Although he used the same language as the others, he must have learned it only recently. He had a strange accent and had to search for the words.
Matt nodded. “You must go to them.”
“I have been searching for you, Matteo. For many years. I am glad to have found you at last.” Inti nodded at Matt and at the others. Then he turned and walked away.
He was the first to break the circle.
“I shouldn’t have doubted you, Matt,” Scar said. “You were right. It all worked out exactly the way you wanted.”
“It wasn’t my plan,” Matt replied. “It was just the way it was meant to be.”
Scar slid her sword back into its sheath. “I have to find Finn,” she said. “He was hurt in the fighting and he’s going to need looking after.” She stood awkwardly, not wanting to leave but needing to find her friend. Then she hurried off.
Flint and Jamie found themselves face to face. The other boy was looking at him with a mixture of emotions.
Jamie wasn’t sure how to react himself. “You’re Flint… I suppose,” he said. “I mean… of course you are.” He noticed that Flint was carrying a sword that was identical to Frost. He wasn’t surprised. Everything about them was the same. “You look like Scott,” he said. “You sound like him too.”
“Who is Scott?”
“My brother.”
Flint nodded. “And you look and sound like Sapling.”
Jamie tried to smile, but it was difficult. “Is anyone ever going to explain all this?” he asked.
Both boys turned to Matt.
“We can’t talk now,” he said. “I’m sorry… but we have to make a start. There are people who need our help.”
“When?” Flint demanded.
“Tonight.”
Jamie looked around him. Only now was he aware of the scale of the battle he had just fought. It reminded him of what he had seen at Scathack Hill, only this was much worse. All over the field there were men and women with terrible injuries. They had begun to cry out in pain. Blood was everywhere.
“Inti has the power to heal,” Matt said. “But there’s too much for him to do on his own. People will want food and water. The physicians will need help with the stretchers. The questions can wait.”
Flint nodded. He took one last look at Jamie as if trying to work him out, then turned away.
Very quickly, the army had divided itself into different groups. Those who had not been hurt, or who had been hurt only a little, were helping those who had been less fortunate, carrying them to the field hospitals, bringing them water or just staying close by to comfort them. The dead were left where they had fallen. There was nothing that could be done for them: their one solace was that their suffering was over.
Jamie found work for himself, filling water bottles from a barrel that had been brought on a cart to the centre of the field, carrying them to those men and women who were unable to move and who had yet to receive help. The first person he came upon couldn’t have been more than eighteen or nineteen, and it was clear that he wasn’t going to live much longer. His chest had been torn open and his face was white. And yet when he saw Jamie he smiled. As Jamie trickled water between his lips, he held onto his arm and seemed completely at peace. It was as if he had wanted to meet Jamie all his life and now that he had, he was prepared to die.
It was the same, time and time again. Jamie noticed Matt walking among the wounded, stopping to clasp a hand or to kneel down and help someone drink. Everyone in the field seemed to know who they were – which was strange because Jamie wasn’t sure he knew himself. He went back to get more water, wishing that the day was over and they could all sit down and talk.
On the next journey he found Scar and Finn.
By now, Jamie could tell almost at a glance who was going to live to talk about this day and who was not. He could see at once that Finn was dying. The big man was lying with his legs outstretched and his back against the stump of a tree. Scar was kneeling beside him and Inti was there too. Corian and Erin were also near by, watching anxiously. Jamie was relieved to see that neither of the brothers had been hurt.
Inti had been leaning forward with his hands resting on Finn’s shoulders but as Jamie approached he straightened up and glanced at Scar, signalling that there was nothing more he could do. Jamie could see why. Whatever Inti’s power, he had arrived too late. Finn had taken a terrible blow to the shoulder and lost too much blood. He was very close to the end.
Finn saw Jamie and managed to bend the fingers of one hand, gesturing at him to come closer. Jamie held out a water bottle but Finn shook his head. He no longer had the strength to swallow. Nor did he need to prolong what little life he had left.
“Sapling!” he said.
As Scar turned round and noticed him for the first time, Jamie saw that there were tears in her eyes.
“You did well.” Finn coughed and a few specks of blood flecked his lips. “I knew you would. Didn’t I tell you?”
Jamie nodded but couldn’t speak.
“Finn…” Scar began.
Finn took her hands in his. “You’re not to cry, Scar,” he whispered. “I’ve told you before. It’s not fitting.”
“How will I manage without you?” Scar exclaimed.
“Don’t be foolish. You have your friends. The Five…” Finn patted her hand. It was all the movement he could manage. “But we had adventures together, you and I. People will remember them and talk of them one day, perhaps.”
“Oh, Finn…” Scar couldn’t hold back the tears any more.
“You’re going to be on your own now. But you don’t need me any more. I’m not sure you ever did.” Finn reached up and gently stroked her hair one last time. “We won,” he said. “That’s all that matters.” Finn looked adoringly at her. Then his head fell back and Jamie knew that he would never speak again.
He couldn’t bear to see any more. He snatched up the water bottle and hurried away.
The day wore on, the sun set and at last all the activity began to wind down. The physicians had done what they could. The wounded were resting. And those that had been chosen to die had done so quietly and without complaint. Jamie was almost overwhelmed with tiredness. Part of it was the exhaustion of the fight and the long hours spent working once the battle was over. But he recognized that it was something more. It was a reaction to what he had been through – so much happening so quickly, so many deaths. He was emotionally as well as physically worn out.
That was when Flint returned. Jamie had wondered what had become of his brother – for he couldn’t think of him any other way – but suddenly Flint appeared riding on a horse-drawn wagon which was piled high with sacks and barrels. He had taken six men with him and they had all returned with similar wagons. They tore through the middle of the field and stopped. Flint leapt to his feet.
“We’ve found food!” he called out. “The overlords had a camp on the other side of the valley and of course they kept all the best supplies for themselves. We have bread and wine and cheese and dried meat and fruit. So light a fire. Tonight we’re going to eat well.”
About three hundred men, women and children had come through the battle unhurt. Hearing Flint’s words,
