Travel to Sockland

Chapter 32

The group, led by the paintbrush leader, reached Arnie and they all stopped. The pen and pencil leader were by Arnie's side as though they had materialised from thin air. All the spiders had fled or been captured by this point. With the emergence of the paintbrush leader and the help of the paintbrushes they had been brought very quickly under control. The situation, which had looked grim, had turned full circle for the better.

Isabelle grabbed Arnie into a hug. She clung on for what seemed like an age and Arnie felt her trembling. He awkwardly patted her back, feeling uneasy but comforted. She stepped back and he felt his face heating up as she looked at him.

The air was thick with tension and Arnie looked down at the gathered leaders. The paintbrush leader, the pen leader and the pencil leader were all staring at one another, but none of them spoke. Each was surrounded by his own soldiers. It felt dangerous and Arnie wondered what he should do to defuse the situation. Pushing aside the sheepishness that he still felt from the surprising hug he looked up at Isabelle. She nodded at him with a slight smile. He felt his stomach flip. She opened her mouth, her lilting accent carrying a hint of authority and no sign of fear. She looked at the Pen and Pencil leader.

"There's a story to be told. It's not as we thought. Let's sit so we can talk." She waved her hand at the clearing to indicate where she thought they should go.

The pen leader nodded first and put a hand on the shoulder of his pencil counterpart. "Let us hear what is to be said." his voice was gentle and calm.

The paintbrush leader said nothing as he followed them to the clearing. His soldiers still carried the large spider. It wasn't moving. Arnie wondered if it was dead or unconscious. He looked it over. It looked like the others but was much bigger. It's features were easier to see and the black mirror-like eyes were terrifying. He saw his own reflection looking back at him from the depths of the darkness and he recoiled. He looked exactly as he had looked when he had arrived in Sockland. There was no sign of any of the struggles and no sign of time having passed at all in his appearance. He knew he felt different though.

They sat down in the clearing. Surrounding them were some of the captured spiders and the bulk of the paintbrushes were moving them to one side and putting some sort of order into the battle scene. Arnie noticed Magnus over by the village wall. He was sitting down on the ground, surrounded by the spoons and needle birds. From the distance Arnie thought he looked as enthusiastic as usual.

"What is the story to be told?" The pencil leader directed his question at Isabelle as it was her who had called the meeting. There was no challenge in his tone.

"This, I think, is where I come in." The paintbrush leader spoke. His voice was different from what they had heard in the underground chamber. It was kind. The tone was deep and he sounded wise. He portrayed a calm, reassuring attitude, very similar to the Pen and Pencil leaders.

"I knew your father Cennaire and your's Neart." he addressed pen and pencil leader by name. "I am older than both of you and have ruled the paintbrushes for a long, long while. Too long in fact."

"Why did you cause war among pens and pencils!?" Arnie Said. It had burst from his lips before he could stop himself. Isabelle cast him a look that told him to be quiet although she said nothing. The paintbrush leader looked straight at Arnie. His tiny eyes were surprisingly piercing and Arnie felt uncomfortable. The paintbrush leader showed no animosity.

"A very good question and one I shall answer for you in moments. What is your name?"

"Arnie." he replied, otherwise lost for words.

"Welcome Arnie. I shall tell you now what has happened. Please have patience for the whole tale to be told." He took a moment to look around the gathered pens and pencils before continuing. No one said anything.